PRAY, Frederick Hall

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Fred
• Obituary: From the Santa Cruz Evening News, 18 Jun 1910: FRED H. PRAY PASSES OVER DEATH COMES TO END SUFFERINGS OF WELL KNOWN MAN-ABOUT TOWN. SON OF THE LATE AMASA PRAY, A NAME LINKED WITH EARLY LOCAL HISTORY. Fred H. Pray, the well known man-about-town, who has lived in Santa Cruz for over 40 years, died at the Mission Hill sanatorium this morning, after a long Illness, following injuries he receved In a fall from a wagon on the Scotts Valley road a ittle over a year ago. Pray was the son of the late Amasa Pray, one of the pioneers of Santa Cruz, who conducted the Pacific Ocean house In early days. His father and mother are both dead, Mrs. Pray having died here about three years ago. Mrs. Miriam F. Bancroft of Berkeley, a sister, was with him when he died. He was unconscious for some time before he passed away, but before that he frequently wished for death to end his sufferings. The dead man was much beloved by his many friends. He was a native of Massachusetts, 58 years of age, but came to California when he was 13 and lived In Santa Cruz practically ever since. Since his mother died Pray made his home with Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Young, old friends of the family. Further down the page: Died Pray - In Santa Cruz, June 18, Fred H Pray, a native of Massachusetts, aged 58 years. The funeral services for deceased will be held from Wesendorf & Stafflers undertaking parlor tomorrow, Saturday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend the services. Interment strictly private.
• Census: 27 Jul 1860, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA

Notes:

A somewhat astonishing tale as told in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, 16 Sep 1908:

FRED PRAY STILL LIVES

PROMINENT MAN THROWN FROM WAGON IN SCOTTS VALLEY.

Fred Pray is not dead, all reports to the contrary. He had a bad fall Tuesday afternoon and is somewhat bruised up, but he is resting comfortably at W. P. Young's Dye Works on on Locust St. He was brought in from Scotts Valley in an ambulance, and immediately after his arrival the report was current that he had breathed his last and was resting at the Pacific Coast Undertaking Parlors. Many kind words were said about Mr. Pray by those who thought him deceased.

"I'm not dead, and you can't kill me off," said Mr. pray with a faint smile to a "Sentinel" reporter, who interviewed the unfortunate man as he rested back on his pillows. "It was Just this way. I wasn't very busy to day, so for the mere pleasure of an outing I accompanied Mr. Miland, of the Seidlinger Transfer Co on his express wagon with a load of furniture for Locke's place In Scott Valley. We had a nice lunch and started home. Near Bert Fagen's place Mr. Miland left me for a few moments, and then the trouble began. One of the horses was a big, buxom colt, a mean critter, who could kick six feet high. This colt kicked sideways with such force as to knock one of the traces loose, and the pole dropped. The horses started on a mad tear. To save my life I ran them into a bank. I fell headlong to the ground, and the wagon fell on top of me. It is a miracle that I am alive today. But I am not yet destined to die, for way back in '76 I fell 42 feet into a well, breaking a leg in two places, but I have lived on. I held on to the reins with a grip of steel, until help came and relieved me".

During his talk Fred Pray gave frequent groans, for his body is badly wrenched. His right arm is so sore that he can hardly use it, and it may be a very long time before he will ever be able to work with it again.

Census:
Frederic H Pray / Age 9 / Sex M / / Birthplace Mass-

Died:
Death records & headstone have 17 Jun 1909, newspaper has 18 Jun 1909

Frederick married RIDDELL, Margaret on 8 Apr 1883 in Oakland, Alameda, CA, USA, and was divorced on 19 Sep 1889 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Margaret (daughter of RIDDELL, John William and Margaret) was born about 1855; died on 13 Apr 1890 in Glen Riddell, Gilroy, Santa Clara, CA USA; was buried in Saint Mary Church Cemetery, Gilroy, Santa Clara, CA USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]