Benjamin Franklin Pridgen was born in Greene Co., AL, on January 9, 1835.  He died in Anderson Co., TX on July 12, 1913.  His parents were Wiley Washington and Mary (Baker) Pridgen.  His parents had six sons, namely: Henderson McBride, Redding Scott, Bolivar Jackson, Benjamin Franklin, Wiley Washington, Jr., and James Polk.  Wiley Washington Pridgen, Sr., and family, lived in Nash Co., NC prior to living in Alabama and he was sheriff of Nash County, NC.  Benjamin Franklin was 4 years old when his parents came to Texas, arriving on april 10, 1839.  The records show that Wiley Washington Pridgen was granted 640 acres of land in Harrison County by the Republic of Texas on January 2, 1840.  Wiley Washington Pridgen and wife, Mary, moved to DeWitt County, Texas in January 1846 and settled in the Guadalupe River Valley (called Price's Creek Settlement).

Benjamin Franklin Pridgen grew up in this settlement, but returned to Harrison Co., TX where he married Lucy Alice Wright on November 12, 1863.  Lucy Alice Wright was from Marshall, Texas, where the old Wright home still stands; it was called "The Wright Plantation" and also known as the "Locust Grove."

They moved to Houston County and established a home on Elkhart Creek, 5 miles from Grapeland.  To this union were born six children, namely: a boy, Lula May, Robert E. Lee, Wright Taylor, Lena Ross and Edith Pearl.  Listed are marriages of his children and grandchildren:

1.  A boy - died in infancy.

2.  Lula May - married Zaccheus Charles Sheridan. 

3. Robert E. Lee - married Lucinda Williams, daughter of James Franklin Williams and Louise Della (Helm) Williams.  She was born in Grapeland, Houston County, Texas on November 30, 1883.  Their children were: a. Polly - married Dr. Malcolm G. Kennedy and had 3 children.  b. Alice - married Henry Fry, no children.  c. Joe Adams, married Catherine Maude Howard, had 2 children.  The children of Robert Lee Pridgen, better known as Bob Lee, and Lucinda Pridgen are Polly (Pridgen) Kennedy, retired school teacher of Levelland, TX; Alice (Pridgen) Fry, retired school teacher of San Antonio, TX and Joe Adams Pridgen, rancher and retired farmer of Grapeland, TX.

The five grandchildren are: Don Kennedy, DDS; Polly Ann (Kennedy) Parmer; and Frances Kennedy; Linda (Pridgen) Duggan; and James Robert (Bob) Pridgen. 

Robert Lee and Lucinda, and their two daughters, Polly and Alice, moved to Grapeland in 1912.  They originally lived on a farm in the old Pridgen home about 5 miles west of Grapeland.  Their son, Joe Adams Pridgen was born soon after their move to town.

4. Wright Taylor, married Edith Gertrude Pridgen, their children were: a. Eleanor Elise died at about 2 years.  b. Jack Stafford, married Frances Enloe Darsey, 1 child.  c. Harry Crockett, married Nell Jones, had 2 children; married Marguerite (Miller) Henderson, no children.

5. Lena Ross, died at about 1 1/2 years.

6. Edith Pearl, married Algie Lee Brown, their children were: a. Alice Lileene, married Arch E. Murray, no children.  b. Edith Florence, married Wilbur A. Smith, no children.  c. Joe Algie, married Velma Chandler, had 1 child.  d. Milam Polk, unmarried.  e. Coleman Ross, unmarried.  f. Gordon Lee, married Ruth Taylir, had 1 child.  g. Nettie Gertrude, unmarried.  h. Lucy Wright, married Reece Heard, had 1 child.  i. Pridgen, married Virginia Bridges, had 1 child.  j. Ted, married Otis Kale, had 1 child.  k. Necia Jean, married Harry Ryan Campbell, no children; married Leo J. Rubenstein, no children.  l. Billy, married Ada Stevens, no children.

Benjamin Franklin Pridgen and wife, Lucy Alice, were fine, sincere citizens ... always sharing and ministering unto the needs of their families and friends.  To their many friends, they were affectionately known as "Uncle Frank" and "Miss Alice."  He was a successful farmer and from 1863 until the end of the Civil War, he managed his own plantation, the plantations of William Nugent Sheridan, and Captain Redding Scott Pridgen (his brother).  He also assisted other families where the need arose during the hard years of the Civil War.

He and his wife had good educations and were intensely interested that their children have the same.  Schools were sparse and they helped engage the services of fine teachers who lived in their home.

By: Nettie Brown & Mrs. Joe Pridgen

"History of Houston County, Texas 1687-1979"