Samuel Pratt (October 6, 1807March 24, 1877) was an American farmer,

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or again ...

politician, and

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

pioneer. He was an early settler at

Spring Prairie, Wisconsin Spring Prairie is a town in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,123 at the 2020 census. The unincorporated communities of Spring Prairie and Voree are located in the town. The unincorporated communities of Honey ...

, and represented his region in the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms ...

and

State Senate A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 27 states, the legislature is simply called the ''Legislature'' or the ''State Legislature'', whil ...

for nine sessions between 1849 and 1874.

Background

Pratt was born in

Enfield, Massachusetts Enfield was a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The town was lost as a result of the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir. History Incorporated in 1816 from portions of Greenwich and Belchertown. It was named in honor of one of its early ...

on October 6, 1817. In his eighth year his parents removed to

Geauga County, Ohio Geauga County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 95,397. The county seat is Chardon. The county is named for an Onondaga or Seneca language word meaning 'raccoon', originally the name of the ...

; then in 1829, they moved to

White Pigeon, Michigan White Pigeon is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,522 at the 2010 census. The village is located within White Pigeon Township. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the village ...

. "the country at that time being very new, there being no

grist Grist is grain that has been separated from its chaff in preparation for grinding. It can also mean grain that has been ground at a gristmill. Its etymology derives from the verb ''grind.'' Grist can be ground into meal or flour, depending on ...

- or

sawmill A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logging, logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes ...

nearer than 100 miles distant, and only a horse-back mail once a week between

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

and

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

, and no newspaper published within 130 miles". Due to the lack of schools in the frontier regions where his family had lived, he received only a limited education. He took up the occupation of farmer. He came to Wisconsin in 1837, and settled in Spring Prairie, but did not move his family until February 1845.

Public office

He was first elected to a one-year term as a member of the Assembly from Walworth County's 1st Assembly district (

Troy Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in present-day Turkey, south-west of Çan ...

East Troy East Troy is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,687 at the 2020 census. The village is located southwest of the Town of East Troy. A small portion extends into the adjacent Town of Troy. Geography Eas ...

, and Spring Prairie in 1848 as a Free Soiler to succeed Democrat Gaylord Graves; he was succeeded by

Whig Whig or Whigs may refer to: Parties and factions In the British Isles * Whigs (British political party), one of two political parties in England, Great Britain, Ireland, and later the United Kingdom, from the 17th to 19th centuries ** Whiggism ...

Alexander O. Babcock. As a Republican he was elected once more in 1854 for a new district (it was during this term of office that he was one of those who harbored

fugitive slave In the United States, fugitive slaves or runaway slaves were terms used in the 18th and 19th century to describe people who fled slavery. The term also refers to the federal Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850. Such people are also called freed ...

Joshua Glover __NOTOC__ Joshua Glover was a fugitive slave from St. Louis, Missouri, who sought asylum in Racine, Wisconsin, in 1852. Upon learning his whereabouts in 1854, slave owner Bennami Garland attempted to use the Fugitive Slave Act to recover him. Glov ...

until he could be safely sent to

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); and again in 1863 for the redrawn 1st Assembly district (succeeding Democrat

Hollis Latham Hollis Latham (March 12, 1812 – February 22, 1886) was a Wisconsin farmer and politician. Born in Northfield, Vermont, where he went to school, Latham moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin Territory, in 1836. In 1837, he moved to the town of Spring ...

); he was succeeded in turn by

Lucius Allen Lucius Oliver Allen, Jr. (born September 26, 1947) is an American former professional basketball player. He is one of only a select few players to have won at least one state championship, collegiate national championship, and NBA championship. ...

of the

National Union Party National Union may refer to: Political organisations *National Union (Chad), a political party *National Union (Chile), an alliance during the Government Junta of Chile (1924) *National Union Movement, a pro-Pinochet political party from 1983 to 1 ...

. He was elected to the Senate (as a Republican) from the 12th district in 1869, succeeding fellow Republican

Newton Littlejohn Newton Moore Littlejohn (July 23, 1823February 27, 1916) was an American politician and member of the Wisconsin State Senate from 1864 to 1870. A Republican, he represented Walworth County. Biography Littlejohn was born on July 23, 1823, in L ...

), and re-elected from the new 8th District in 1871, receiving 3,956 votes against 2,161 for Democrat John Tuttle. He would be succeeded by Thompson Weeks, another Republican.

Farming and personal life

Pratt was the chairman of the convention in the

Wisconsin State Capitol The Wisconsin State Capitol, located in Madison, Wisconsin, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature along with the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor. Completed in 1917, the building is the fifth to serve as the W ...

which on February 21, 1849 resolved on the organization of a

Wisconsin State Agricultural Society Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michi ...

; and became a charter member thereof. He was a judge for Devon cattle for the 1861 and 1864

Wisconsin State Fair The Wisconsin State Fair is an annual event held at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. The modern fair takes place in August (occasionally beginning late July) and lasts 11 days. History The first ...

s. His son,

Orris Pratt Orris Pratt was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, serving one term. Born in Michigan, he moved to Wisconsin as a child with his family. He followed his father into farming and politics. Biography Orris Pratt was born on September 18, 1837 ...

, would also become a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Pratt died in

Racine, Wisconsin Racine ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on the shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River. Racine is situated 22 miles (35 km) south of Milwaukee and approximately 60 ...

, in March 1877, while visiting his brother, Benjamin.

State Historical Society of Wisconsin The Wisconsin Historical Society (officially the State Historical Society of Wisconsin) is simultaneously a state agency and a private membership organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of ...

, ''Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin'', Volume 8 (1912), p. 457.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pratt, Samuel 1817 births 1877 deaths Farmers from Wisconsin Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly People from Enfield, Massachusetts People from White Pigeon, Michigan People from Geauga County, Ohio People from Spring Prairie, Wisconsin Wisconsin Free Soilers 19th-century American politicians Republican Party Wisconsin state senators