This article was originally written by Bobby Rose in the early 1970's.
Submitted by Norwood Thorpe
Pryse, located on the L & N Railroad about 8 miles south-east of Irvine was named for pioneer David Pryse who had first come to Lee County, Kentucky, with brothers Elias and Thomas Pryse. They came to the United States as immigrants from Wales. David later moved to Estill County where he purchased several hundred acres of Kentucky River bottom land and built a large brick house, one of the first in the county. David married Lucy Ann Brandenburg of Heidelburg, Lee County, Kentucky.
This locality became known as Texola when the Texas Company Oil Refinery was built and was in full operation between approximately 1920 - 1945. The refinery offered employment for many of the local residents. Some of the families who live at Pryse-Texola were the Durbins, Kellys, Hamiltons, Fikes, Dixons, Arthurs, Stewarts, Metcalfs, Pendergrasses, Pryses, Wallaces.
The post office was established with Russell Barnes as postmaster June 3, 1924. Other postmasters were Mrs. Lillian Arthur, Mrs. Edna Bach, Mrs. Lucille Arthur, and Mrs. Lelia T. Taylor. Even though the community was later known as Texola, the Federal post office retained the name of Pryse for the post office.
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