William Gray Price Jr.

William Gray Price Jr. was born in Chester, Pennsylvania on May 23, 1869, the son of William Gray Price and Jane Campbell Price. He was educated in both public and private schools in Chester, and in 1887 began his career as a clerk with the Delaware County Trust and Title Insurance Company. He left the company in 1893, and formed his own real estate development venture while residing in Philadelphia. Price's company specialized in residential construction, and built homes and apartment houses in the Chester, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh areas.

Start of military career

Price joined the National Guard in 1886, enlisting as a private in Company B, 6th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to corporal in 1889, and then applied for an officer's commission. In 1891 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant, and in 1892 he was promoted to first lieutenant. In 1893, Price was assigned as adjutant of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, and subsequently received promotion to captain. In 1895, he was promoted to major, and in 1898 he was named second in command of the 3rd Regiment with the rank of lieutenant colonel. During the Spanish–American War, Price's regiment was mobilized for service in Cuba; they completed training and arrived at the Tampa, Florida embarkation point, but the war ended before they could board their transport ships.

Continued military career

In 1901, Price was promoted to command of the 3rd Infantry Regiment with the rank of colonel after winning an election held by the other officers in the regiment. In 1910 he was selected to command the Pennsylvania National Guard's 1st Brigade, and promoted to brigadier general. In 1916–1917, Price led his brigade and other Pennsylvania National Guard volunteers during their service on the Texas-Mexico border during the Pancho Villa Expedition.

In 1903, Price married Sallie Pennell Eyre. Their children included four sons and three daughters: Joshua, William G., Terrill, William A., Martha, Virginia, Elizabeth, and Sarah. William G. Price III was born and died in 1894.