Description
Thomas S. Pratt, Los Angeles, California, father of Mrs. Frank Wilson of Lathrop, died at his home there Wednesday, Sept 8. He was born in Platte County, Missouri, November 19, 1845. His parents (William Pratt and Sue Reading) moved from Kentucky to Missouri one year earlier. His father entered 240 acres of land west of Barry, cleared the land and built a four room log house.
He distinctly remembered Union soldiers coming in and demanding his mother and the negro servants cook them meals, how they ransacked the house for valuables; also how he helped the negro slaves carry food to the Bushwhackers. He also told how the soldiers took an older brother (William or Andrew Pratt) whom they accused of helping the Confederates and threw him in jail in St. Joseph where he remained for several months.
He has told his children and grandchildren how a man from Westport, called on his father and insisted that he trade him a valuable negro slave for several 1000 acres of land, the land in the deal being that where greater Kansas City now stands. Mr. Pratt's father valued the slave at $2,000 and that was far more than thousands of acres of those hills was worth at that time.
After the negros were given their freedom most of the older ones stayed on with their former masters but the younger ones left of their own accord. Oxen teams were their work animals. He often told of a trip to St. Joseph, the largest town near, by wagon trail with oxen. In that day Westport was only a landing place for river boats.
Mr. Pratt moved to Los Angeles about 15 years ago. He is survived by his wife and eight children. Funeral services was held, Monday, September 18 at Los Angeles.Date(s) of Creation
9/16/1943
