Biography of 	PRATT, George K., Sr., M. D., St. Landry then Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller September 1998

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Pratt, George K., Sr., M. D., successful and well-known physician and large
property owner, New Orleans, La., was born near Opelousas, St. Landry
parish, La., Nov. 11, 1849; son of John G. and Matilda (King) Pratt, the
former of whom was born at Hartford, Conn., in 1814, and the latter in the
same locality as was the son.  The father came South and located in St.
Landry parish white yet a young man, marrying in that locality some time
later.  His undertakings prospered, and he became a large planter.  During
the years 1862-63 he served the cause of the Confederacy as a brigadier
general of Louisiana state militia.  His wife died in 1859, and his own
life closed shortly after the end of the Civil war, July 31, 1865.  The
famous Capt. Wadsworth, of Revolutionary renown, was the paternal
grandmother's brother.  He served in the Connecticut militia of those
stirring times when the republic was in its making, and he it was who
seized the Connecticut charter from King George's representative and
concealed it in the historic Charter Oak.  George K. Pratt, Sr., received
his early education in private schools of the locality in which he was
born.  In 1865 he entered the University of Louisiana (now Tulane), from
which he graduated with the degree of B. S. in the class of 1870.  In the
same year he became a teacher in a private school at New Orleans, taking up
the study of medicine in connection with his duties as a teacher.  In 1874
he graduated from the medical department of the University of Louisiana
with the degree of M. D., having in the meantime served 2 years as interne
in the New Orleans Charity hospital.  From the time of his graduation until
1877 he devoted his abilities to active professional work in connection
with the inspection service of the state board of health, but in the latter
year he was elected house surgeon of the New Orleans Charity hospital, and
remained incumbent of that important office until 1880, when he began
general family practice in New Orleans, which has since received his
undivided attention.  The doctor is a member of the Orleans Parish and
Louisiana State Medical societies and the American Medical association.  In
politics, he is independent, but in local affairs he affiliates with the
democratic party.  From 1884 to 1899 he served as a member of the Louisiana
state board of health.  He is a large property owner in the city of New
Orleans.  April 21, 1880, Dr. Pratt was married to Miss Mary Louisa Moore,
a daughter of Judge Joseph M. and Annette (Wartell) Moore, of St. Landry
parish, La., and seven children, as follow, have been born to their union:
J. Overton, now in commercial life;  Joseph, died in infancy;  George K.,
Jr., now a practicing physician of New Orleans;  Albert Miles, in
commercial life; Louise, John G., student in the medical department of
Tulane university, and Adela.

Source:  Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, 
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3),
p. 789.  Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century 
Historical Association.