Pratt - Hiram Austin - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

One of the most interesting men having ever lived in Waveland, Indiana was Hiram Austin Pratt. On a rainless day on the 20th of April in 1840, he was born in Parke County, Indiana to Erastus Pratt and his wife, Elizabeth Allen. He was their first child, and the oldest of eight. Erastus and Elizabeth had married in Parke County the last day of January in the previous year. The family lived in the midst of the beautiful land of Parke until Hiram was about ten, then they moved to Ottumwa, Iowa. Their last few children were born there, and they lived out their lives in that area. Although Hiram Austin Pratt grew to manhood in Iowa he followed his heart and "came back home again to Indiana" where he lead an intriguing life, one that he left as a legacy to all . Many might say that Pratt's life wasn't intriguing at all, as he was a simple barber in an insignificant town, had no children of his own and faired with little money. Yet, the diaries he kept have indeed captivated many readers throughout the last few years. About 40 Pratt diaries were housed at the Waveland library for about four decades, then a well-meaning librarian decided to get rid of "old things" and pitched them out. Luckily, a library worker, Virginia Banta Sharpe, had other ideas and felt the diaries were meaningful to preserve not only Pratt's history but that of the town. She managed to save ten of the diaries. After moving them 18 times, her daughter again saved them from being thrown out and returned them to the Waveland Library. Just as his diaries did, Pratt had a full circle of life. Growing up in Iowa, Hiram Austin Pratt was given the name Hick. Although his schooling was of a bare minimum, his diaries show his high intelligence, excellent writing style, superb spelling and interest in humanity and history. Through these tales, he left his mark for posterity. At the age of 22, Hick joined the 36th Regiment, Iowa Infantry and mustered in at Keokuk, Iowa August 8, 1862. Not long after the regiment was formed, it was ordered to Memphis, Tennessee. Later they moved to Helena, Arkansas where they attached to the 13th Tennessee Army Corps. Just a few days after his 24th birthday, he was taken prisoner at Mark's Mills, Arkansas during a fierce battle. In fact, many regiment members were captured that day. He spent the rest of the Civil War as a prisoner of war in Camp Tyler, Texas until March of 1865. At Duvall's Bluff in Arkansas, he was mustered out of the service on August 24, 1865. His regiment lost one officer and 64 enlisted men by mortal wounds and 232 men and six officers by disease. With those odds, Pratt was a lucky young man to come home alive in reasonably good shape. Many years later, he would receive a $10 a month pension for his efforts. Not long upon his return from the war, Hick returned to Indiana, met and married his one true love in life, Eliza Franklin Shaw. Hick forever referred to his wife as "my sweet little woman." That she was. Quite petite and beautiful, Eliza was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky October 23, 1841 and came to Farmersburg in Vigo County with her parents at age twelve. On September 6, 1866, with her parents, Temple and Elizabeth Moore Shaw's blessing, they were married at Fletcher Chapel Methodist Church. Immediately after, they went to join his Pratt grandparents in Waveland, Indiana where he set-up a barber shop. Although this would be his main source of income for the rest of his life, Hick did anything and everything to make a nice living for his little woman. The only problem the couple had was that they could not conceive a child, so in the Fall of 1875, Eliza "went up to Crawfordsville in company with Lydia Farmer. They went out to the poor farm where she first met Willie. She returned home with him and in a few weeks, we adopted him as our foster son." All was well with the little Pratt family. Hiram made quite a bit of money as a popular barber. Farmers and business men of several small towns would come in to sit and chat with Hick. The topics included the Civil War, people in town, the railroad coming in to town, world affairs other happenings as well. Early on, Hick Pratt realized one way to get people into his shop was to have several newspapers they could read while waiting and discuss the topics with the customers. Also, Hick served as an agent for a half dozen newspapers, taking subscriptions and sending money orders in so that people in the area could get their own papers. Little Willie was a fine son. He made exceptional grades at the Waveland school, was very religious and a happy child. All three Pratts were active in the Methodist Church in town, Willie never missing a day of Sunday School and Hiram and Eliza always working for the good of the church. Each evening after spending 12-14 hours a day, six days a week, Hiram would write in his diary, rarely missing a day. Many times, he would mention the price of food or wearing apparel. Often, he mentioned world affairs, disasters, and the like. Always, he praised God for being alive and well. Most years, Pratt tallied his money made each day. He'd often mention his love for Eliza which was told three-fold after her death. It was Eliza's death that hit Hiram like a ton of bricks. It would be the basic demise of Willie, as well. Quite a medical phenomenon, Eliza left her home of Waveland, Indiana mentioning, "I hope I see my little house again someday." She and Hick went to Terre Haute to the hospital where she was operated on by Dr. Leo Weinstein, assisted by four other doctors. Although the operation removing six ovarian tumors (one weighing six pounds) was a success, complications set-in. Eliza had requested of Dr. Weinstein that if she were going to die, that he would come to tell her so that she might give her good byes. However, when the time came, he could not do it. He had too many tears filling his eyes to walk in and face the little woman. Hick had to do the deed. She stated, "Very well. I understand perfectly. I am not afraid to die." She died October 13, 1887 at the young age of 38 years. Obviously, Hiram was devastated but life went on for him. He soon found a new wife, Eva McMains, his next door neighbor. They never had children. Although he admired Eva and appreciated her and came to love her brothers and sisters as his own, she was never "my sweet little woman." In fact, he referred to Eva as "his fat woman" in his diary entries. It was sad to read the almost daily mentions of first wife Eliza as the years progressed. He had a life-sized picture of Eliza that cost $50 an exorbitant amount in that day which he kept in his broom closet at his shop. He looked at it many times a day, often writing about her with tears splotching the ink in his diary entries. Yet it was Willie who was truly distraught by his mother's death. Although she was not his mother by birth, Eliza raised Willie and had done a fine job. At the vulnerable age of 15 ½ when Eliza died, Willie's grades soon dropped, he stopped going to church and began to run around fishing and playing when he was supposed to be working and going to school. Pratt's March 12, 1895 diary entry noted, "After Eliza's death Willie went wrong and had a very hard time. I done all I could for him." After a couple of years, Willie stole money ($1) from Eva and she made Hiram put Willie in jail. Willie was eventually put in Plainfield Reform school where he caught tuberculosis (consumption), came home and died a painful death. Hiram was the only one with him. Willie "Fixed his pillow, reclined on an elbow, said, 'Keep the fun going,' and as he spoke the word going, he dropped like he had been shot." Almost as often as Eliza, in the months to come in Pratt's diaries, Willie was mentioned. Rarely did Hiram miss a Sunday visiting "Little Willie's grave." Ironically, Willie and Eliza died on the same day seven years apart. As the years went by, Hick's quaint little shop began to seem dingy, and other barbers built nice, new shops. His income went from $10 or so a day to less than one dollar many days in a row. At various times throughout the years, Hiram Pratt's jobs included a grocery store owner, a newspaper carrier, salesman for stoves, railroad worker, and carpenter, just anything really, to make a buck. Although at one time he was quite prosperous, always having the best in home appliances in his neat little cottage, he died almost a pauper. Hick was active in several organizations in the community, especially the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Civil War Soldiers. Also a member of Odd Fellows, Rebekah and Knights of Pythias, he could be seen to the end, tottering about Waveland doing good deeds for all. Very often in the diaries, Hick would make notations such as, "Gave an old bum 25 cents for a hot meal at the hotel," or "Bought little Sarah Jones a bonnet as her father can not afford one." Hiram Austin Pratt was an amazing man. On the Montgomery County Indiana GenWeb page, his remaining diaries have been transcribed. Much can be gleaned concerning not only Pratt's life, but people in the town of Waveland, his relatives, Eliza and Eva's and even little Willie's real brother shows up in the end of one. World events, politics, crime, you name it, the topic is found in Pratt's diaries. In their tribute at his death, the IOOF [Independent Order of Odd Fellows] Lodge members described Hiram in this way: "In the death of Brother Hiram A. Pratt, we lose a member who has always been grateful to his Creator, faithful to his country and fraternal to his fellow men; exemplifying in his daily life the divine lessons of humanity." With all this in mind, add that with his diaries he left his mark, a legacy so to speak, upon the town of Waveland and many others who have and will read his wonderful diaries! Works Cited "The Civil War Archive Union Regimental Histories. Iowa. 36th Infantry." http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/uniainf4.htm. 31 March 2007. "Eliza Franklin Shaw obituary."

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Dispatch. 20 Oct 1887. "Hall of Waveland Lodge No. 217, IOOF [Independent Order of Odd Fellows]

Sources Used for above article that occurred in the Montgomery Memories, a local newspaper that comes out monthly for The Paper of Montgomery County: " Waveland Independent. 23 Oct 1914. "Hiram Pratt Obituary."

Waveland Independent. 9 Oct 1903.

"Journals of Hiram Pratt." Montgomery County, Indiana GenWeb. http://www.ingenweb.org/inmontgomery/. 31 March 2007.

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Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Friday Feb 24, 1899

Please bring your laundry work in on Wednesday of each week. I can even bill it out for the early morning. H.A. Pratt

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Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Friday May 5, 1899

H.A. Pratt was the only man in town who had enough enthusiasm to display the stars & stripes on May 1 - Dewey Day.[Note: Dewey Day was to be a holiday commemorating the Anniversary of the Victory at Manila Bay, by Admiral Dewey. ("Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed ahead!")

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Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Oct 19, 1900 H.A. Pratt and wife attended the wedding of Vern Livengood and Miss Mary Groves at Waynetown, Oct 10. Rev. UC Brewer officiated.

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Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Friday May 3, 1901

H.A. Pratt desires to call the attention of weather prophets to the fact that while it rained on Easter Sunday it did not rain last Sunday. According to the old maxim there should have been 7 rainy Sundays in succession.

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Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Fri Nov 29, 1901

HA Pratt and wife drove up to the county seat yesterday and made violent war on Turkey in company with Robert McMains family.

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Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Friday, July 26, 1901

A report gained currency that HA Pratt had disposed of his barber shop. Mr. Pratt says that there is not a word of truth in the report. He expects to smooth faces and retail the news at the same old stand.

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Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Oct 9, 1903 Hi Pratt H.A. Pratt is now very much at home in the ex-bank building. He has more room for his friends to rest when they drop in to read the daily papers. When Bro. Pratt has time he reads the news to such as can't read themselves.

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Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Friday, Oct 30, 1903 Hiram Pratt and some lady friends spent Sunday in Roachdale at the home of JG Goslin.

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Source: Waveland Independent Oct 30, 1914 Estate Hiram A. Pratt, deceased. Notice is hereby given that the undersigned has been appointed and duly qualified as Administratix of the estate of Hiram A. Pratt late of Montgomery County, Indiana, deceased. Said estate is supposed to be solvent. Sarah E. Pratt - Administratix - dated October 23, 1914 - John O. Rosebaum, Atty for Estate.

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Source: Waveland Independent Oct 16, 1914 In memory of Brother Hiram A. Pratt who died Oct 12, 1914. Once again the Supreme Chancellor of the Universe hath summoned through death, a Brother knight, from the labors of the Castle here to the joys of the beautiful Casttle in the New Jerusalem. He has completed his labors of Friendship in helping his fellow brother of Charity in relieving the cries of the distressed and in Benevolence in ministering at the bedside of the sick. As a recompense of his service under the tri-colored banner, he has received the plaudt, "well done" from the Great Father. And whereas, the All-wise and merciful Father has called our beloved and respected brother home and he having been a true and faithful Brother of our Mystic Order, therfore be it... Resolved, that Rathbone Lodge No. 232, Knights of Pythias of Waveland, in testimony of our loss tenders to the family of our deceased Brother our sincere condolence in this deep affliction and that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family ... FE Seybold, BS Kritz, LE McNutt, Committee Montgomery County, Indiana

Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Oct 23, 1914 Hall of Waveland Lodge No. 217, IOOF [Independent Order of Odd Fellows] Oct 19, 1914

Once more we are forcibly reminded that Death is in the world, the spoiler among the works of the Almighty. Be it..resolved, that in the death of Brother Hiram A. Pratt, we lose a member who has always been grateful to his Creator, faithful to his country, and fraternal to his fellow men; exemplifying in his daily life the divine lessons of humanity; resolved, that we tender to his bereaved wife our sincere sympathy and the assurance that it is not only the duty but the pleasure of the Lodge to watch over her comfort and safety in her hour of trail; be it further, resolved, that these resolutions be spread upon the minutes and published in the local paper, and that the charter of the Lodge be draped in mourning for 30 days. Submitted in FL & T Alva Good, CR Williams, Frank Brown, Committee.

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Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Oct 6, 1914

Hiram Austin Pratt, son of Mr. & Mrs. Erastus Pratt, was b. in Parke County, Indiana, April 20, 1840 and d. Oct 12, 1914, aged 74 Y 5M 22D. Mr. Pratt was first marr. Sept 6, 1866 to Eliza Franklin Shaw, who d. Oct 12, 1887. His second marr. Oct 8, 1888, was to Evaline McMains, who survives him. There also lives to mourn their loss, two brothers, Allen and Edward, one sister, Mrs. Eliza Donahue, and a host of other relatives and friends. An adopted son, William Franklin Pratt,(he was born May 9, 1873) died Oct 12, 1894. Mr. Pratt in youth became a member of the Baptist Church, but for several years has been an active and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Waveland. Until the very last days of his life, he never missed an opportunity to show his love for the Church of his choice. He was a member of the Odd Fellows, Rebekah and Knights of Pythias Lodges. In 1862 when the call was made for men who would place their lives at the disposal of the nation in a fight, the end of which could not be foreseen, Mr. Pratt went gladly and gave 3 of the best years of his life in the service of his country. He saw activity upon the battlefield and paid the penalty required for many in Andersonville prison. At the close of the war he received honorable discharge and again took up his tasks in peaceful pursuance of duty. So long as he was able he worked diligently and even after he could but totter about he made effort to be still active in labour. After attending the funeral service of his friend, Mr. AJ Wolfe, last Friday, he was stricken with paralysis on the porch of his home and never regained the power of speech. HIs spirit of loyalty to what he thought right will linger long as a benediction and inspiration to us. Funeral services were held at the home on Wed. morning by the Rev Wm. W. Speer. The IOOF [Independent Order of Odd Fellows] and Knights of Pythias Lodges attended in a body, and three pall bearers from each lodge accompanied the body to Farmersburg for interment.

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Source: Pratt Directory. Hiram A. 20 Apr. 1840 Parke Co., In., s/o Erastus c 1818 and Elizabeth (Allen) w/w he res. 1850 Putnam Co. In., age 10. Served in 36th Regt. Iowa Inf'y Aug 1862 to Aug 1865. M 6 Sept. 1866 Vigo Co. In., Eliza Shaw.

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Source: In h/h #289 Brown Twsp. (Montgomery Co.) In. 1870. Hiram 30 barber b. In.; Eliza F., 28. In h/h #11 Waveland (Mont'y)

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Source: 1880; H.A., 39 barber (fa. b. NJ; mo b. In.) Eliza, 38 b. KY (both par b. Ky) one son. Wife d. 12 Oct 1887, Terre Haute, In. He m. 2nd 8 Oct. 1888, Waveland, Sarah Evaline Mains and d. there 12 Oct. 1914. Child listed is William F. c. 1873. There is a further listing for fa. Erastus c 1818. who is s/o of Austin where there is another larger entry. Austin is said to be s/o Poss. David c 1761 thence to maybe Elisha.

PLEASE _- Read Hiram's Journals here - they are sooooooo interesting and gives much insight into the life of the area in the time frames