Mary Prugh Harnish's 1922 biography of Peter Cornelius Prugh chronicles the life of a dedicated minister and educator. Prugh, a graduate of Mercersburg Marshall College, spent a significant portion of his career serving as the pastor of the First Reformed Church of Xenia, Ohio. During his time in Xenia, Prugh played a pivotal role in establishing the Sailors and Orphans Home. This institution, initially founded by Prugh, was later taken over by the Grand Army of the Republic and eventually became a state institution. Following his tenure in Xenia, Prugh served as the superintendent of the St. Paul's Orphans Home in Butler, Pennsylvania, for twenty-one years. He retired from this position in 1903, having made a lasting impact on the lives of countless orphans. Prugh's contributions to his community were recognized with honorary degrees from both Franklin and Marshall College and Heidelberg University. He married Charlotte Hassler, a native of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania.