PRATT, Henri K.

PRATT, JACKSON, KINERSLY

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 7/28/2015 at 13:53:14

DEATH OF HENRI K. PRATT.

On New Year's Day relatives here received the word of the death of Henri K. Pratt at his home in Keokuk. For a number of years he had been in poor health, but it was not thought the end was so near. On the day before his death he had been down town, and even showed no signs of the near approach of death when he retired about 10 o'clock Saturday night. About 1 o'clock that night he was seized with a fatal attack of illness and soon passed quietly away, his malady being Bright's disease. His two half-sisters of this place, Mrs. T.C. Jackson and Miss Lute Kinersly, accompanied by their nephew Harry Kinersly, attended the funeral and interment at Keokuk Tuesday.

Most of Mr. Pratt's life was spent in Keokuk where he was a highly respected citizen, and of him the Gate City said in part:

"Henri K. Pratt was born in Boston seventy years ago, and came to Iowa in 1843. The family came to Keosauqua, where he was educated and grew to young manhood. About 1852 he entered the office of the Keosauqua Jeffersonian, learning the printer's trade and also worked on the Keosauqua Western American, these two papers being among the earliest publications of the west. He followed the printer's trade three years. He entered the mercantile business in 1856 with a young friend, the firm being Moore & Pratt. In 1859 he crossed the plains with ox teams, going to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he remained one year. He was correspondent for the Saint Louis Republic and other papers while in Santa Fe. In 1860 he went with Colonel Bonneville's command with the Third United States Infantry on the exploring expedition, down the Pecos river to Fort Clark, Texas. During the civil war he was a clerk in the provost marshal's office at Burlington. Many years ago he was a bookkeeper for H.N. Bostwick and in 1869, entered the old Keokuk State bank, which he served for nearly a quarter of a century in various capacities. In 1893 he left this institution to be assistant postmaster under the administration of D.J. Ayres. Later he was the Lee county superintendent of the poor, and was deputy county auditor at the time of his death. In 1891 at Milwaukee, Wis., he was united in marriage to Miss Amelia E. Biddles, who survives him. Mr. Pratt was an honored member of the Damascus Commandery, Knights Templar, and was highly respected by every one in this community. He was a most popular gentleman on account of his delightful personality. He was an expert gentleman in every sense. He possessed knightly qualities and will go to the grave sincerely mourned by many."

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book E, Page 109, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA