Luke Pryor
Encyclopedia
Luke Pryor was a U.S. senator
from the state
of Alabama
. He was appointed to fill the Senate term left by the death of George S. Houston
and served from January 7 to November 23, 1880, when a replacement was elected. Pryor was a Democrat. He is interred at City Cemetery in Athens, Alabama.
to parents Luke Pryor and Ann Batte Lane. His father's first marriage was to Martha Scott, a sister of General Winfield Scott
. His brother was the noted race horse trainer John Benjamin Pryor
of Natchez, Mississippi
.
for 40 years before his death. Pryor House, built in 1836, stands as a historic building in Limestone County, Alabama
. Pryor studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1841. On the 1850 United States Census his occupation was recorded as "lawyer."
Luke Pryor was a slave owner. On the 1840 Census 6 free blacks under the age of 10 were recorded in his father's household, as well as 1 male slave child under 10 and an older female between the ages of 55 and 100. By 1850 Luke Pryor was recorded with 39 slaves between the ages of 70 years old and as young as 4 months, however in 1860 only two slaves were recorded in his household. The American Civil War
did not begin until April 12, 1861 and slavery was not completely abolished until 1865 after the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment
.
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...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. He was appointed to fill the Senate term left by the death of George S. Houston
George S. Houston
George Smith Houston was an American Democratic politician who was the 24th Governor of Alabama from 1874 to 1878....
and served from January 7 to November 23, 1880, when a replacement was elected. Pryor was a Democrat. He is interred at City Cemetery in Athens, Alabama.
Birth and Parentage
Born 1820 in AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
to parents Luke Pryor and Ann Batte Lane. His father's first marriage was to Martha Scott, a sister of General Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
. His brother was the noted race horse trainer John Benjamin Pryor
John Benjamin Pryor
John Benjamin Pryor , was a noted Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He was the trainer of Lexington, a top racehorse of the 1850s and whose excellence in competition and as a sire stud continued well into the 20th century earning the horse induction in to the United States' National Museum of Racing...
of Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
.
Life in Alabama
Pryor married Isabella Virginia Harris. They were the parents of 8 children all born in Alabama. Luke Pryor lived at the Sugar Creek Plantation, in Athens, AlabamaAthens, Alabama
Athens is a city in Limestone County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 18,967. According to the 2009 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 24,234...
for 40 years before his death. Pryor House, built in 1836, stands as a historic building in Limestone County, Alabama
Limestone County, Alabama
Limestone County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.It is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Metro Area. Its name comes from Limestone Creek, a local stream. In 2000, the population was 65,676. As of 2010 the county's...
. Pryor studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1841. On the 1850 United States Census his occupation was recorded as "lawyer."
Luke Pryor was a slave owner. On the 1840 Census 6 free blacks under the age of 10 were recorded in his father's household, as well as 1 male slave child under 10 and an older female between the ages of 55 and 100. By 1850 Luke Pryor was recorded with 39 slaves between the ages of 70 years old and as young as 4 months, however in 1860 only two slaves were recorded in his household. The American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
did not begin until April 12, 1861 and slavery was not completely abolished until 1865 after the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, passed by the House on January 31, 1865, and adopted on December 6, 1865. On...
.