Gazetteer of
the State of New York: Embracing a Comprehensive View of the Geography, Geology,
And General History of the State, and a Complete History and Description of
Every County, City, Town, Village, and Locality. With Full Tables Of Statistics.
By J. H. French. Syracuse, N.Y.: Published By R. Pearsall Smith
1860.
Page 627.
PRATTSBURCH 2-- was formed from Pulteney, April 12, 1813, and a part
of Wheeler was taken off in 1820. It is centrally situated upon the N. border of
the co. Its surface is a hilly upland, broken by the valleys of several small
streams flowing in a general S.W. direction. The principal streams are Five
Mile, Ten Mile, and Twelve Mile Creeks. The valley at Prattsburgh Village is
1,400 feet above tide, and the hills are 300 to 400 feet higher. The soil is a
gravelly and clay loam. Prattsburgh (p. v.) was
incorp. Dec. 7, 1848. It contains the Franklin Academy, 3 2 churches, and several manufacturing
establishments. 4 Pop. about 600. Rikers
Hollow (p. o.) is a hamlet. The first settler was Jared Pratt, who came
in 1801 and for 2 1/2 years was the only inhabitant. 5 The
first religious services were held at the house of Jared Pratt, by Rev. John
Niles, in the fall of 1803. 6
2 Named from Capt. Joel Pratt, one of
the first settlers. 3 For many years this
academy has enjoyed a deservedly high
reputation. 4 A foundery, a tannery, and a
flouring mill. 5 Rev. John Niles, David Buell, Saml.
Tuthill, and Capt. Joel Pratt came into town in 1803; William P. Curtis, Pomeroy
Hull, and Salisbury Burton in 1804; Noah Niles, Cyril Ward, Aaron Bull,
Enoch Niles, Harmon Fowler, Rufus Blodgett, and Stephen Hall, in 1805. They were
all originally from New England. The first child born was Mariette Pratt, in
1802; the first death, a daughter of Wm. P. Curtis, drowned, in 1804;
and the first marriage, that of Isaac Pardee and Patty Waldo, in 1806. The
first school was taught in a church by Horace Bull, in 1806-07; the first inn
was kept by Aaron Bull, the same year; the first mill was erected
on Five Mile Creek, by Robert Porter. Capt. Joel Pratt was a large
proprietor of the town; and the first settlement was conducted wholly under his
encouragement, advice, and direction. 6 The census
reports 6 churches; 2 Bap., 2 M.E., Cong., and Christian.
