Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-05-05
CHARLES PRATT IS DEAD
Philanthropist and Many Times
a Millionaire.
A STANDARD OIL MAGNATEs LIFE

He Began His Career with Nothing and
at fifty Was worth SEQ. 900, ooo-His
Educational and Religions work in
Brooklyn Ended by sadden Death.
NEW YoRK. May 5.-Charles Pratt, the
millionaire oil king, president Of the Pratt
Manufacturing company, member Of the
STANDARD Oil trust and philanthropist,
died suddenly at 6.52 o'clock last evening
in his private Office in the Standard Oil
building, 96 Broadway. His demise was
apparently painless, and was unaccompa-
MED BY any noticeable symptom other
than a slight flutter Of the eyelids and a
deep sigh At his side at the time We're his
wife, his daughter Helen, one Of his sons,
Charles NJ, and the latter's wife; his pri.
vate secretary and II. II. Rogers, vice
president Of the company Of which he was
the head
MI. Pratt's Career.
Charles Pratt's life reads like a romance
Born amid the hnmblest surroundings, he
advanced step BY step and became, ere he
reached his fftieth year. one of4he richest
men ia the United States lie was born
in WATERFOWL, Mass, Oct q 1880 He re
ceived bis early education ia the public
schools and then went to work on a farm
three years Then he worked in a grocery
at Boston. He next set out to learn the
machiuist trade. His next step was TO
enter the Wilbraham academy, near
Springfield, Mass.
ne Entered the standard.
he eventually came to this city, and ia
1867 went into the oil refinery business un-
der the name OF Charles Pratt q Co. Fort
une had begun to smile upon him The
STANDARD on company was stretching out
for new combinations. and Pratts firm
catered the company He was pretty well
off when be entered the company, but lie
now began TO coin money.
Generous Giver.
Mr. Pratt was a most generous giyer,
and his name was associated with many
charitable, religious and educational
works lie bnilt the Emmanuel Baptist
church on Lafayette avenue, Brooklyn, at
a cost Of Si50,000. His greatest work was
the founding OF the Pratt institute, a mag
niiiceEt structure on DE kalb avenue
bounded by Grand avenue and Ryerson
street.
Il is a manual training school, IN which
girls Tor a nominal fee can obtain instruc
ton in stenography, telegraphy, art, EN-
broidery, dressmaking and cooking
Boys are initiated into the mysteries OF
carpentering, machinery, masonry, brick
laying and plastering There are Glasses
where students are instructed in painting
and sculpture.
Il ts 0.tA a..
Pratt Sl000,000 Recently Mr. Pratt an
nounced that he proposed to erect two adj
ditional structures in connection with the
institute He always manifested great in
terest 10 the Adelphi academy, and proved
his interest in il by erecting an annex to
IL at a cost Of Sl60,000
Another institution with which his name
is associated is the astral apartment
house for workingmen, which Is on Fran
els street Greenpoint. The rents from
this are used for the support & the Pratt
institute IL cost about $3.50, 900. Mr.
Pratt lived in magnificent mansion at
232 Clinton avenue, II stands In the midst
OF two acres Of finely kept lawn,
worth About $50, 600, 600.
The family consisted of Mr.. Pratt, his
wife, six sons and two daughters, as fol-
lows: Mrs H. L. Babbitt, Miss Helen Pratt,
Charles NJ, Frederick b., George, Herbert,
Henry and John Pratt.
Mr.. Pratt was a man Of medium build,
broad shouldered and had a finely shaped
head His pleasant face was frightened
up by pair Of large gray eyes. He was
plain in dress and manners and as cordial
as he was long before he became factor
in the financial world
He was an essentially religious man,
and led family prayers every morning. All
sorts Of estimates have been made regard
ing Mr.. Pratt's wealth, which has been
placed as high as s50,0O0, 900, but a few
weeks ago he himself said he thought he
was worth about 10000, 600