Myron Pratt (abt. 1837 - 1892)

Ancestors

Husband of Rosetta Holmes — married 1857 in Rock Island, Illinois, United States

Husband of Sarah Eliza Spooner — married 16 Nov 1874 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Died 26 Jun 1892 at about age 55 in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

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Biography

Every once in a while you come across a "complicated" individual. Myron Pratt is one of those people. Myron had complicated family relationships and, like so many men of this era, he also battled demon rum. We have three known wives, including two sisters, along with five known children. The family register published in the Kenneth Pratt Charles book only has fragmentary information on Myron, giving the impression the individual who compiled the list had lost contact with him sometime in the 1870s.

Myron is the son of Ira and Rachel Twist Pratt and was born in 1837.^[1] You will see online trees that claim Myron is the son of Ira's second wife, Jemima Moody, but I think the way the household was listed in the 1850 Federal Census for Marion, New York implies there is a blended family.^[2] Note the first two children in the household are two Clark girls followed by Myron and Morrison Pratt. I wonder if the two Clark girls were Jemima's from a previous husband. Depending on when the boy's mother died, both Myron and Morrison may have looked at Jemima as their mother.

Myron marries his first wife, Rosetta Holmes in Rock Island County in 1857.^[3] I should note that there are two conflicting death dates for Rose, one in 1861 and the other from the Holmes Genealogy, in 1887. I cannot find her listed in 1870 or 1880 Federal Census.

By the time the 1860 Federal Census comes around, much has changed in young Myron's life. He can be found living in Rock Island County, Illinois with his first wife, Rosetta Holmes Pratt.^[4]

Myron serves in the Union Army from Illinois.^[5] I have not seen Myron's pension file, but I understand it does clarify his two Spooner wives. I wonder if Myron's drinking stems from his service in the Civil War? I have long felt the horrible rate of alcoholism in the United States in the late 19th century stems from the horrors of the Civil War.

The 1870 Federal Census for Rock Island County, Illinois has Myron Pratt with his second wife, Ellen Spooner Pratt.^[6] They also have their son Lewis Pratt.

Myron's second wife dies in 1873 and on 16 Nov 1874, Myron marries Ellen's sister, Sarah Spooner in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.^[7]

By the 1880 Federal Census, Myron and his third wife, along with his five known children are living in Des Moines, Iowa.^[8] He also has his nephew, Clarence Durfee living in the household.

Myron's death is reported on 27 Jun 1892 in the Lincoln Journal Star.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Pratt, Kenneth Charles. Abraham ... The Father Of Us All. Oxford, CT: Privately Published, 1968. Page 154.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-67J7-N4P?cc=1401638&wc=95RF-TQX%3A1031313801%2C1031568501%2C1031424601 : 9 April 2016), New York > Wayne > Marion > image 16 of 44; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BY-Y7PM-M?cc=1803970 : 28 November 2018), > image 1 of 1; county offices, Illinois.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9B9V-FFY?cc=1473181&wc=7QVJ-RWX%3A1589423252%2C1589425985%2C1592324706 : 24 March 2017), Illinois > Rock Island > Township 20 N Range 2 E 4 P M Cordova Township > image 3 of 10; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ "United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TBP-BJY?cc=1919699&wc=9FFR-L29%3A214130801 : 22 May 2014), Powell, Thomas - Prentice, George W. > image 3613 of 4594; citing NARA microfilm publication T288 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DZ54-K8?cc=1438024&wc=KG7G-K68%3A518684301%2C520051501%2C519347301 : 11 June 2019), Illinois > Rock Island > Coe > image 26 of 32; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ "Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-67D9-6QL?cc=1452395&wc=966Q-RM9%3A1041533001 : 15 January 2019), 004207574 > image 464 of 630; citing Secretary of State, Department of Vital Records, Lansing.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBM-91TS?cc=1417683&wc=XC1H-2NL%3A1589394762%2C1589403896%2C1589403104%2C1589395891 : 24 December 2015), Iowa > Mahaska > Des Moines > ED 180 > image 6 of 35; citing NARA microfilm publication T9, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., n.d.)
9. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/309151082/?terms=%22myron%20pratt%22&match=1