River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-02-16

er of that first choir; Asaph Pratt
and three of his chiidren-Persis
now Mrs. Raymond, Milton, now
DR.. S. M. Pratt, both of Kansas,
and Eunice, whose death occurred
one year ago to-day; and two more
cousins, Phineas and Abbie Flint;
my father and mother, Mr.. and Mrs.
Joseph Nichols; and my broth
and sister, Mr.. T. w. Nichols and
Mrs. o. S. Powell, still residents of
this city and members of our choir
this afternoon; Mr.. Nathaniel Wales,
the only one of the choir not relat-
ed to the Pratt family. This COM
pletes the list.
The next year several additions
were made with the coming of more
singers to our little town: Samuel
Pratt, and two daughters, and one
son, George Pratt. who sings with
us to-day; William Winchester; Sam
uel Moffat and sister, now Mrs. DR..
Young of Prescott; ]. T. Pratt and
daughter, now Mrs. Laura Parker,
of Sacramento, California. A little
later S. w. Dickinson came from
Ohio, bringing with him bass viol,
Both became members of the choir,
Asaph Pratt playing the viol for
many years. The coming of Joel
Barnett with his family added one
more to the choir-Mrs. Barnett,
who with smiling face and sweet
voice, sang so many years with
Catharine Shepard, now Mrs. Feath-
erstone, by her side in the high gal
1ery in the little brown church of
sainted memories.
Then there was Sarah Reed, now
Mrs. w. H. Sanderson, who is in
our choir to-day. About this time
| G. w. Nichols arrived with his fam
lily from Massachusetts, adding
three more to our choir, himself
fine tenor singer and player on the
cello, his daughter Emma, now Mrs
w. P. Knowles, and his son Henry,
who was our bass, and who had the
reputation of singing in his boots.
After this came long list of young
men-Arthur Childs, one of our So
loists, Will Armstrong, still one of
| our singers, Louis Rhoads, now liv-
| ing in California. Roswell and Or
son Pratt, Charlie Nichols, three
| Elliotts from New York, and two
BurnettS from the same state, one
of whom is in our choir this after
noon, and Ed. Pratt who always
loved TO sing soprano, and will sing
again for you to-day. Then that
row of girls-how well | remember
l. them-Persis Rhoads, now Mrs. T.
w. Nichols, still one of our singers,
Anna Knowles, Mary Cox, now Mrs.
Barnett, of Santa Rosa, Cal, Ella
Haven, also of California, and Hat
tie Levings, ore of the Levings Sis
tiers, proprietors of the book store
in our city. A little later Nettie
Thayer joined our choir, and sings
with us this afternoon; you know
her now as Mrs. Collins. l remem-
Der too the boys, Willie Wales and
Charlie Haven, who began their
work in the choir by singing alto be-
side Mrs. Powell. Ella Dodge, now
Mrs. Heasley of this city, also one
of our singers, and Mary Rowley
made two more altos for us. But l
haven't time to-day to name them
all. There have been others and in
my heart not one is forgotten. My
father, whose voice will ever be re-
membered by those who heard it,
was for many years chorister of the
choir which Office he held until his
death in 1881. He lived to see three
of his grandchildren daughters of
Mrs. Powell, singing with him in
the choir.
In 1867 Prof. Pratt sent for cab
met organ which was purchased by
the church. 1t is still used in our
junior Sunday school room. 1t was
a great day for our choir when the
organ was placed in the gallery and
we had special music prepared for
the occasion conducted by Prof.
Pratt. The girl who played the or
gan that day is the woman who
reads this sketch. In all these
years the church has had but two
organists, the one just mentioned
and her niece, Miss Sarah H. Powell.
1t has been a noticeable fact that
most of our singers have been Chris
tians, so that the music has been
rendered with the true spirit of de-
votion. Another cause for gratitude
is the fact that we have never had a
quarrel in the choir. Said Prof.
Pratt twenty-five years ago, There
may have been discords in the notes