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George Wesley Pratt

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Birth	:	25 Aug 1835 Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois, USA
Death	:	1889 Vermillion, Clay County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Bluff View Cemetery, Vermillion, Clay County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.7714000, -96.9056000
Plot	:	2 - 341 - 1B
Description	:	George Pratt married my GGG Grandmother, Emily Shriner on April 22, 1857 in La Moille, Bureau Co, IL by a Congregational Minister. They had 8 children together - the first two were born in La Moille, IL and then they moved to the Dakota Territory, and the other 6 were born in South Dakota. Children: Leonard, Clara, Laura Mae, Lyman Munson, Charles Frances, Enoch Lawrence, George Wesley and Edna May. ~~George lived with his parents in Illinois until he was sixteen when he was hit with the gold fever and went to California in 1854, five years after... Read More	George Pratt married my GGG Grandmother, Emily Shriner on April 22, 1857 in La Moille, Bureau Co, IL by a Congregational Minister. They had 8 children together - the first two were born in La Moille, IL and then they moved to the Dakota Territory, and the other 6 were born in South Dakota. Children: Leonard, Clara, Laura Mae, Lyman Munson, Charles Frances, Enoch Lawrence, George Wesley and Edna May. ~~George lived with his parents in Illinois until he was sixteen when he was hit with the gold fever and went to California in 1854, five years after the famous "forty niners" hit the trail. After spending 3 to 5 years in the gold fields of El Dorado, he returned to the east coast by way of boat to New York City and then on to Illinois. ~~On April 2, 1860, George and his wife, Emily, and their two children, Leonard and Clara, loaded onto a team of horses and set for the west. They were accompanied by Cassandra Shriner, Emily's younger sister. Cassandara would later marry Ahira A. Partridge of Vermillion, the first recorded marriage in that area. ~~The Pratt family traveled to Southern Nebraska and to the area around present day Sioux City but found the land unsuitable as they felt it was too hilly to homestead. On July 3rd, they came to Sioux City which had five houses in it at the time. Emily recalled later that they could have had a homestead in the middle of what would later become Sioux City proper. On July 4th, they crossed the Missouri and proceeded north towards Vermillion. They had, at this time, picked up Rev. C. D. Martin who was also headed toward Vermillion. They camped at Burbank which had only one sod shanty at the time and passed through Elk Point where there were no homes but three families living out of covered wagons. ~~On July 5th, they arrived at Vermillion and filed their claim north of Vermillion. It was on their first Sunday in Vermillion that Rev. Martin conducted services at McHenry's unfinished store which sat at the bottom of the bluffs. ~~George Wesley Pratt became one of the first men to serve in the Territorial Legislature in 1863-1864. And again in 1864-1865. ABOUT GEORGE (after the 1860 Census) ~~In 1873, he moved to town and set up a mercantile store. In 1875, on January 13th, a fire ravaged most of Vermillion. He rebuilt, and we note again that he was buying grain from the mill in the years of 1876-1877. ~~In the spring of 1879, he moved to Lincoln Centre and in the fall moved to Parker and erected the first store in Parker, Turner County, Dakota Territory. April 15, 1880 - The Dakota Republican ~~George Pratt of Parker is in the city making acquaintance of that youngest daughter of his. (Edna was 11 days old at this time). ~~In 1880, he returned to Vermillion and went back into business in his store below the bluffs. The Pratt home at this time was a two-story frame house below the bluffs also, and was one of the few to survive the flood. ~~The Missouri River was known for its flood and had in fact flooded the town of Vermillion in 1862 and again in 1875, but each time the residents battled back. However, in November of 1881, the Missouri River was reported frozen enough to support teams and wagons. December was one of the most severe in anyone's memory. In January and February, the snow fell by the feet and the temperatures dropped to 30 and 40 degrees below zero with regularity. Then, in March 27 of 1881, the ice began to break up and the water started to overflow. The river rose to a level that flooded about half the town and subsided only to rise again a few days later accompanied by one of those terrible Dakota March blizzards. ~~When all was over, Vermillion had washed away. Mrs. Pratt recalls how the water was 4 inches deep in their upstairs bedroom. When all seemed lost and only a few remnants were left, the Vermillion river suddenly rose to swollen proportions and, on April 17, 1881, struck what was left of Vermillion. ~~Vermillion finally gave up and moved the entire town to the top of the bluff and, as if satisfied for the appeasement, the Big Muddy moved its channel 5 miles away from the bluff, where it flows today. ~~George and Emily moved back to the homestead and until 1889 George was satisfied with farming. August 8, 1889, the 'Dakota Republican' KILLED BY LIGHTENING ~~Geo. W. Pratt Succumbs to a Fatal Stroke - History of his life. ~~Last Thursday night, George W. Pratt, an old and respected citizen of this county was struck by a bolt of lightening and instantly killed, at his home one half mile north of this city at about 15 minutes to five o'clock. This shower had partly subsided, but at short intervals heavy bolts of furie lightning echoed through the air in all directions. Mrs. Pratt and Miss Edna were standing in the back kitchen door when Mr. Pratt came out, and taking his wheelbarrow, which stood near by, went out to the ice house which stood about twenty feet north and in the rear of the house, to procure a load of ice. Shortly after he disappeared around the corner of the ice house a heavy report came. Mrs. Pratt thought nothing of it at the time, but as the minutes wore on and her husband did not return, she intuitively became alarmed and sent the hired man, Henry, to look for him. He was found lying partly on his face and side, having been hit on the back of the head evidently in the act of stooping to start with his load, for the wheelbarrow was toppled over. His hat was completely riddled but there were no marks left by the lightening, the only bruise displayed being a slight laceration of the upper gum, received from some brush on which he fell when struck. The bolt seems to have hit a tall cottonwood tree just back of him, and glanced from the tree, as only a little bark on one of the limbs was taken off, the force of the bolt having spent itself on the head of the unforunate man. ~~Help was immediately summonded and he was taken into the house where he was laid out. The friends and relatives were all sumonded and the funeral services were held at the old home on Saturday, at 10 a.m., Rev. W. A. Lyman presiding. A large concourse of citizens were present and followed the corpose to its last resting place."

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is George Wesley Pratt's memorial?
George Wesley Pratt's memorial is located at: Bluff View Cemetery, Vermillion, Clay County, USA.
When did George Wesley Pratt death?
George Wesley Pratt death on 1889 in Vermillion, Clay County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the George Wesley Pratt's memorial?
Latitude: 42.7714000
Longitude: -96.9056000

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Emily Shriner Pratt

(1838 - 1944)

Siblings

John William Pratt

(1830 - 1902)

Susan Marie Pratt Kiser

(1832 - 1923)

Sarah Jane Pratt Chambers

(1843 - 1942)

Children

(unknow - unknow)

Laura Mae Pratt Webb

(1861 - 1943)

Lyman Munson Pratt

(1863 - 1920)

Charles Francis Pratt

(1865 - 1953)

Enoch Lawrence “Ernie” Pratt

(1868 - 1932)

George Wesley Pratt Jr.

(1870 - 1913)

Edna May Pratt

(1880 - 1958)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Bluff View Cemetery
Vermillion, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7714000, -96.9056000

2. Saint Agnes Calvary Cemetery
Vermillion, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7715900, -96.9072100

3. Saint Agnes Cemetery
Vermillion, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7872009, -96.8499985

4. Dowlin Cemetery
Burbank, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7789001, -96.8107986

5. Gibb's Cemetery
Newcastle, Dixon County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6985100, -96.8518400

6. Saint Peter Greenfield Cemetery
Vermillion, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8608017, -96.8644028

7. Clay Creek Cemetery
Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8516998, -96.9788971

8. Ionia Cemetery
Newcastle, Dixon County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6893997, -96.8300018

9. Maskell Cemetery
Maskell, Dixon County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6878014, -96.9916992

10. Halverson Cemetery
Maskell, Dixon County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6908600, -97.0013500

11. Ahlsborg Lutheran Cemetery
Union County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8228000, -96.7612000

12. Saint Mary Cemetery
Union County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8520584, -96.7877502

13. Newcastle Cemetery
Newcastle, Dixon County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6550500, -96.8708700

14. Saint Peters Calvary Cemetery
Newcastle, Dixon County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6533800, -96.8744700

15. Spirit Mound Cemetery
Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8885994, -96.9424973

16. Clay Point Cemetery
Prairie Center Township, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8987700, -96.9065600

17. Lime Grove Cemetery
Maskell, Dixon County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6632400, -96.9990500

18. Lime Creek Cemetery
Maskell, Dixon County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6569600, -97.0004700

19. Obert Cemetery
Obert, Cedar County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6702995, -97.0289001

20. Evergreen Cemetery
Meckling, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7896996, -97.0903015

21. Brule Creek Cemetery
Spink Township, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8346510, -96.7324350

22. Taylor Cemetery
Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8372002, -97.0785980

23. Union County Poor Farm Cemetery
Union County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7649210, -96.7077580

24. Saint Paul Cemetery
Elk Point, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7641983, -96.7061005