Pratt, Charles F. (1824-1901)

PRATT

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 5/8/2008 at 18:17:11

Charles Felix Pratt
Oct 19, 1824 - Oct 25, 1901

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.90, Crescent Twp.)
C. F. Pratt, farmer, P. O. Crescent City, was born October 19, 1824, In Abbeville County, S. C.; son of W. Pratt, who was born in Abbeville County, S. C. September 27, 1798, and was engaged in farming, when he married Martha Murdock, born in Newberry County, S. C., July 30, 1803; he died January 26, 1863, but hsi wife survives, and is now seventy-nine years old. To her seven children were born; five survive, of whom Mr. C. F. Pratt is one. He spent his earlier years on the farm of his father, receiving a common school education. At the age of twenty, at his home, July 2, 1845, he married Gabrilla Callaham, who was born in the same county July 30, 1823; her parents were John and Nancy (Stephenson) Callaham, who were born respectively in Virginia and South Carolina. In 1845, Mr. Pratt removed to Chattooga County, Ga., and engaged in farming and school teaching; he enlisted as a volunteer September 2, 1861, in Company I, Thirty-fifth Georgia, Hill's corps of Lee's army; took part in a number of engagements, and surrendered at Kingston, Ga., May 17, 1865. In 1869, he came West, and stopped a few months at Omaha, Neb., then came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and engaged in saw-milling until 1879, when he changed to farming,, in which business he still continues. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt had nine children, one of whom is dead. Their names are John W., Nancy E., James A., Sylvester V., Martha Ann (dead), Emma M., Phebe J. Charles F., and Frances L. Mr. Pratt belongs to the Latter-Day Saints, or Mormons; he is a Greenbacker in politics, having been a candidate several times for county offices on that ticket. He joined the Masonic fraternity in 1863, and is also a member of the Mutual Protectionists.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.678)
C. F. PRATT, of Crescent City, was born in Abbeville co, South Carolina, October 19, 1824, son of WILLIAM and MARTHA (MURDOCH) PRATT. His mother was born July 31, 1800 and his father September 27, 1798, both being descendants of English, Irish and Welsh ancestry. Mr. PRATT's grandfather came to America at the age of 16 years, in 1776, at the commencement of the Revolutionary war, first locating in Newberry Co, South Carolina and engaging in a distillery. He married ELIZABETH DAVENPORT, a native of the same county, and they moved to Abbeville where they spent the remainder of their days with their son. WILLIAM PRATT received a good education, his father being a teacher, and married GABRIELLA CALLAHAN, who was born in Abbeville Co, July 31, 1824, and then left his parental home, in his 21st year, 1845, locating in Chatooga Co, Georgia. There he purchased 160 acres of land for which he paid $800; 70 acres of this tract had been cultivated by an old Cherokee Indian named OVERTAKER. The improvements, therefore, were few and meager. Here Mr Pratt commenced raising grain, fruit and cotton, and also his own domestic animals and continued there until 1855 when he sold the place for $1,600 and bought another two miles distant for $800. On that place there were 40 acres cleared. He cleared 25 acres more, put up a log house and barns, and made many other improvements. He added to it by purchase until he finally had 370 acres of good farming land. Then in September 1861, he enlisted in the military service, joining Company F, 35th Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under General Holmes, and was engaged in many hard-fought battles, as those of Fair Oaks, Virginia, the Wilderness, Seven Days' fight in front of Richmond between Lee and McClellan, etc. In 1862 he enjoyed a furlough, being disabled and remained at home something more than a year. In 1863 he returned to service under General Early whose forces scoured the Shenandoah Valley as far as Winchester. In February 1865, he procured another furlough home, and before its term expired, the war closed. He was in most of the hottest battles in Virginia during the four years of the war, but was not wounded. April 12, 1869, he sold his farm already described, and started for Utah, by way of Chattanooga, Memphis, St Louis, etc, by rail and water; and on arriving at Omaha, May 1, he stopped here until July, doing odd jobs. Then he rented a farm of 80 acres in Rockford Twp, Pottawattamie Co, of which 40 acres were broken. After following agricultural pursuits there for a year, he purchased a saw-mill and ran it for 10 years. June 26, 1876, he moved the mill to Crescent city and ran it two years. Then he sold it to his sons and bought his present farm of 60 acres within the limits of Crescent City, which had been improved some, having a log house upon it. Nearly all the improvements there at the present day are the product of his own labor -- a good residence, out-buildings, etc. It is indeed a well furnished and comfortable home. Mr. Pratt is a high principled Democrat, sympathizing with the so-called "Greenback" movement, and liberal in his heart toward all parties. In local elections he is of course independent, voting for the best man, regardless of party. He was Justice of the Peace 8 years in Georgia, two terms in Rockford Twp, and two in Crescent Twp. He is a member of Mount Hickory Lodge, No. 133 F.&A.M. of Georgia, esteeming this order far above all other organizations. He has also been the second officer of the Grange for a number of years and has held other offices. He also belongs to the Crescent M.P. Society, this lodge being the oldest of the kind in the state. In this he has officiated as President, vice-president, etc. ever since its foundation. He is also a member of the Farmers Alliance. He and his wife were Baptists in Georgia, both being baptized on the same day by the same minister; they are now members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are the parents of 9 children: John W. and Nancy E. born in Chattooga Co, Georgia, June 2, 1846; John W. resides in Harrison County, Iowa; Nancy E. is the wife of E.L. McKinney in Jackson Co, Indian Territory; James A., born September 14, 1849, in Chattooga Co, Georgia, now residing in Crescent City; S.V. was born April 10, 1852, in Georgia and also resides in Crescent Township; Martha Ann born August 12, 1853 in Chattooga Co, died July 21, 1871; Emma C. was born also in that county April 11, 1855 and now is the wife of C.D. Watts of Sherman Co, Kansas; Phoebe J., born also in Chattooga Co, August 11, 1857, is the wife of J.M. BOYD in Crescent City; Charles F., born November 10, 1861, in Chattooga Co, and resides at home; Leona, born also in Chattooga Co, February 28, 1864, wife of CLEMENT HOUGH at Crescent City. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are the grandparents of 21 children, all living. Mrs. Pratt is of English and Irish descent; was born in Abbeville Co, South Carolina, daughter of JOHN and NANCY (STEVENSON) CALLAHAN, was brought up as a farmer's daughter, within four miles of where she was married to Mr. Pratt, July 2, 1845. She is the fifth in order of birth in a family of 23 children, and the daughter of her father's second wife. All those children grew up and married during their father's lifetime. Mrs. Pratt is now aged 67 years.