Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-06-21
Elk Senator Pratt.

OtdIeS OendIOr IIOm lnuldnd, O1eu dt
his residence in Logansport on Sun
day morning. Hewas sittingi in chair
debating to his daughter an article
for the Star on the early history Of
Indiana. when he suddenly fell back
dead. He was elected to the Senate
in 1868 TO succeed Gov. Hendricks.
He served as Commissioner OF In
ternal Revenue under Secretary Bris-
tow. He was not brilliant polite
ian yet he was noted for good honest
work, and his large knowledge of law
gave his opinions great weight in the
Senate. He was regarded by his
colleagues as one OF the reliables.
He was born in the village OF Palermo
Maine, October 26th, 1918. In his 18th
year he graduated at Hamilton col
lege, N. Y, and without any means
began teaching school in Law
renceburg. We give the following
interesting autobiographical sketch:
when my school earnings were
expended, and they did not last very
long, I obtained odd jobs Of writing;
during the Legislative sessions wrote
in the Office of Secretary of State;
was appointed Quartermaster- Gener-
al by Gov. Noble with salary of
fifty dollars year, and from those
sources, and the aid I was able to
render Mr.. Fletcher, eked out an
economical living and laid by fifty
dollars, which invested in forty acres
OF wild land. The law knowledge 1
CLEANED while a resident OF Indiana
polls was scanty, since most OF my
time was occupied in providing the
ways and means OF living. But scanty
as it was, the friendship OF Judge
Wick secured me license to practice
law, and on March I, 1886, came
here, where / have since remained.
During that period the Atheneum
was organized: 1t was the nature of a
lyceum. We had written lectures, and
It was well patronized. We also had
mock legislatures and mock courts.
The social condition OF indianapolis
was excellent at this early period Of
its history. All well-behaved persons
had the entree to good society. Gov.
Noble was very hospitable man,
and enjoyed seeing his friends at his
house. Morris Morris, Mr.. Mcclure
and N. b. Palmer gave fine parties.
] left indianapolis On March l, 1886,
for this place. seventy miles distant,
and by hard travelling reached here
in two days. Logansport at that time
contained about 500 white inhabi-
tants. The Pottawatamie and MI
ami tribes OF Indians Afforded the
principal trade which the town then
had. The merchants were nearly all
Indian traders; Cyrus Taber and
George W. Ewing were the largest
and most Influential. Their stores
were crowded with Indians. All con-
tracts among the whites for the pay
ment Of money were made payable
at the next annuity. The indian pay
ments, SO called, were general set
Element days. SILVER coin was paid
by the government and constituted
the principal currency. My business,
as a lawyer, increased by degrees,
and journeying on horseback from
one county to another during the
Sessions OF court, I practiced law in
what are now the counties OF Cass,
Miami Wabash, Huntington, Allen,
Grant, Howard, Carroll, White, Pu.
laski, Jasper. Marshall. Fulton and
kosciusko. Sometimes I would be
absent on the circuit for five weeks,
continuously, before returning home.
Content with my profession, 1 had
very little aspiration for poll teal
honors. But in 1S47. having been
nominated for Congress by the Wing
party, I canyassed the old Ninth dis
trict with Mr.. Cathcart, and was de-
feated, his majority being about 400.
The next year, being candidate for
the district elector, I canvassed the
same district with DIR. Fitch. Tn 1850.
and again In 1858, 1 was member of
the legislature. In 1856, again can
didate for the district elector, l can
vassed portion OF the Ninth dis
trict in the Interest OF the Fremont
ticket. But political life never was
agreeable to my tastes. Whatever
may have been my success at the bar,
and OF that it does not become me- to
speak. am satisfied that I entered
the arena OF politics too late in life to
render myself useful in any high de-
gree to the country. In November,
1887, was married at Rising Sun to
Col Pinkey James daughter. She
had been my pupi, six years before
while ! taught school In her native
town. BY her have four children.
two only OF whom are living. My
eldest son fell In the war. ~ e
81. -.