Biography of G W Pratt, Mississippi Co, AR ********************************************************************* USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. Submitted by: Michael Brown Date: Sep 1998 ********************************************************************* Bibliography: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas. Chicago: Goodspeed Publishers, 1890. G. W. Pratt is a name familiar to residents of Mississippi County. Its owner is a prominent saw-mill operator at Pecan Point, who was born in Decatur County, Tenn., in 1843, and was the oldest child in a family of nine children born to Richard T. and Mildred (Walker) Pratt. The father was one of the leading farmers, and a pioneer of West Tennessee, where he resided up to the time of his death, in 1874, ten days after the demise of his wife. This was an incident that kept firmly imbedded in the minds of their children, and did not remove its melancholy impression for many years afterward. Upon returning home from the funeral of his faithful wife the father seemed to have a presentiment of his coming fate, and, weighed down by the grief and sadness of his bereavement, told his children that death would claim him before many days. Exactly ten days afterward he passed away, and his words were verified. G. W. Partt remained at home until sixteen years of age, when he commenced flat-boating on the Mississippi River, and continued at that employment until 1860. He then went to clerking on one of the large river steamboats until 1861, when the rumors of war came penetrating through hills and valleys, and calling the men to arms. Like many other chivalrous young men of the South, he cast his fortunes with the Confederacy, and enlisted in Company K, Fifth Tennessee Regiment, commanded by Col. Travis, and was elected to the rank of corporal. At the battle of Shiloh he received a terrible wound, and was granted a furlough of sixty days. At the end of that time, having recovered, he organized a cavalry company with Capt. D—– commanding, and served as first lieutenant for three months, when the company was divided into two, and he received the rank of captain. He then joined Col. Cox's regiment, and campaigned through East Tennessee, and was in almost innumerable skirmishes and minor engagements during the entire time. In the spring of 1865 the company disbanded after almost continual fighting throughout its entire service, and he returned home. After the death of his wife he went to Bartlett, Tenn., and engaged in carpenter work to some extent, but afterward moved to Brunswick, where he remained seven years. In 1873 he was married to Miss Ella Johnston, of Fayette County, Tenn., who lived but two years after marriage, and died, leaving one son, John, who is now attending school at Princeton, Ky. In 1876 Mr. Pratt was married, at Oakland, Tenn., his second wife being Miss Nannie, a sister of his former wife. This lady lived but eighteen months, and after her death he [p.544] spent several months seeking a location in which to settle. He finally decided on Pecan Point, and moved to this point in 1882, entering at once into his trade of carpentering and building with so much success that now almost every building in that place can truthfully be said to have been erected by him. In February, 1888, he purchased a saw-mill, which he erected on the river bank, that has a capacity of 10,000 feet of lumber per day, and the demand largely exceeds the supply. Mr. Pratt has also built a tramway two miles in length, extending to the timber region, and as soon as the woods become exhausted he will build it farther out. He has several tramcars running, and a force of fourteen men at work constantly. Mr. Pratt is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Pecan Point Lodge, under dispensation at the present time. He is also a member of the K. of O., Pecan Point, and Eastern Star, and attends the Methodist Episcopal Church at this point, taking an active interest in all affairs of the Sunday-school. He has been one of the leading spirits in all things that promise to be to the advantage of this section, and is one of Mississippi County's most enterprising and valued citizens. Mr. Pratt is a good business man, and an admirable mechanic and architect. He is a great friend of the children for miles around, and it is a pleasure to see the little tots leave everyone else and flock around him whenever he puts in an appearance. His own pluck and determination have placed him in an independent position, and his courteous manner has won him many friends.