William Y. Pratt

    William Y. Pratt was born in Henry County, Virginia, June 3, 1834. His parents, James A. and Leanna (Lake) Pratt, natives of Virginia, and of Irish and German descent respectively, were married in Henry County, in 1832, where the father followed his trade as blacksmith until 1836, when he came to Indiana, and located in Morgan County. He worked at his trade a number of years and then began farming, which he continued until January, 1879, when he died. The mother died in March, 1850.

    William Pratt is the eldest child in a family of six children, and was reared in Jackson Township, Morgan County, where he obtained the rudiments of a good education. When twenty-two years of age, he began learning the carpenter's trade with E. Hilton, and worked with him for four years. He then moved to Martinsville and formed a partnership with Alfred Carver, and carried on the carpentering business with him for three years. In 1876, he was elected Justice of the Peace of Washington Township for four years, at the expiration of which time he was re-elected, and at present is in the discharge of the duties of that office.

    In April, 1857, he was married in Johnson County, Indiana, to Lydia C. Winchester, daughter of Jordon Winchester, a citizen of Johnson County. By this union there were four children -Melinda J., George N., James (deceased), and Joe. Mr. Pratt is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, No. 89, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Church. In politics, he is a Republican.

Source: Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884.