San Francisco County

Biographies

GENERAL WILLIAM HENRY PRATT

GENERAL W. H. PRATT, United States Surveyor-General, is of pioneer New England stock, his people having settled at Saybrook, Connecticut, as long ago as 1635, and the history of the country attests the patriotism of their descendants. General Pratt was born at East Haddam, that State, was early left an orphan and brought up on the farm. At the early age of seventeen years he began business for himself as stationer at Springfield, Massachusetts. Afterward he was connected with the India-rubber manufacture conducted by his uncle in New York and Brooklyn.

On the outbreak of the gold excitement, he sailed from New York December 20, 1848, on the small steamer Orus, and after a stormy passage reached Aspinwall. February 1 he left Panama on the first trip of the pioneer steamer California, and arrived in San Francisco on the 28^th. In a few days he started in a small launch and in nine days and a half he reached the point where Sacramento now stands, paying $30 for his passage. He visited Coloma, where gold was first discovered, and then went on to the middle fork of the American river, to a place afterward known as Big Bar, where he engaged in mining during the summer and fall, with good success. About the middle of November he returned to San Francisco en route for the East, coming down the Sacramento on the first trip of the old-time steamer Senator.

He reached New York Christmas morning, 1849, and shortly purchased a large stock of general merchandise for the purpose of going into trade in San Francisco. Part of his goods he shipped around the Horn on the fast clipper, Surprise, and the remainder by steamer and across the Isthmus of Panama by canoes and on the backs of natives. He came up with his goods on the Sarah Sands, his freight bill on that vessel amounting to $2,000; but he had been in business here but two weeks when the great fire of June, 1850, burned him out, and he lost at least $20,000. He immediately borrowed $1,000 on his bills of lading on the goods coming around the Horn, agreeing to pay ten per cent, per month, and purchased a quantity of goods here, and took them to Big Bar, where he was signally successful in trade. He soon had four large stores in operation, owning his teams and freight wagons; and he was also interested in large mining operations, equally successful. In 1852 he built a sawmill, at Ford’s Bar, on middle fork of American river, which at that time was a great enterprise, as everything had to be packed in on mules. In 1852, however, he suffered heavily by the first fire in Georgetown, in the days before the insurance business had been introduced on the coast. In 1854 he removed to Georgetown, rebuilt his stores and erected a large hotel and store about two miles from the town; and he also engaged largely in tunnel mining that year, with uniform success. In 1855 he built a large building and added the banking business to his other enterprises in Georgetown; he also became the owner of the telegraph line from Coloma to Iowa Hill, but early in July of that year the place was entirely destroyed by fire, and he again lost heavily. Next he erected two large fire-proof buildings there, rented them and moved to his hotel and store in the country, where he established one of the finest orchards and vineyards in the State at that time.

Early in 1856 the first Republican club in El Dorado country was formed in his parlors. He became chairman of the County Committee and afterward made many speeches, in company with the gifted Colonel E. D. Baker and other noted men. In that year he was the nominee for the State Senate, and also in 1860, and, although he ran far ahead of his ticket, he failed of election. In 1891 he went East to be present at the inauguration of President Lincoln, who soon afterward tendered him the position of Receiver of Public Moneys at the Humboldt Land Office, which he accepted and moved to Eureka in June. Indian troubles coming on in that section, land-office business became slack, and General Pratt was appointed by Governor Stanford First Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the First Battalion of Mountaineers, California volunteers, and engaged in the prosecution of the Indian war, serving from 1863 to 1865. In 1867 he resigned his position in the land office and took the Indian agency at Hoopa Valley, succeeding Agent Stockton, who was killed by the Indians. In 1869 the Indian Department was turned over to the military, and General Pratt returned to Eureka to go into business. He soon erected a fine building in which he has carried on the mercantile trade. He was elected a member of the Eureka Board of Trustees, and has always been an active worker there for local interests. In 1875 he erected a beautiful opera house there known by his name, which was destroyed by fire in 1881. In 1880 he was a candidate for the Assembly. From 1883 to 1888 he was Collector of Customs for the district of Humboldt, having been appointed by President Arthur. General Pratt was selected to proceed to Washington in 1887, and again in 1888, to assist the Congressmen from his district in securing an appropriation for the improvement of Humboldt Bar, and was eminently successful. He was one of the alternate delegates to the National Republican Convention held at Chicago in 1888. He is a member of the California Pioneer Society of San Francisco, and also of the Humboldt County Pioneer Society. He was appointed to his present position as United States Surveyor-General by President Harrison.

General Pratt was married in 1855, and has four sons and three daughters. In manner he is genial and pleasant, and shows the ready sympathy and courtesy of the old Californian.

Transcribed by Donna L. Becker

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, pages 185-186 Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.

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