"Genealogical & Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley, WVa

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"Genealogical & Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley, WVA." Volume l, by Bernard L. Butcher, pages 1202-1204, printed in 1912.

In many ways the Pratt family have distinguished themselves. Among them have been found learned and devout ministers, physicians and surgeons, and not a few have played a conspicuous part in the political history of the country, both east and west, some of the Pratts having served in congress, where their potency was felt. They came from good old English stock and were early in the country, taking part in public affairs long before the Lexington Alarm, and when the struggle for Independence finally come, they had representatives in the field and freely shed their blood for the cause of liberty and self-government. In the war of 1812 they again showed loyalty to our flag and fought bravely to defend the same. Dr. Samuel Austin Pratt, of Preston county, West Virginia, is a representative of this well-bred family.

(I) _______ Pratt, just at the close of the revolutionary war, emigrated to Tyler county, Virginia (now West Virginia), and there built for himself a home, married and reared a family, the descendants of whom have honored his name. Among his children was William S. Pratt.

(II) William S. Pratt, son of the pioneer Pratt, above referred to, was born in Tyler county, Virginia, in 1790, and died from the effects of a cancer in his eye, in 1864. By occupation he was a farmer. Politically he voted the Whig and Republican tickets, and was not afraid to speak his mind in all political matters. The church of his choice was the United Brethren, of which he was long a member. He married Martha Underwood, daughter of William W. Underwood and Mary Hannah (Willis) Underwood of Tyler County, West Virginia. William W. Underwood was in many ways a remarkable man. He was a member of the state legislature for many terms, and probably no man wrote more deeds than he in the county in which he resided. His children were: Ellis, Wells, John, William, Samuel, Zane, Notley, Martha (Mrs. Pratt), Elizabeth, and Leah. Their home was one of the most beautiful in the entire state. The children born to William S. Pratt were: 1. Ellis, died in infancy. 2) Elizabeth Jane, now deceased: married Daniel Weekley. 3. Sarah Ann, married William Weekley. 4. William W., married Ethalinda Weekley. 5. Nancy. 6. Leah, married Isaiah Weekley. 7. John, married Mary Bond. 8. Thomas J., now deceased: married Elizabeth Dawson. 9. Dr. Samuel Austin, of whom later.

(III) Samuel Austin Pratt, M.D., youngest child of William S. Pratt and wife, Martha (Underwood) Pratt, was born August 13, 1854, and was named for his uncle, Samuel Underwood, his mother's brother. The place of his birth was Pratt's Run, Tyler County, Virginia, now West Virginia. His early youth was spent on his father's farm and he attended the common public schools of his neighborhood. While yet in his teens he accompanied his sister Leah to Missouri, where he remained a year and a half; he retraced his steps, however, walking one hundred and fifty miles of the way. At the age of seventeen, he taught school, and then clerked in a store and did any other work which he could find to do. Determined to study medicine, for which profession he had a natural inclination, he entered the office of Dr. M.R. Maloy, of Middlebourne, the county seat of Tyler county, West Virginia, and remained under his tutorship for two years, then studied one year under Dr. R. H. Dew, of West Union, Doddridge county, probably one of the most learned physicians of Virginia. He then pursued a course at Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, after which he returned to West Virginia, was examined by the state of board of examiners, from whom he received a license to practice medicine. He then located at Kingwood, opening an office May 1, 1880, and has there continued his residence and the practice of his profession ever since-- almost a third of a century.

Not unlike his grandfather William Underwood, Dr. Pratt has always been fond of the gun and the huntsman's chase. He loves his outdoor sport, his dogs and fine horses. As a marksman he has attained wonderful records. During 1910 he spent three months at the Eaton Ranch, Wolf Wyoming, a noted place for hunters. He was the invited guest of Eaton Brothers, and during his long sojourn enjoyed the table that cost for the kitchen help alone $2,800 a month, and when each of the other guests paid the sum of one hundred dollars per month for their board, other surroundings being in proportion. The place kept three hundred riding horses, with a five thousand acre tract of land through which flowed many mountain streams filled with fine trout. This was indeed a sportsman's retreat. This trip is often referred to as one of the "bright spots" in life. He went for his health, and he recovered it. The doctor and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and Mrs. Pratt is president of the Presbyterian Civic Club.

On August 13, 1884, the thirtieth anniversary of his birth, Dr. Pratt married Jennie Wheeler, daughter of Davis Wheeler, and the adopted daughter of James W. Parsons, who took her under his own roof when only four days old, her mother dying at that time. One child by this union, Martha, born October 16, 1890, is the graduate of the high school of Kingwood, after which she received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the College of Lutherville, Maryland.