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Tyler
County
West Virginia Genealogy
Trails
A part of the
Genealogy Trails History Group
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Tyler County Biographies
"P"
Surnames
PRATT FAMILY - In many ways the Pratt
family have distinguished themselves. Among them have been
found learned and devout ministers, physicians and surgeons, and not
a few have played a conspicuous part in the political history of the
country, both east and west, some of the Pratts having served in
congress, where their potency was felt. They came from good
old English stock and were early in this country, taking part in
public affairs long before the Lexington Alarm, and when the
struggle for Independence finally came, they had representatives in
the field and freely shed their blood for the cause of liberty and
self-government. In the war of 1812 they again showed loyalty
to our flag and fought bravely to defend the same. Dr. Samuel
Austin Pratt, of Preston county, West Virginia, is a representative
of this well-bred family.
(I) _________ Pratt, just at the close
of the revolutionary war, emigrated to Tyler county, Virginia (now
West Virginia), and there built for himself a home, married and
reared a family, the descendants of whom have honored his
name. Among his children was William S. Pratt.
(II) William
S. Pratt, son of the pioneer Pratt, above referred to, was born in
Tyler county, Virginia, in 1790, and died from the effects
of a cancer in his eye in 1864. By occupation he was a
farmer. Politically he voted the Whig and Republican tickets,
and was not afraid to speak his mind in all political matters.
The church of his choice was the United Brethren, of which he
was long a member. He married Martha Underwood, daughter
of William W. and Mary Hannah (Willis) Underwood, of Tyler county,
West Virginia. William W. Underwood was in many ways a
remarkable man. He was a thorough-going farmer, but seemed to
have a life tenure on the commonwealth, politically and
otherwise. He was a member of the state legislature for many
terms, and probably no man wrote more deeds than did he in the
county in which he resided. His children were: Ellis,
Wells, John, William, Samuel, Zane, Notley, Martha (Mrs. Pratt),
Elizabeth and Leah. Their home was one of the most beautiful
in the entire state. The children born to William S. Pratt and
wife were: 1. Ellis, died in infancy. 2.
Elizabeth Jane, now deceased; married Daniel Weekley. 3.
Sarah Ann, married William Weekley. 4. William W.,
married Ethatlinda Weekley. 5. Nancy. 6.
Leah, married Isaiah Weekley. 7. John, married Mary
Bond. 8. Thomas J., now deceased; married Elizabeth
Dawson. 9. Dr. Samuel Austin, of whom
later.
(III) Samuel Austin Pratt, M. D., youngest child
of William S. Pratt, and wife, Martha (Underwood) Pratt, was born
August 13, 1854, and was named for his uncle, Samuel Underwood, his
mother's brother. The place of his birth was Pratt's Run,
Tyler county, Virginia, now West Virginia. His early youth was
spent on his father's farm and he attended the common public schools
of his neighborhood. While yet in his teens he accompanied his
sister Leah to Missouri, where he remained a year and a half; he
retracted his steps, however, walking one hundred and fifty miles of
the way. At the age of seventeen, he taught school, and then
clerked in a store and did any other work which he could find to
do. Determined to study medicine, for which profession he had
a natural inclination, he entered the office of Dr. M. R. Maloy, of
Middlebourne, the county seat of Tyler county, West Virginia, and
remained under his tutorship for two years, then studied one year
under Dr. R. H. Dew, of West Union, Doddridge county, probably one
of the most learned physicians of Virginia. He then pursued a
course at Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, after which he
returned to West Virginia, was examined by the state board of
examiners, from whom he received a license to practice
medicine. He then located at Kingwood, opening an office May
1, 1880, and hs there continued his residence and the practice of
his profession ever since--almost a third of a century. He has
been examining surgeon for the soldiers of the government for
fifteen years; has been railroad physician for both railroads of his
town, running through Preston county, and enjoys a large
practice.
Not unlike his grandfather, William Underwood, Dr.
Pratt has always been fond of the gun and huntsman's chase. He
loves his outdoor sport, his dogs and fine horses. As a
marksman he has attained wonderful records. During 1910 he
spent three months at the Eaton Ranch, Wolf, Wyoming, a noted place
for hunters. He was the invited guest of Eaton Brothers, and
during his long sojourn enjoyed the table that cost for kitchen help
alone $2,800 a month, and when each of the other guests paid the sum
of one hundred dollars per month for their board, other surroundings
being in proportion. The place kept three hundred riding
horses, with a five thousand acre tract of land through which flowed
many mountain streams filled with fine trout. This was indeed
a sportman's retreat. This trip is often referred to as one of
the "bright spots" in life. He went for his health, and he
recovered it. The doctor and his wife are members of the
Presbyterian church, and Mrs. Pratt is president of the Presbyterian
Civic Club.
On
August 13, 1884, the thirtieth anniversary of his birth, Dr. Pratt
married Jennie, daughter of David Wheeler, and the adopted daughter
of James W. Parsons, who took her under his own roof when only four
days old, her mother dying at that time. One child by this
union, Martha, born October 16, 1890, is a graduate of the high
school of Kingwood, after which she received the degree of Bachelor
of Arts from the College of Lutherville, Maryland.
[Genealogical and Personal History of the Upper
Monongahela Valley, Volume III, 1912-Transcribed by C.
Anthony]
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