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