Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-07-15
Death of Joseph c. Pratt.


took sick with what appeared to b
typhoid fever This rapidly developed
into typhoid pneumonia, and Of this h'
died. In the fore part of the day OF
which he died he was unusually cheer
full. His wife thought him much better
and even the attending physician wa:
lured into the belief that his condition
was improved. A few moments before
he died he raised up in his bed cheerfully
and swallowed some medicine, he nol
his wife little thinking that at that very
moment the angel of death was hover.
ing over his pillow. As he sank back
upon his pillow, feeling that the sum.
mons had come, he grasped the hand OF
his wife, who in her terror and agony
released herself and ran out for help
In a moment DR.. Close and kind neigh.
bors were at his bedside. but they could
do nothing but watch him and ease him
as best they could while the sands OF
life rapidly ran out.
Mr.. Pratt was a son of DR.. Daniel
Pratt, now of Burr's Mills. He was
born in COlerain township, February 25,
1S43. Because of the feeble health of hi:
mother his uncle, Mr.. Thomas Pyle
took him to raise at two years of age
He spent his boyhood on Mr.. Pyle's
farm, attending the district school, and
for a time an academy at Haysville, in
Ashland county. About fourteen years
ago be entered the Office of Mr.. o. J.
Swaney, where he qualified himself for
admission to the Bar, to which he was
admitted in September, 1868. Although
a student, and although, no doubt, the
friends who had raised and educated
him would have cheerfully assisted him
during that trying period in the life of a
young lawyer when he is waiting for the
clients that don't come, his independent
and manly spirit led him to accept the
position of deputy under Clerk Campbell,
and afterward under Clerk Mitchell, so
that he might maintain himself and
better fit himself for service at the Bar.
Altogether he served about seven years
as Deputy Clerk, when he resigned and
opened an Office for the practice of
the law. In the winter of 1870 he was
married to Miss Anna E. Meyer, of st.
Clairsville, who, with two little girls,
survive him. One year ago last spring,
against his earnest protests, he was
nominated by the Republicans of this
township for Justice of the Peace, and,
although the township is heavily Demo
cratic, WIS elected by decided majority.
At the time of his death lie was looked
to by thoughtful Republicans as the Re-
publican candidate for Clerk of the Com
mon Pleas, and would, no doubt, have
been nominated had he lived.
Mr.. Pratt was Il man of splendid in
tegrity and of great natural ability.
Throughout life he had been laborious
student, and, gifted with a wonderfully
retentiye memory, he had acquired
fund of information upon scientific, his
torical, and political matters unequaled
by any man of his age within our ac-
quaintance. Although in public assem-
blies an exceedingly diffident man, in
the privacy of his Office or elsewhere in
the company of his intimate friends his
lips were loosed and he was an ideal con-
He was a combative
man. He took deep interest in affairs
that were transpiring in the world, es-
pecially in this country, and when
aroused would maintain his opinions
with tremendous force, and sometimes
in anger with his most inti-
mate friends; but in a moment sunny
smile would spread over his face and a
merry laugh come rippling out of his
throat, and the harsh words he had ut
tered were forgotten. He was con-
scientious and pains-taking lawyer, and
if his life had been spared would have
been a very successful one. A useful
and noble life was ended when he died.
The funeral took place Sunday after
noon, and was the largest seen in this
town in many years. The Bar, headed
by Judge Okey, of the Common Pleas,
walked at the head of the procession,
by the Masonic bodies, who had
charge of the funeral. At the grave the
funeral services of the Masonic order
were read by Sir Knight F. ID. Bailey,
and after tender prayer by Rev. j. II.
Conkle, of the NJ. E. Church, all that
remained of our dead friend was de-
posted in the grave.
BAR MEETING.
On Friday evening the members of
the Bar assembled in the Court House to
take appropriate action concerning the
death of Mr.. Pratt. His Honor Judge
VIM. Okey was called to the Chair, and
A. G. Darrah, ESQ.,, was chosen Secretary.
On motion a committee of five consisting
of d. ID. Il. Cowen, R. NJ. Eaton, Peter
Tallman, j. w. Shannon and N. K. Ken
non, was appointed to draft resolutions
expressive of the sense of the Bar upon
the death of their brother.
On motion of C. w. Carroll, Esq,
the following committee of arrange
ments was appointed: G. W. Carroll, st.
Clair Kelly, o. ]. Swaney, Thos. Cochran,
J. F. Charesworth. The committee on
presented the following re-
port which was adopted:
Joseph C.-Pratt, a member of our bar
is dead, and we have assembled to ex-
press our sentiments on the occasion.
He was born Feb. %, 1S43; studied
law under the tuition of o. J. Swa-
ney; was admitted to the bar Sept.