Hiram H. Wray
Hiram H. Wray, prominently identified with the mercantile
interests of Leechburg, was born January 24, 1848, in Kiskiminetas township,
Armstrong county, and was the son of John M. and Margaret (Townsend) Wray. His
father followed farming, and the son was reared to that calling, sharing its
healthful toils. After receiving his preliminary education in the common
schools, he attended the Elder’s Ridge Academy in Indiana county, and then
took a course of instruction in the Iron City Commercial College, from which
he graduated in 1864. Entering his father’s store at Olivet, he gained his
first practical knowledge of business. From there he went to Mahoning, where
he was engaged as bookkeeper for Jeremiah Bonner, and the following year he
took charge of the Adams Express office at that point, then the northern
terminus of the Allegheny Valley Railroad, and at the same time became the
representative of the Good Intent Mail Line. He remained at Mahoning until the
spring of 1867, and then returned to Shady Plain, where he became a partner
with his father in a store under the firm name of J. M. Wray & Son. He
continued to be identified in the management of that business and its branches
until 1872, when he came to Leechburg to take charge of the books of the firm
of Beale, Rodgers & Burcheld. He was connected with that firm in a very
responsible position until 1873, when he purchased an interest in the business
of Ashbaugh & Co (now Ashbaugh & Wray). The firm as now constituted
has carried on business continously and successfully since 1875, and is one of
the best-known firms in Leechburg, or, for that matter, the southern part of
the county. Their place of business is located directly across the river from
Leechburg. At or about the same time that Mr. Wray formed his present business
relation, he became the owner and editor of the Leechburg Enterprise, which
had been established two years before, in 1873. He edited this journal with
ability through the Centennial year, and transferred it to Messrs. Truxal
& Hill, in 1877. He was one of the prime movers in the project of
establishing the Leechburg Bank, and has been for a number of years one of its
directors. He has also identified himself with various other business
enterprises, notably among them that of the introduction of the new process
flouring-mill, in which he was associated with five other gentlemen. The mill
referred to is located at Leechburg, and is known as the “Leechburg
Milling Company.” It is doing a large merchant business, and was the
first to adopt the “gradual reduction system,” now in general use.
Mr. Wray has also given special attention to stock-growing, and, in company
with Robert Wray, is breeding superior Southdown sheep. He is also rearing
Clydesdale and thoroughbred horses. Upon September 7, 1880, Mr. Wray was
united in marriage with Miss Alice M. Harrison, daughter of John and Eliza
(Sampson) Harrison, of Allegheny county, who was born December 28, 1855. Two
children have been born to them — Edith M and John Harrison; the former died
in infancy. Mrs. Wray’s father was of English descent and related to the
famous Featherstone family. He came to this country when nine years of age
with his parents, who settled in Germantown, near Philadelphia, where he was
reared. He remained here until he was twenty-one, when he emigrated westward
and settled in Allegheny county, when he was prominently identified with its
business interests, and was noted as one of the pioneers in importing English
and Scotch draft horses, a business in which he was engaged up to the time of
his death, which occurred from an accident, in 1879.
Source: Page(s)
614,
History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by Robert Walker Smith, Esq.
Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Transcribed December 2000
by Jeffrey Bish for the Armstrong County Smith Project.
Contributed by Jeffrey Bish for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project
(http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format, for any
presentation, without prior written permission.
Return to the Biographical Index
Return to the Smith Project
Â
About Author
