DAVID B. PRATT. The name mentioned above is well known in the agricultural districts of Douglas County, Missouri, and is a synonym for all that is pushing, enterprising and successful. Mr. Pratt was born in Maury County, Tennessee, September 10, 1828, a son of Joseph and Mary (Buchanan) Pratt, the former of whom was born in Georgia, but when a young man removed to Tennessee, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was a cabinet maker by trade, was a soldier of the War of 1812, and was an upright and honorable man. His wife was born in Tennessee and was a daughter of David Buchanan, who was a participant in a number of the early Indian wars in Tennessee. She died in 1870, having become the mother of six children: Andrew J., who was killed in the battle of Monterey during the Mexican War; Margaret, who died after her marriage with H. S. Blakemore; David B.; and Fidelia A., who is the wife of G. W. Reese, of Tennessee, being the only ones who reached maturity.
The early life of David B. Pratt was passed on a farm and his advantages for obtaining an education were very meager indeed. In 1849 he began farming on his own responsibility, but in 1850 was severely attacked by the “gold fever ” and he made the overland trip to California, where he remained fourteen months engaged in mining. He then went to Oregon, but about one year later returned to Tennessee by water, and in that State continued to make his home until 1853. He then took up his abode in Greene County, Missouri, near Springfield, where he made his home one year, then moved to Laclede County, thence to Taney County, and then back to Greene County. He served in the Missouri State Militia for about two years during the war and was in the battle of Springfield when Marmaduke made his raid. He saw some hard service during the war and was a useful and faithful soldier. After the war he resided in Greene County until 1866, when he came to Douglas County, later removed to Taney County and in 1890 came to the farm on which he now lives, which consists of 197 acres and where he has since devoted his attention to farming and stockraising.
He was married in Greene County, Missouri, to Sarah Hartin, a daughter of A. N. Hartin, an early pioneer of that section. Mrs. Pratt was born seven miles east of Sringfield, June 4, 1839, and has borne her husband nine children: Joseph M., who died young; John, who is in the West and is a man of family; David N., who is living near Roy, this county, and is a man of family; William A., who died at the age of twenty-two years; Fidelia A., who is the wife of Thomas Osburn, of Ozark County; Addie B., who is the wife of James Garrison, of Ozark County; George W., who is living in Douglas County and is a man of family; and Emma, who is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have every reason to be proud of their family, for they are intelligent, progressive and law-abiding citizens. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Pratt is a Republican politically and is active in all public matters. They have a comfortable and pleasant home four miles from Rome and have many friends in the section in which they reside.
