PRESCOTT, H. H., Mississippi, then Caddo Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller Date: 1999-2000 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 364-365. Edited by Alc‚e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. Prescott, H. H., prominent in fire insurance business, Shreveport, La., was born in the state of Mississippi, Sept. 9, 1871; son of J. H. and Mary E. (Brock) Prescott. The father died at the city of Shreveport, La., Jan. 18, 1914. The following extracts relative to his life are taken from an issue of the Shreveport Times following his death: "John Howard Prescott, aged 66 years, one of the best-known insurance men in this section and a prominent citizen of Shreveport since 1871, died very suddenly at his home, 422 Milan street, at 12:15 yesterday afternoon, following an illness which had confined him to his home during the past 3 years. He is survived by his wife and 5 children, the children being Howard H. Prescott (the subject of this sketch), of this city; Mrs. Clara V. Warren, of Havana, Cuba; Albert S. Prescott, of Dallas, Tex.; Walter H. Prescott, of Shreveport, and Clinton A. Prescott, of Jackson, Miss. * * *. Mr. Prescott was born at Macon, Miss., Dec. 6, 1847. He served as a courier in the Confederate army, with a Mississippi command, during the last 2 years of the Civil war. During the first 2 years of his stay in this city he was married to Miss Mary E. Brock, of Clinton, Miss., June 13, 1868, and his sons and daughter who survive him are the issue of this union. Dec. 5, 1902, he lost his wife, and on Dec. 21, 1905, he was married to Miss May Stayton, of Keatchie, La., a niece of Hon. Charles Schuler. During the yellow fever epidemic at Shreveport, in 1873, he lost his mother, 2 brothers, and 1 sister, their deaths occurring within 2 weeks, during that trying time. It is said that Mr. Prescott claimed that his escape from the dreadful malady was due alone to the fact that he smoked cigarettes, which, he believed, made him immune to the disease. After spending 3 years in New Orleans, where he was engaged in the cotton business, he returned to Shreveport and became connected with John B. Durham and the firm of Ardis & Parker, as an accountant, until 1883, when he went into the insurance business and conducted a local agency here about 12 years, during the last five of which he had associated with him his son, Howard, conducting the business under the firm name of J. H. Prescott & Son. In 1895 he retired from the agency field and became an independent adjuster, continuing as such until 3 years ago, when he suffered a paralytic stroke at Ruston, La., while on a business trip there. Since that time he has been an invalid, unable to leave his home. He was a devout member of the Baptist church and the oldest living male member of that congregation in this city. Until the time of his affliction 3 years ago, Mr. Prescott was a prominent figure in the affairs of the church, and during 17 years served as superintendent of the Sunday school of his church. His activities as an insurance adjuster carried him through all parts of North Louisiana., East Texas, and South Arkansas, and gave him a wide acquaintance among insurance and business men, with whom he was very popular. He enjoyed the full confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact in business and social life. He and his family have always occupied a prominent place in the business and social life of this city, his sons reflecting the pureness of his own noble character, and his daughter having been one of the most prominent figures in Shreveport's social circles up to the time of her marriage and departure from the city. She was long regarded as one of the most talented pianists in Shreveport. Mr. Prescott was 68 years of age at the time of his death. The mother was a native of Clinton, Miss., where her marriage to Mr. Prescott took place. The family removed to New Orleans in 1868. Mrs. Prescott's death occurred at Shreveport in 1902, at the age of 53 years. Eight children were born to their union, of whom five survive at this time. H. H. Prescott, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of the children. He was about 1 year old when the parents removed from Mississippi to Louisiana. He was educated in the city of Shreveport, where he attended the George H. Thatcher school. Following the completion of his education, he embarked in the insurance business with his father, at the age of 18 years, and has devoted his energies to that pursuit to the present time, covering a period of about 26 years. Only 2 insurance men in the city of Shreveport, it is said, have a longer record of service in that line of business. Mr. Prescott's business connections extend throughout North Louisiana and adjoining states, through all of which extensive territory he ranks very high, both personally and as an insurance man. He is prominent as a 32nd degree Mason, Knight Templar, and member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has various other fraternal connections. He and members of his family are united with the First Baptist church of Shreveport. He is affiliated with the democratic party, and takes an active part, not only in political and party affairs, but in all matters of public concern, ranking among the foremost public-spirited citizens of Shreveport. In 1900 Mr. Prescott was married to Miss Martha Leary, a daughter of W. P. Leary, of Minden, La. Two sons, McIntyre and Leslie, have been born to their union.