Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-02-04
Biographical Sketch OF Hon
ID. Pratt.

BiOSr9pn1cal SketCh OIL Hon.
ID. Pratt.
From the Indianapolis Journal.
Mr.. Pratt was born in Cazenoria,
Madison county, New York, in 1914
and is now il the 56th year of his
age. He graduated at Hamilton
College, New York, in 1881, at the
age of seventeen, with the highest
honors of his class. He was an ear
nest and laborious student-poverty
squirting him to almost superhuman
exertion to make the most of his only
opportunity.
In the spring of 1882, afoot and
alone, he started for the great West,
to begin the great struggle and bat
tie of life among strangers, and no
capital but his education backed by
great energy and perseverance, and
with scascely funds enough to defray
is expenses. He reached Cincinnati
in April where he entered into an en-
gagement as teacher, in a common
school at Lawrenceburgh, Dearbon
County, Indiana, which he retained
until the spring of 1888, when he
was elected principal of the semina-
~ at Rising Sun then one of the
most flourishing institutions of lear
ming in the southeast part of
the State. Having determined upon
the law for his profession, he came
to Indianapolis in 1884, and began
his legal studies in the office of
Messrs. fletcher & Butler, and re-
NAMED with them until 1886, when,
having been admitted TO practice in
the various courts of the State. he
located at Logansport, where he has
devoted himself almost exclusively
10 the practice o. law in that and the
adjoining judicial districts, up to the
present, Will, great credit to him
self.
In 1S41 he was nominated by. the
Wings Of the Ninth District as their
candidate for Congress, but the Dis
trict, as well as the State, being then
Democratic. he was defeated by
small majority.
In 1851, and again i'm 1853, he was
a member of the lower branch of the
General Assembly of Indiana, and |
an active member, taking a labori-
Gus part in its proceedings, and ex-
erting great influence in the import
ant legislation of that period
In 1856, he was candidate for
District Elector on the Republican
ticket, and mas, since the organiza-
ton of the party, been an ardent and
Jealous supporter of its principles.
In 1860. he was selected as dele
gate for the State at large to the Ma
tional Republican Convention at Chi
cago. Being man of large and pre-
possessing appearance, with voice
proportional to his mental and his
physical proportions, he was chosen
Reading Clerk, and will long be re-
membered by the many thousands
who assembled at the great and i'm
portaDt Convention.
In 1863 he was put in nomination
and supported by the Republican
minority Of that ever memorable SEES
sion of the General Assembly rs the
candidate for the United States Sen
ate, but as the Legislature as lsrge-
" Democratic, there was no hope
Of success.
In 1868, he was nominated for
Congress IN the Eighth District, and
abandoning all else, devoted his en-
ergy and power to the canvas; and,
by his eloquence and convincing ar
gument, added no little to the sue
cess of the Republican party.
In his profession he maintains a
most enviable reputation-as jurist
he is eminent; as a member Of sOci- |
ETY. he stands deservedly high A fin
ished scholar, of great and refined |
mental culture; with genial dispo
sition, intermingled with neverfail-
ing fund of humor, wit and senti- |
ment combined, he is the life Of the
circle of his professional friends and
neighbors. Upright in his charac-
ter; gentlemanly In his department;
generous and sympathetic in his dis
position; transformations in his man
ner; modest and retiring to fault,
in short, possessing all the qualities
which should ever characterize a
great and good man, he will fill the
high and honorable position 10
which he has been chosen with hon
or to himself and credit to the State
and the party who have chosen him.
without even soliciting his consent.
With two. such Senators as Oliver
P. Horton and Daniel ID. Pratt in
the Senate Of the United States, In
diana will he second in point of in
fiuence and ability to no other State
in the Union.