New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-05
THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.

Mr. Pratt was born in Wllbraham, Mass, october
o 1880. and was educated at the Wilbraham Academy
He came to this city in 1850, and became engaged
in the oil and paint business. lie established in 1867
The firm of Charles Pratt e. Co, which was merged
subsequently, into the Standard Oil Company. The
assertion often made that business men who amass
fortunes in NewYork and have their homes in Brook
lyn regard the City Of Churches as sleeping place
merely, and do not further identify themselves with
IT, does not hold good in his case While mucn
smaller cities have public libraries, museums ana
galleries, statues Of prominent citizens ana ot"er
famous men, well fine architectural structures
brooklyn despite her nearly million OF lnhaoants
is lamentaby deficient in these marks OF CIVIC prue
and interest However, If lacking in other respects
the city has through the generous giving OF one man
made movement in the line Of public educational
advantages that promises to put her IN the foe1ronu
in certain respects.
Mr. Pratt's gifts to the Industrial Institute bearing
his name and TO the Adephi Academy have given an
impetus TO those institutions which Will Affect inc
training OF thousands of younG minds in the next few
years.
Charles Pratt, who worth millions OF dollars'
vas a typical example Of the youth OF this country
who achieve fortune by individual energy and rise
from poverty TO wealth. but still retain the Keen
common sense of their ancestry and devote time ana
money to the public good. One OF ten children whose
father was a Woodworking cabinctmaker, he was
thrown early upon his resources and al the age OF
ten went 10 work upon a farm near Boston, lie
learned the trade of machnist afIerward, ana
earned enough money TO give him year OF the
educational advantages in the Wnbralsm Mass
Academy When nineteen years old he entered the
Office Of a firm dealing in paints and oils in Boston
and began that business which has been one Oh
uninterrupted success.
Tho wise Injunction Waste neither time nor
money! inscribed over the fireplace in the readngroom
Of the Astral Flats huge apartment house erected
nv Mr. Pratt in Greenpont, may be regarded a.
the motto OF his life He separated from his partner
IN Boston and came TO New-Yo where within shor
time he became junior partner of the oil firm OF Devoe
Reynolds d Pratt He afterward was in business
by himself as a re.ner of petroleum and built
large factory in Greenpoint. Pratts astral Of
soon became a wcll-known trade mark. Whel
The minor oil firms were absorbed by the Standard Oi
Company Charles Pratt & Co. were able TO make Goot
io>lns and Mr. Pratt became associated with the Rocke
feflers and ii. NJ FlaSler.
Mr. Pratt was also president OF the Pratt Manu-
featuring Company. His career has been marked b!
strict attention to his branch Of business withou
i,dulcence in outside speculation in interests ale
N his own chosen line OF trade But he had long take
a deep interest in educational matters in Brooklyn
where his home had been for many years
When his children came Of school age he desired Z
found suitable place for their education ana j
1867 his attention was called to an academy kept b
- Nv Iockwood and two years aftcrward Che instltu
IN v,s incorporated as the Adelph Academy. Nj
Pratt became one OF the trustees and continued so unit
lie died Since the death, in 1879, OF Dr. Wlluai
Ives Burlington, Mr.. Pratt had been president OF N
board Largely by his generosity the building occupe
by the school, at Lafayette-ave and St. James Pac'
was doubled IN size In 1880. six years aiterwaru
Pratt gave 100000 TO put up new building for u
school and aferward increased the gift TO $4,000
with which a handsome and commodous structure W;
erected at Clifton and ST. James Places. 1t Is co
nected with the old ediace. With its equipment L
building cost 100000 Mr.. Pratt's gifts to the !