Charles Nelson Pray
Encyclopedia
Charles Nelson Pray was a U.S. Representative
from Montana
.
, St. Lawrence County, New York
, Pray attended the public schools in Salisbury
and Middlebury, Vermont and graduated from Middlebury High School. He attended Middlebury College
from 1886–88 and graduated from the Chicago College of Law (today called the Chicago-Kent College of Law
).
in 1892 and commenced practice at Fort Benton, Montana
, in 1896. He served as assistant prosecuting attorney of Chouteau County
in 1897 and 1898. Pray was elected prosecuting attorney in 1898 and reelected in 1900, 1902, and 1904.
to the Sixtieth
, Sixty-first
, and Sixty-second Congresses
(March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1913). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1912 to the Sixty-third Congress
. Pray resumed the practice of law in Great Falls, Montana
, January 1, 1914. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate
in 1916.
to the United States District Court for the District of Montana
on January 21, 1924, to a new seat created by 42 Stat. 837. He was confirmed by the Senate on February 8, 1924, and received his commission on February 8, 1924. He was elevated to Chief Judge of the court from 1948 until he assumed senior status
in 1957. He died in Great Falls, Montana
, September 12, 1963. He was interred in Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Cemetery.
Pray's papers 1878–1963, including diaries and correspondence, are lodged at the University of Montana in Missoula
.
The town of Pray, Montana is named for him.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
.
Early life
Born in PotsdamPotsdam (town), New York
Potsdam is a town located in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 15,957 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 13676. The town is named after the city of Potsdam in Germany...
, St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
, Pray attended the public schools in Salisbury
Salisbury, Vermont
Salisbury is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,090 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 30.1 square miles , of which 29.1 square miles is land and 1.0 square mile is water...
and Middlebury, Vermont and graduated from Middlebury High School. He attended Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
from 1886–88 and graduated from the Chicago College of Law (today called the Chicago-Kent College of Law
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Chicago–Kent College of Law, the law school affiliated with Illinois Institute of Technology, is nationally recognized for the scholarship and accomplishments of its faculty and student body. It is the second oldest law school in the state of Illinois. Many of the applications of technology in the...
).
Prosecutorial career
Pray was admitted to the barAdmission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1892 and commenced practice at Fort Benton, Montana
Fort Benton, Montana
Fort Benton is a city in and the county seat of Chouteau County, Montana, United States. A portion of the city was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. Established a full generation beforethe U.S...
, in 1896. He served as assistant prosecuting attorney of Chouteau County
Chouteau County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Lewis and Clark National Forest * Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument -Economy:Chouteau County is the largest winter wheat producer for the state of Montana...
in 1897 and 1898. Pray was elected prosecuting attorney in 1898 and reelected in 1900, 1902, and 1904.
Congressional career
Pray was elected as a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Sixtieth
60th United States Congress
The Sixtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1907 to March 4, 1909, during the last two years of...
, Sixty-first
61st United States Congress
The Sixty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1911, during the first two years of...
, and Sixty-second Congresses
62nd United States Congress
- House of Representatives :* Democratic : 230 * Republican : 162* Socialist : 1* Independent : 1TOTAL members: 394-Senate:* President: James S...
(March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1913). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1912 to the Sixty-third Congress
63rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives:*Democratic : 291 *Republican : 134*Progressive : 9*Independent : 1TOTAL members: 435-Senate:*President of the Senate: Thomas R. Marshall*President pro tempore: James P. Clarke-Senate:...
. Pray resumed the practice of law in Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
, January 1, 1914. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1916.
Judicial career
Pray was nominated by President Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
to the United States District Court for the District of Montana
United States District Court for the District of Montana
The United States District Court for the District of Montana is the United States District Court whose jurisdiction is the state of Montana...
on January 21, 1924, to a new seat created by 42 Stat. 837. He was confirmed by the Senate on February 8, 1924, and received his commission on February 8, 1924. He was elevated to Chief Judge of the court from 1948 until he assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
in 1957. He died in Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
, September 12, 1963. He was interred in Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Cemetery.
Pray's papers 1878–1963, including diaries and correspondence, are lodged at the University of Montana in Missoula
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
.
The town of Pray, Montana is named for him.