PRAY, Amasa

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• Obituary: Amasa Pray One by one the old landmarks are being swept away, and the last old citizen to be carried to his narrow house was Amasa Pray, who, on Wednesday last, under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity, was interred in the Odd Fellow’s cemetery. For two years previous to the day of his death the deceased had been gradually sinking. A native of Maine, a merchant of Boston and an early resident of Santa Barbara, where he owned a large amount of real estate, he sold out and came to Santa Cruz in 1864. In company with his son-in-law, H. H. Hobbs, he opened a storee in the brick building on the hill, the property of Jacques Leslie. Subsequently they moved their goods into the Santa Cruz Hotel. In company with W. H. Moore, Mr. Pray erected the Pacific Ocean House, they being the owners of the wooden building that was burned down, and in fact the landlords as successor to Bradley & Stevens, their successors being Olds & Co. In the room now occupied by Mr. Ostorlaus, Pray & Hobbs merchandised for a number of years. Mr. Pray sold his interest in the Ocean House to H. Holley, he practically having constructed the building that covers the alley way and now occupied on the lower floor by W. H. Hobbs, and which he owned at the time of his demise. The deceased took no active part in the enterprise with which he was identified, but he served the people faithfully and wells school trustee and member of the city counsel, was in candidacy on two occasions as supervisor, once as supervisor at large and once as supervisor of the district in which he lived, and he was a railroad director at the time the Santa Cruz road was transferred to Stanford & Co. For some three years previous to his death he was engaged in the real estate business in company with his brother-in-law, Samuel Drennan. He was a warm-hearted, genial man, and we shall long miss from our streets the pleasant face, so ever ready to give a friendly salutation to all.
• Census: 25 Aug 1850, Dorchester, Norfolk, MA, USA
• Census: 27 Jul 1860, Dorchester, Norfolk, MA, USA
• Arrival: 1864, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
• Census: 9 Jun 1870, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
• Residence: 1880, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA

Notes:

Census:
Amasa Pray / 34 / Male / Occu - Wood Warf / Born in Maine-Miriam Pray / 27 / Female / Born in Maine-Charles A Pray / 9 / Male / Born in Mass-Francis A Pray / 7 / Female / Born in Mass-Amasa Pray / 4 / Male / Born in Mass

Census:
Amasa Pray / Age 41 / Sex M / Occupation: Wood & Coal Merchant / Real Estate $10,000 / Personal Estate $11,000 / Birthplace Maine

Census:
Pray Amasa / Age 53 / Male / White / Occupation Retired Merchant / Real Estate Holdings $25,000 / Personal Holdings $5,000 / Born in Maine / Male Citizen over 21

Amasa married FERNALD, Miriam on 2 Oct 1839 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Miriam (daughter of FERNALD, Oliver and HEARD, Olive) was born in Nov 1824 in Great Falls, Androscoggin, Maine USA; died on 11 Aug 1906 in 28 Union Street, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Census: 24 Aug 1850, Dorchester, Norfolk, MA, USA

Notes:

Census:
Amasa Pray / 34 / Male / Occu - Wood Warf / Born in Maine-Miriam Pray / 27 / Female / Born in Maine-Charles A Pray / 9 / Male / Born in Mass-Francis A Pray / 7 / Female / Born in Mass-Amasa Pray / 4 / Male / Born in Mass

Died:
Does not appear in 1860 census and Amasa & Miriam’s next child, born 1862, is named Charles

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Fannie
• Census: 25 Aug 1850, Dorchester, Norfolk, MA, USA
• Census: 27 Jul 1860, Dorchester, Norfolk, MA, USA
• Residence: 1880, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States

Notes:

Census:
Amasa Pray / 34 / Male / Occu - Wood Warf / Born in Maine-Miriam Pray / 27 / Female / Born in Maine-Charles A Pray / 9 / Male / Born in Mass-Francis A Pray / 7 / Female / Born in Mass-Amasa Pray / 4 / Male / Born in Mass

Census:
Fannie Pray / Age 17 / Sex F / / Birthplace Mass

Family/Spouse: HOBBS, Hiram H. Hiram (son of HOBBS, HIram H and E, Sarah) was born about 1832 in Maine; died on 28 Apr 1900 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bookkeeper
• Census: 25 Aug 1850, Dorchester, Norfolk, MA, USA
• Naturalization: 2 Sep 1851, Newport, RI, USA
• Census: 27 Jul 1860, Dorchester, Norfolk, MA, USA
• Residence: 1880, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA

Notes:

Census:
Amasa Pray / 34 / Male / Occu - Wood Warf / Born in Maine-Miriam Pray / 27 / Female / Born in Maine-Charles A Pray / 9 / Male / Born in Mass-Francis A Pray / 7 / Female / Born in Mass-Amasa Pray / 4 / Male / Born in Mass

Naturalization:
730 Drennan, Samuel 50 Illinois Gen’l Agent Santa Cruz #2 Jul 14, 1880-

Census:
Amasa Pray / Age 14 / Sex M / / Birthplace Mass-

Amasa married WILLEY, Annie B on 26 Jan 1874 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA. Annie (daughter of WILLEY, Samuel Hopkins) was born in 1852 in California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• 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]

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• Also Known As: Minnie
• Obituary: From the Oakland Tribune, 9 Dec 1941: Funeral Held for Mrs. Chas. Bancroft BERKELEY, Dec. 9. Private funeral services were held in Oakland this morning for Mrs. Charles E. Bancroft, a resident of this city for 40 years. Mrs. Bancroft died Sunday at her home, 3222 Piedmont Avenue. A native of Boston, she came to California" in 1863 and had lived most of the time in the Bay area. Mrs. Bancroft was a member of the San Francisco Chapter of the Colonial Dames and of the Century Club. She is survived by her husband, Charles, a nephew of the late H. H. Bancroft, the noted historian after whom the Bancroft Library at the University of California was named.
• Census: 27 Jul 1860, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
• Census: 9 Jun 1870, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA

Notes:

Census:
Minnie Pray / Age 2 / Sex f / / Birthplace Mass

Census:
Pray Minnie / Age 13 / Female / White / Attending School / Born in Mass

Family/Spouse: BANCROFT, Charles E. Charles was born on 28 Aug 1851 in California, USA; died on 31 Dec 1941 in Alameda Co, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: FAWCETT, Judge Eugene. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Obituary: From the Santa Cruz Surf, 4 Nov 1897: FRANK PRAYS DEATH. Well-Known in Santa Cruz, San Francisco and the West. ) From todays San Francisco Call is quoted the following well-written obituary notice of the late Frank P. Pray, son of Mrs. A. Pray and nephew of Mrs. Louisa Drennan of this city: Frank P. Pray, late of Denver, Colo., but formerly a well-known resident of San Francisco and of Santa Cruz, his early home, died at noon yesterday at the residence of his father-in-law, Captain John Bermingham, 741 Chestnut street, of peritonitis, resulting from a long, heroic and critical surgical operation to which he submitted on Monday last. Mr. Pray was born in Boston, Mass., and at the time of his death was a little over 40 years of age. When a mere child he came with his parents to California in the early 60s and with them settled Santa Cruz, where his aged mother still resides. For a number of years he was connected with the Bancroft Publishing Company in this city. Later he was in the stationery business here with Z. U. Dodge, under the firm name of Dodge Bros. & Pray. Subsequently, for many years, he was a real estate agent, with offices at 310 Pine street. Two years and a half ago, however, he ecame afflicted with appendicitis and was operated upon in this city. His recovery was slow and nevor complete. He closed out his real estate business and, as soon as he was able, moved to Denver, where, for the past two years, be was agent for the California Powder Works. Several weeks ago he returned here in the hope of recuperating from the weakening effect of a large wound that had never healed after it was first made by the surgeons knife. To rectify that surgical misfortune and to save his life the recent operation was decided upon. Frank Pray was physically a very large man, weighing in health 240 pounds. He had a particularly agreeable personality, and was uniformly good natured. He leaves a widow and one child, a little girl 5 years of age. Among the other relatives who survive him are a brother, Fred Pray, the hotel proprietor of Stockton, and two sisters, Mrs. H. H. Hobbs of this city, wife of Captain Hobbs foreman of the Grand Jury, and Mrs. Charles Bancroft, formerly the wife of the late Judge Fawcett of Santa Barbara. The funeral will take place tomorrow forenoon at 10 oclock from the Bermingham residence.
• Cause of Death: Peritontis
• Census: 27 Jul 1860, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
• Census: 9 Jun 1870, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA

Notes:

Census:
Frank P Pray / Age 8 / Sex M / / Birthplace Mass

Census:
Pray Frank / Age 15 / Male / White / Attended school / Born in Mass-

Other Events and Attributes:

• Obituary: PRAY - IN Santa Cruz, Dec, 5, Charles Fernald, youngest son of Amasa and Miriam Pray, aged six years, one month and ten days.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Jane
• Residence: 1870, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
• Residence: 1880, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States
• Residence: 1900, San Mateo, San Mateo, CA USA
• Residence: Dec 1940, Berkeley, Alameda County, CA, USA

Jennie married GOODWIN, Ernest in Oct 1897 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Ernest was born in Washington, DC, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Residence: 1880, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States
• Residence: May 1911, St. Petersburg, Russia
• Residence: 4 Dec 1920, Paris, France
• Residence: Dec 1940, Dinard, France

Notes:

Second marriage to Vladimir Artismovitch, a Russian Count, who was Russia’s General Consul to the west coast from 1899 to 1902. After living in Berlin for a period, they moved to St. Petersburg, then fled to Paris following the 1917 Revolution.

Family/Spouse: JONES, Webster. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: ARTSIMOVICH, Count Vladimir. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Residence: 1880, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States
• Residence: 2 May 1900, Coronado, San Diego, CA USA
• Residence: Dec 1940, Berkeley, Alameda County, CA, USA

Family/Spouse: FERRIS, Frank O.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Residence: Oakland, Alameda, California
• Residence: 1880, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States
• Residence: 3 May 1900, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
• Residence: 1910, Oakland Ward 5, Alameda, California

Family/Spouse: ?, Beverly. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Obituary: From the SF Examiner, 15 Jun 1940 F.G.Hobbs, Mason, Dead A heart attack suffered in his office proved fatal yesterday to Frank G. Hobbs, for twenty years assistant grand secretary of the Masonic Grand Lodge. A native of San Francisco, Mr. Hobbs was 62 and resided at 806 Twenty-fifth Avenue. Prior to becoming assistant secretary he was engaged in lumbering and mining He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Helen Hobbs, one son, Frank W. Hobbs, and three sisters, Mrs, Frank O. Ferris and Mrs. Jane Goodwin of Berkeley, and Mrs, Vladimir Artsimovitch of Dinard, France. Masonic rites will be held Monday at 11:30 a.m. from the Ma sonic Temple. Funeral services will be in charge of the Golden Gate Undertaking Company.
• Occupation: For twenty years assistant grand secretary of the Masonic Grand Lodge
• Cause of Death: A heart attack suffered in his office
• Residence: 1880, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States
• Residence: 3 May 1900, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
• Residence: 1940, 806 25th Ave, San Francisco, CA USA

Family/Spouse: Helen. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Residence: 1880, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States
• Residence: 3 May 1900, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Physical Description: Tall, slender, brown hair, brown eyes
• Obituary: From Santa Cruz Evening News, 22 Dec 1930: Son of 1867 S. C. Village Trustee Dies In Belmont Milton Pray, whose father, Amasa Pray, was one of the first three trustees of Santa Cruz when its village government was organized in 1867, died last Wednesday at Belmont. Funeral services were held this afternoon in San Francisco. Pray's mother was a daughter of the Rev. Samuel Hopkins Willey, the fourth minister of the Congregational church here, who was later one of the founders of the University of California at Berkeley. His father, Amasa Pray, was trustee of Santa Cruz in 1867 and was president of the board of trustees of the village government in 1868. After that he was a real estate broker here. Mr. Pray is survived by his mother, Mrs. Anna B. Pray, and a sister, Fannie Jeffers Pray, both Of Berkeley.
• Residence: 1880, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
• Residence: 1896, 2121 Buchannan Street, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
• Arrival: 5 Aug 1910, San Francisco, California
• Residence: 1917, 1273 Cabrillo Street, San Mateo, San Mateo, CA USA
• Residence: 1920, Burlingame, San Mateo, California
• Residence: 1930, Burlingame, San Mateo, California

Charles married DAY, Anna on 2 Sep 1896 in Lincoln Ave, Willow Glen, San Jose, Santa Clara, CA USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1880, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
• Residence: Dec 1930, Berkeley, Alameda County, CA, USA

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• Residence: May 1911, St. Petersburg, Russia