BIO: Richard Henry Pratt, Cumberland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ ______________________________________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc. Illustrated. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm ______________________________________________________________________ PART II. HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA. CHAPTER XXXVIII. BOROUGH OF CARLISLE. 391 BOROUGH OF CARLISLE. CAPT. RICHARD HENRY PRATT, superintendent of the United States Indian Industrial Schools at Carlisle, to which position he was appointed in September, 1879, is a native of Rushford, Allegany Co., N. Y., born December 6, 1840, a son of Richard S. and 392 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Mary (Herrick) Pratt. Richard S. Pratt, who was a contractor and builder of canals, constructed the Welland Canal, in Canada, and the Wabash Canal, in Ohio and Indiana. To Richard S. and Mary (Herrick) Pratt were born three sons, of whom Capt. Pratt is the eldest. In the summer of 1846, the family moved to Logansport, Ind., where our subject attended the common school and Logansport Seminary, and in 1857 he began to learn the tinner's and coppersmith's trades. He removed to Delphi, in 1858, where he remained working at his trade until the breaking out of the late Rebellion, when, on April 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Ninth Indiana Infantry; was discharged; July 29, 1861, and re-enlisted in Company A, Second Indiana Cavalry, September 18, 1861, and served as sergeant and first sergeant until April 19, 1864, when he was promoted first lieutenant of Company C, of the Eleventh Indiana Cavalry. September 1, 1864, he was promoted captain of this company, and May 29, 1865, was mustered out of the service. Capt. Pratt participated in the battles of Philippi, Va., June 3, 1861; Laurel Hill, Va., July 7; Belington, Va., July 10, and Carrick's Ford, Va., July 13, and 14; in 1862, Shiloh, Tenn., April 6 and 7; Pea Ridge, Tenn., April 15; Monterey, Tenn., April 17; several engagements around Corinth, Miss., April 30 to May 30; Tuscumbia Creek, Miss., May 31; McMinnville, Tenn., August 9; Gallatin, August 13 (where his horse was shot); engagements about Murfreesboro, Tenn., August 20, 25, 27, and September 7, New Haven, Ky., capturing the Third Georgia Cavalry in September; Perryville, Ky., and Crab Orchard, October 6, 7 and 8; Stone River, December 31 to January 3, 1863; in 1863, Murfreesboro, Tenn., March 10; Shelbyville Pike, June 6; Triune, Tenn., June 11; Shelbyville, Tenn., June 23; Tullahoma, June 25; Middletown, June 24; Grey's Gap, June 27; Elk River Bridge, July 2; Sparta, August 9; Chickamauga, Ga., September 19 and 20; Anderson's Cross Roads, and pursuit of Wheeler (fighting daily); in 1864, Huntsville, Ala., in October; Shoal Creek, Ala., November 9; Lawrenceburg, Tenn., November 22; Campbellsville, Tenn., November 24; Nashville, November 15 and 16 (where he had a horse killed); Hollow Tree Gap, Tenn., December 17; Linnville, Tenn., December 23; Pulaski, Tenn., December 25 and 26. At the close of the war the Captain returned to Delphi, Ind., and there worked at his trade until September, 1865, when he went to Bement, Ill., and one year later to Minnesota, where he remained for a few months, and then returned to Logansport, Ind., and was tendered an appointment by Schuyler Colfax as second lieutenant in the Tenth Regular Cavalry, which he accepted, and joined his company at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, in June, 1867, and July 31 of that year was promoted first lieutenant of the same company, which office he held until February 7, 1883, when he was promoted captain. April 20, 1864, Capt. Pratt was married to Miss Anna Laura Mason, of Jamestown, N. Y., a daughter of Belden B. and Mercy (Whilcomb) Mason, to whom have been born four children: Mason D., born January 23, 1865; Cora Marion, October 2, 1868; Nana Laura, July 27, 1871, and Richenda Henrietta, August 25, 1882. Capt. Pratt belongs to St. John's Blue Lodge, No. 260. The Indian Industrial School, of which he is at the head, and for whose improvement he has worked untiringly for years owing to his good management is a successful institution.