W.N. Pryor, or Bill, was born 14 March 1900 in Allegany County, NY. He spent his early years on a farm. He left the farm to become an electrician in Hornell, NY. Bill worked as an electrician, steam engineer for a woodworking plant, and for the Hornell Board of Education, where he maintained and installed gas heating; he was superintendent of buildings and grounds when he retired in 1962.

On 30 June 1923, Bill Pryor and Mildred Clark married. They enjoyed adventures of camping and travel together. After Bill retired he maintained a hobby and business of gem and rock polishing and cutting. He built machinery for preparing and creating jewelry, and he and Mildred traveled to “rock” shows. Alaska was the biggest trip of their life, and the farthest they had ever been from home. Bill died 14 March 1982.

Mildred Clark was born on 11 April 1902 in what was then called Hornesville. She was 16 before she ventured as far as 18 miles from home by automobile with a friend’s family. Her working career started at 16 at the Erie Railroad office and then the office of the local feed and grain store, where she was employed until her marriage. She balanced raising a daughter, acting as caregiver to elderly family members and neighbors, and church and family activities, while employed as bookkeeper for various businesses, and later as a clerk with the local WW2 Draft Board.

Mildred’s advice, upon returning from Alaska was “Everyone should go to see beautiful Alaska!”

Along with Bill, she encouraged, enjoyed and was proud of their six grandchildren and followed their careers. She lived to see eleven great- grandchildren. Mildred died 20 September 1997 in Albany, NY. -- [C.f. donor notes. ]