Nelson PRATT
BackGround: London Temple, London, England.
Created 11 January 2010
Nelson was born 26 May 1815 in Hartford, Washington, New York and married first 26 December 1835 in Norwich, Huron, Ohio Finetta DELANO the daughter of Frederick DELANO and Permelia SPAULDING. She was born 10 June 1818 Albany, Orleans, Vermont and died 8 September 1839 in Norwich, Huron, Ohio.
He married second 18 December 1841 in Norwich, Huron, Ohio, Azubah H SPALDING, the daughter of Simeon SPAULDING and Betty _______. She was born 24 September 1820 in Albany, Orleans, Vermont and died 31 December 1847 in Peru Huron, Ohio.
He married third 18 November 1849 in Sherman, Huron, Ohio, Marietta ENSIGN the daughter of _____ ENSIGN and _____ _______. She was born 7 June 1824 in Leicester, Livingston, New York and died 1862 in Garden Grove, Decatur, Iowa. William died 26 May 1849 in St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri.
He married fourth 12 June 1866 in , Huron, Ohio, Mary Ann CHANDLER the daughter of _____ CHANDLER and _____ _______. She was born 27 August 1817 in , Huron, Ohio She died 21 August 1872 , Huron Ohio. Nelson died 8 May 1889 in Norwich, Muskingham, Ohio.
Highly encouraged, Orson wrote Parley that Nelson “believes that if there is any religion true it is our[s].” 23 Orson never made the visit, but Parley did and spent a week in February 1857, just three months before his death, preaching to the family and holding meetings. Parley left Nelson a Book of Mormon, but with his own brand of Pratt determination, Nelson never joined the Church, although one wonders what might have happened had Parley not died or had Orson been able to spend some time with him. Nelson died, still in Norwich, in 1889.
For the most part, Orson’s family was a great comfort to him and he loved them as devotedly as Parley loved his. But his family was scattered, some members living in Salt Lake, others in Tooele, and others in Fillmore. During 1868 when the whole territory was suffering from a food shortage, Orson’s family also experienced times of hardship and trial. But things took a turn for the better and some of the family regrouped in Salt Lake. A kind and loving father, Orson felt great happiness and comfort having his family closer during the last ten years of his life.
Before his death in 1881, Orson was sustained in 1874 as Church Historian; in 1877 he published the Book of Mormon in England in Pitman phonetic characters, returning to England the next year to publish the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants with verses, references, and footnotes. His collected pamphlets, The Orson Pratt Works, had been published in 1851, and his Key to the Universe was published in 1878. Diabetes plagued his last years even though he continued to serve as Speaker of the House for the Utah Legislature and helped organize the first Pratt Family Organization’s reunion on 21 July 1881; the family still meets as close as possible to this date annually in Salt Lake City. He died on 3 October 1881, on his deathbed asking Joseph F. Smith to place these words on his tombstone: “My body sleeps but a moment; but my testimony lives and shall endure forever.”
Seven years later, when Nelson died, all of Charity and Jared Pratt’s children were gone. Today, however, their descendants number in the thousands. Those introduced by the Pratts to the gospel also number in the thousands.
A brief glance at the second generation shows us Parley, Jr., serving a mission to England, helping publish his father’s history, and lecturing on home industry. Helaman helped found Colonia Juarez in Mexico and preached the gospel in Mexico, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. Nephi Pratt served as president of the Northwest States Mission. Teancum helped found Helper, Utah; Lorus became a prominent illustrator; Moroni, a poet, helped colonize Meadowville; Milando became a member of the Salt Lake High Council and a patriarch. Many others were equally valiant and obedient.
In the third generation Harold and Rey Pratt were mission presidents in Latin America; Rey was also a member of the First Council of Seventy. Una Pratt Giles shared writing talent with Mary Pratt Parrish, in addition to genealogical activities and the active acquisition of Church historical sites. Another cousin, Amy Pratt Romney, was a prominent teacher; Gladys Pratt Young married Elder S. Dilworth Young.
For the thousands of Charity and Jared Pratt’s descendants, the poverty, displacement, grief, and suffering of these ancestors are simply a background against which their determination, love of God, and family affection shine brighter.
CHILDREN of Nelson PRATT and Finetta DELANO:
1. 1. EDWIN DELANO b: Feb 1837; , Huren, Ohio.
md: 25 Dec 1862; Wood, Huron, Ohio.
Elizabeth C SCHLUYER
d: 11 Dec 1911; , , .
CHILDREN of Nelson PRATT and Azuba H SPALDING:
2. 2. HELLEN ORISSA b: 5 Sep 1842; , Huron, Ohio.
md: 1861; , , Ohio.
John Wesley FELTON
3. 3. AURILLA FINETTA b: 21 May 1844; , Huron, Ohio.
md: ; , , .
Dr. Henry C BOWEN
CHILDREN of Nelson PRATT and Marietta ENSIGN:
4. 4. ORSON ENSIGN b: 22 Jul 1853; North Norwich, Huron, Ohio.
d: 27 Aug 1853; North Norwich, Huron, Ohio.
CHILDREN of Nelson PRATT and Mary Ann CHANDLER:
--. 0. NONE KNOWN b: ; , , .Back to Jared PRATT's Family Page.
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