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Salem Pioneer Cemetery ~ Lucien Elijah Pratt ~ part of the Marion County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Lucien Elijah Pratt
LAST NAME: Pratt FIRST NAME: Lucien MIDDLE NAME: Elijah NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
TITLE: Captain GENDER: M MILITARY: 
BORN: 18 June 1824 DIED: 19 Nov 1899 BURIED: 20 Nov 1899
ETHNICITY:   OCCUPATION:  Woolen Mill Founder; River Boat Captain;
BIRTH PLACE:  Douglas, Worcester Co., Massachusetts
DEATH PLACE: Salem, Marion Co., Oregon
NOTES: 
IOOF - L. E. Pratt, age 75 y's 5 m's 1 day, died in Salem of paralysis, was an old pioneer of '57, and was a member of Chemeketa Lodge No. 1, IOOF; Rigdon Vol 1, p 36: Capt. L. E. Pratt, d. Nov. 19, 1899, age 75, funeral ordered by Mrs. Mary Haas.

BIOGRAPHICAL:
Capt. L. E. Pratt, who for several years has had fig trees growing in his yard in the city, believes the trees are gradually becoming acclimated and that in a few years will be producing figs in abundance.  They are of the Adriatic variety and this year's second crop has alreeady attained a good size and should frost hold off a trifle later than usual the friut will ripen.  Ripe figs of the first crop were gathered a few days ago.  This is the tenth year in succession that Capt. Pratt has picked ripe figs from the treed in his yard in this city and every year the prospects are more promising.  But for the late spring this year, there would hvae been a heavy crop. Statesman.
Woodburn Independent
29 Aug 1891

BIOGRAPHICAL: Salem Online History (http://www.salemhistory.net/):
After raising money and agreeing upon a site, The Willamette Woolen Mill Company started looking for a person to become the superintendent of their mill. A trip to the East Coast was made to find a person with textile manufacturing experience. Lucien E. Pratt of Worcester, Massachusetts agreed to relocate to Oregon and take the superintendent position. Before leaving for Oregon, he ordered the machinery and made arrangements to have it shipped around Cape Horn. On May 4, 1857, he left for Oregon, reaching Salem in June of the same year, where he resided almost continuously. Soon after reaching this city, he prepared the plans for the building that was used by the woolen mill company at a point just opposite W. L. Wade’s store on North Liberty street
Pratt had been employed in many responsible positions in Eastern woolen mills and had come from a long line of ancestors skilled in textile manufacturing. Lucien Pratt and his family departed from the East on May 5, 1857, coming to Oregon by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Lucien Elijah Pratt was born at Douglas, Worcester county, Massachusetts, on June 18, 1824. He spent his youth in his native state and Rhode Island. During the month of January, 1844, he was married at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to Miss Nancy B. Lawrence.
The mill building was constructed under the supervision of Joseph Watt, a skilled carpenter, and also a sheep rancher. The building was three stories, 190 feet long and 47 feet wide. It had a basement for scouring, dyeing, and storing cleaned wool. An adjoining building was operated as a boarding house for mill workers by Mrs. Pratt and her daughters.
By May, 1860, the mill was producing $100,000 worth of cloth annually. The mill continued to prosper. Products were easily sold, and sufficient stock was on hand to supply orders. In February, 1863, raw wool was shipped to Boston and sold at a profit. It looked like the Salem mill under Pratt's guidance was on it's way to becoming the largest mill on the Pacific Coast.
Then came stockholder problems; having gained a controlling interest, they took over the mill's operation. But under this new management, the mill soon ran into trouble. Competition from California mills, combined with the management's way of dealing with suppliers and customers, created a period of great unrest.
On May 3, 1875, the mill was destroyed by fire, supposedly due to spontaneous combustion. But suspicions persisted that the fire was set to collect insurance to pay debts. Afterwards, Lucien Pratt planned and built one of the Oregon City woolen mills.
For many years he was engaged in steamboating on the Willamette, and it was then that he received the title of 'captain,' which he retained throughout his life. Early in the 1870s, when the steamer "Shoshone" sank near the west bank of the Willamette, just opposite Salem, Captain Pratt, in charge of the steamer "Fannie Patton," rescued the passengers and crew from the ruined vessel.
Pratt also served in the Salem city council for a number of years and was deputy county clerk during the administration of F. J. Babcock and also served in the same capacity under W. H. Egan. He was one of the oldest members of Chemeketa lodge No. 1, I.O.O.F.


DEATH CERTIFICATE: 
OBITUARY: 
CAPTAIN L. E. PRATT DEAD
Resided in Salem Since June, 1857 -- Engaged in Steamboating -- Constructed and Superintended First Woolen Mill on the Coast.
Funeral Today.
Captain L. E. Pratt, a pioneer resident of the Capital City, departed this life at the Salem hospital at 10:30 o’clock Sunday morning, after a lingering illness, covering a period of one year. He was aged 75 years, 5 months and 1 day and death was caused primarily by creeping paralysis, although other complications hastened the end. 
Lucien Elijah Pratt was born at Douglass, Worcester county, Massachusetts, on June 18, 1824. He spent his minority in his native state and Rhode Island. During the month of January, 1844, he was married at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to Miss Nancy B. Lawrence. On May 4, 18
57, he left for Oregon, reaching Salem in June of the same year, where he has resided almost continuously. Soon after reaching this city, he prepared the plans for the building that was used by the woolen mill company at a point just opposite W. L. Wade’s store on North Liberty street. In the following year he went east and purchased the necessary machinery for the operation of the mill, which is said to have been the first manufacturing institution of its kind established on the Pacific coast. The plant was consumed by fire early in the ‘70s. The deceased was for many years superintendent of the mills prior to their destruction. He afterwards planned and built one of the Oregon City woolen mills. 
For many years he was engaged in steamboating on the Willamette, and it was then that he received the title of 'captain,' which he retained throughout his life. Early in the ‘70s, when the steamer "Shoshone" sank near the west bank of the Willamette, just opposite Salem, Captain Pratt, in charge of the steamer "Fannie Patton," rescued the passengers and crew from the ruined vessel. 
The deceased served in the Salem city council for a number of years and was deputy county clerk during the administration of F. J. Babcock, now deceased, and also served in the same capacity under W. H. Egan. He was one of the oldest members of Chemeketa lodge No. 1, I.O.O.F., to the members of which the bereaved family feel very grateful for their many kindly ministrations during the protracted illness of the deceased.  Funeral services will be held at the house at 1:30 o’clock this afternoon, conducted by Rev. P.S. Knight. At the conclusion of the services at the late home, the remains will be given interment by the I.O.O.F. lodges of the city, in Rural cemetery. 
Oregon Statesman, 21 November 1899, 3:3. 

AN OLD SETTLER GONE
Capt. L. E. Pratt Passes Away Sunday Morning
Manager of the First Woolen Mill and Pioneer on the River
The death of Capt. L. E. Pratt occurred at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 19th, at the Salem Hospital, where he was under treatment for paralysis. He had been a sufferer for a long time and his case was a hopeless one, so that his death was not unexpected. 
Lucien E. Pratt was born in Douglas, Mass., June 18, 1824. He resided in Massachusetts and Rhode Island until 1857. He was married to Nancy B. Lawrence at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1844. On May 4, 1857, Mr. Pratt started for this coast, and he arrived in Salem June 7th of the same year. He came in the interest of parties who, with himself, proposed to start a woolen mill here. After looking over the ground, he made his plans and went back east after machinery which he brought out and put in operation, acting as manager for many years. This was the old woolen mill on North Mill creek, which afterward burned down, and here Capt. Pratt’s daughter, now Mrs. Mary E. Haas, wove the first pair of woolen blankets made on the coast. 
The deceased always took great pride in the fact that he was a pioneer in this industry which has since attained such importance here. A few years later he superintended the building of the woolen mills at Oregon City, and the construction of the first basin above the falls. His son Wm. E. Pratt has been superintendent of these mills for about thirty years. Later he went into steamboating on the Willamette, which he followed for many years and here he got his title of Captain. His residence has been in Salem since his first arrival and he is well known to all the older settlers. Since the death of Mrs. Pratt in 1891 he has made his home with his son-in-law, Henry Haas. 
He became a member of the order of Odd Fellows before leaving in East. He was one of the oldest members of Chemeketa No. 1, and the order has nobly fulfilled its obligations since ill-health took hold of the old pioneer. He was deputy county clerk for several years under F. J. Babcock. About two years ago he was attacked by creeping paralysis and the disease steadily grew upon him until it resulted in his death. He has suffered a great deal, and only an iron constitution and great will power has kept him up so long. About five weeks ago he was taken to the Salem hospital where he could receive more skillful care than was possible at the home. 
He leaves two daughters and one son: Mrs. Mary E. Haas and Mrs. Ida Babcock, of Salem and Wm. E. Pratt of Oregon city. There are also ten grandchildren: Frank P., Carrie E. and Ida L. Haas, and Wm. P., Grace M. and Mary B. Babcock, of Salem, and Forbes B., N. Maria, Hattie Mary and Charlotte A. Pratt, of Oregon City. Two sisters also reside in Salem: Mrs. Judge R. P. Boise and Mrs. C. L. Parmenter. Chemeketa No. 1 will have charge of the funeral which will take place at the home, corner of Union and Liberty streets, at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, services being conducted by Rev. P. S. Knight, and burial will be in the Odd Fellows’ cemetery. Weekly Capital Journal 23 November 1899, 2:3. 

Attention, Odd Fellows -- The members of Chemeketa and Olive lodges and all souourning brothers are requested to meet at the I. O. O. F. hall in the Holman block, at 1 p.m. today (Tuesday) to arrange for attending the funeral of our late brother, L. E. Pratt. W. T. Rigdon, Noble Grand, Chemeketa Lodge No. 1. Oregon Statesman Nov. 21, 1899, 3:4.
INSCRIPTION: 
Father 
Lucien E. Pratt 
Born 
June 18, 1824 
Died 
Nov. 19, 1899
SOURCES: 
LR 
LD 
IOOF Register of Burials 
DAR pg 58 
Saucy
Rigdon Vol 1, p 36
WI 29 Aug 1891 
OS 21 Nov 1899 3:3-4 
CJ 23 Nov 1899 2:3
CONTACTS: 
LOT: 649 SPACE:  LONGITUDE: N 44° 55.182' LATITUDE: W 123° 02.915'
IMAGES:
     
 
 

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