Henry PRYOR was born @ 1816 in Tennessee. He became a skilled blacksmith while young. Susan TAYLOR became his wife. They raised their large family in the Giles County, Tennessee area where he was engaged in farming and his blacksmith work. The children would laughingly tell later that the PRYOR Family in Giles County would always put up 2,000 lbs of pork each year. One thousand was for the family and the other to feed anyone at or in the vicinity of the blacksmith shop.

In the 1860's Henry PRYOR died. The family was not only subjected to battle conditions of the Civil War but it's terrible aftermath. The widow, under these conditions, decided to move westward. With several members of her family and with her brother-in-law and sister (George Washington WALKER and Fannie TAYLOR WALKER ) they came to Pope County, Arkansas by 1870.

The WALKER Family settled in the Rock Hollow Area south of Newton Springs while the PRYORS settled a rather wide area in the Rock Springs Community south of Hector.

While many of the PRYOR children married in Tennessee all but two of them eventually came to the Rock Springs Community of Pope Co, AR.

Children of Henry PRYOR and Susan TAYLOR PRYOR were: (1) Eliza Jane: b. 6 July 1837, married Lee (Leander) WISDOM, d. 13 May 1925, buried Rock Springs Cemetery, Pope Co., AR. Children John H., Harriett E., Nancy Theodora, and George L. W. (2) George W.: b. 20 Dec 1839 - 1st wife Ann, 2nd wife Prunty [hard to read] - 3rd wife Rebecca Davis RUSHING - d. 9 Sept 1908 from injuries suffered in tornado of 23 Apr 1908 which destroyed the village of Hector, buried Rock Springs Cemetery, Pope Co., AR. Lived in Missouri before coming to Arkansas. Children: reportedly, Lonnie, Ada, and Linsey by first wife - Had Ernest and at least one girl by 2nd wife.

Other children probable.

(3) Grisey M., b. ca 1841, m. J.M. PETTY. Remained in Tennessee. (4) Nancy H., b. ca 1843, married Robert W. DICKEY. Remained in Tennessee - d. March 1916 - buried Mt. Horab Cemetery, Lawrence County, Tennessee. Children James Henry, John Campbell, Franklin Monroe, Presley L., Leander Norris, Robert William, Mary Alice, Aaron Coleman, George Ammon, and Caleb Howal (Kay). Of the children, Franklin Monroe DICKEY was the only one to settle in Pope Co., AR. (5) Aaron Linsey (Avol Linsey), b. ca 1844, never married, d. 1870's, buried Campground Cemetery, Pope Co, AR. Said to have served in Civil War and was imprisoned for a long period, never regaining his health. (6) Mary Ann, b. ca 1846, m. (1) Prestly Ross DICKEY who was a brother to Robert W. DICKEY. They came to Newton County, Arkansas by 1870. Had children Linsey H. and Sarah E. After the death of her first husband Mary Ann PRYOR m. (2) Mac MCCLOUD. They lived in Pope Co., AR, had several children, settled in Oklahoma where she died. (7) Rufus Allen, b. ca 1848, m. several times. Lived in Wayne Co, TN 1870. Was in Giles Co, TN 1880. Later came to Pope Co., AR and then moved on to the Sallisaw Area of Oklahoma where he died. Records show that he had at least the following children by his first wife: Sarah A., Nancy, and Alice. (8) Susan F. (Frankie), b. 6 July 1852, m. Joseph P. ROWLAND, d. 4 Jun 1944, buried Rock Springs Cemetery, Pope Co, AR. Children: Infant, Henry, Sam, Viana, Charlie, Dora, Lou, Ella S., George. (9) Hannah Louisa (Sis), b. ca 1856, m. Langston G. TACKETT, d. 1925, buried Rock Springs Cemetery, Pope Co, AR. (Langston G. TACKETT'S sister first to be buried in cemetery). Children Mandy, Sam, Lee, Ada, Eva, Will, and Jesse. (10) James G., b. ca 1858, d. 1860's, buried Campground Cemetery, Pope Co, AR. (11) Samuel G. (Sam), b. 19 Jan 1865, m. Ella HICKMAN, d. 25 Jul 1896, buried Rock Springs Cem, Pope Co, AR. Children Henry, Frank, Willis and Kelly.

While Henry PRYOR was buried in Tennessee his wife was buried at Rock Springs Cem, Pope Co, AR. Her gravestone reads: "Susan Pryor, 6 Jul 1814 - March 1899". Hundreds of descendants of this couple are living today with names: PRYOR, DICKEY, RUSS, HICKMAN, CRAIG, ROWLAND, HURLEY, TACKETT, STAFFORD, WISDOM and many others.
By Harmon L. Ross

Supplied by: Cindy Faulkner