"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Chapman Publishing Company, 1903. p. 23. PROF. IRVING W. PRATT The city of Portland is one of the greatest strongholds of Masonry in the United States. During the days of the greatest ascendancy of this ancient and mystic order on the Pacific coast, no man has been more ardently devoted to the promotion of its highest interests than Prof. Irving W. Pratt; and it is safe to assume that the great personal esteem in which he is held is accepted by him as ample reward for his unselfish and high-minded services in behalf of the order, extending over a period of more than forty years. He has been honored by elevation to the highest post a Mason may hope to attain in the state, and every possible mark of distinction has been conferred upon him by the fraternity in this jurisdiction. During the early colonial period in American history the founder of the Pratt family in America came from the vicinity of London, England, and settled in Connecticut, from which state Benjamin Russell Pratt, one of seven brothers, went forth to fight in behalf of the cause of the colonies in the Revolution. Soon after the close of the struggle he removed from Connecticut to the banks of Cayuga Lake, in New York state, where he spent the remainder of his days. Franklin Pratt, a son of this Revolutionary soldier, was born in Norwich, Conn., and grew to manhood in New York state, whence he removed to Ohio, settling in Huron county about 1842. By occupation a contractor, he secured the contract to construct a section of the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Railroad, now a part of the Baltimore & Ohio system, the second road to be built in Ohio. Earlier in life he had been for some time a superintendent on the Erie canal. In 1858 he removed to Lenawee county, Mich., where he bought a farm, on which he resided until his death at the age of seventy-five years. While living in New York state he married Hannah Holaway, who was born in Delaware county, N. Y. Her father, Benjamin Holaway, a native of Pennsylvania, and of English descent, became a pioneer of Huron county, Ohio, where he died at the age of ninety-nine years. To an unusual degree he retained his physical and mental faculties to the last, and on the day he was ninety-eight years of age he walked five miles, feeling little the worse for this exertion. In the family of Franklin Pratt there were six sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Benjamin Russell, served in the Mexican war, holding a commission as captain of the Third Ohio Regiment. His death occurred at Dayton, Ohio. The second son, Martin, was killed by the fall of a tree while hunting, in his young manhood. Henry, the third son, occupies the old homestead in Michigan. Irving W. was the fourth in order of birth. Nathaniel Lee, the fifth, is a merchant at Blissfield, Mich. The youngest, Martin L., who served as a Michigan volunteer during the Civil war, is now engaged in teaching in Albina. Irving W. Pratt was born at Waterloo, N. Y., March 17, 1838, and was about five years of age when the family settled in Ohio. At the age of sixteen he entered Norwalk Academy, from which he was graduated, in the meantime, teaching schools in adjoining districts. He considered himself fortunate to secure a position as teacher at $8 per month and "board 'round," in which manner he paid the expenses of his academic course. On leaving Ohio he taught district schools in Michigan, and with the means thus secured paid his way through the Ypsilanti State Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1861. He then resumed teaching. At the first call for volunteers for service in the Rebellion Professor Pratt offered his services to his country, but was rejected on account of disabilities. Disappointed at his failure to get into the service, he soon turned his thoughts to the far west and decided to seek a home on the Pacific coast. By way of New York and the Isthmus, in 1862 he went to San Francisco, thence to Placerville, Cal., where he was employed as principal of the Placerville school. Resigning in 1867, he returned to San Francisco with the intention of going to Los Angeles, but was dissuaded from his intention by a Mr. Martin, who induced him to change his course toward Portland. After his arrival in Oregon he recovered from the ague, from which he had been a constant sufferer for some time. He was not long in securing a position as teacher, as instructors possessed of more than ordinary qualifications were not easy to obtain in Oregon in those days, and for two years he had charge of schools in East Portland. He then came to Portland as principal of the Harrison Street school, located in the second school building erected in the city. For twenty-two years continuously he served as principal, resigning in 1891 in order to accept the position of superintendent of the city schools. When he began teaching in Portland in 1869 but thirteen teachers were employed by the city. During the five years he occupied the post of superintendent he had the supervision of the work of two hundred and eighty teachers, distributed among twenty-eight buildings, and his efficient conduct of the educational system of the city is on record as successful to an eminent degree. Upon retiring from this office in 1896 he accepted the principalship of the Failing school, which he now holds, superintending the work of twenty teachers. Incidental to his professional labors, for sixteen years he served as a member of the state board of education. Professor Pratt maintains an interest in religious work and contributes to. the support of the Congregational Church, of which his wife is a member, though he is not identified with any denomination. He is connected with the Commercial Club, and in a general way has given abundant evidence of his public spirit. He is devoted to the principles of the Republican party, and actively supports its candidates and measures. The Masonic record of Professor Pratt, to which brief reference already has been made, dates from 1865, when he was initiated into the order in Pilot Hill Lodge No. 160, at Pilot Hill, Eldorado county, Cal. Soon after his removal to Portland, in 1867, he organized Washington Lodge No. 46, and became its first master. Since 1874 he has been a member of Portland Lodge No. 55, in which he is past master. In Portland Chapter No. 3, R. A. M., he is past high priest, and in Oregon Commandery No. I, K. T., he is past eminent commander. He is also a member of Washington Council No. 3, R. & S. M. In 1871 he received the Scottish Rite degrees, from the fourth to the thirty-second, and for eleven years served as presiding officer in these important bodies. He is past grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of Oregon, and since 1892 has been active inspector-general of the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction in the state of Oregon, the highest post of honor possible of attainment in the state. In this capacity he organized Oregon Consistory No. 1, A. & A. Scottish Rite, the first consistory in the state. Upon the organization of Al Kader Temple, N. M. S., in 1888, he was made illustrious potentate, and occupied this post for fifteen years continuously, or until December 26, 1902. At the session of the Temple on the evening of January 17, 1903, Professor Pratt was treated to one of the greatest surprises of his life in being made the recipient of a magnificent loving cup, a tribute of affectionate regard from the nobles of Al Kader Temple. The inscription on the cup is as follows:, "From Al Kader Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Portland, Oregon, January 17, 1903. To Irving W. Pratt, for fifteen years Illustrious Potentate of Al Kader Temple, from its organization, February 15, 1888, to December 26, 1902. A tribute of affection and esteem. Es Selamu Aleikum. Professor Pratt is also the possessor of one of the most beautiful Masonic Jewels in the United States, which was presented to him in March, 1885, by Portland Lodge No. 55, and the Scottish Rite Masons of Portland. The marriage of Professor Pratt was solemnized in Portland July 14, 1874, and united him with Sophia C. Taylor, who was born in Ohio. She came to Portland in 1853, joining her father, Peter Taylor, a native of Scotland and a pioneer inhabitant of this city. Her education was received in the schools of this city, and early in life she engaged in teaching. Professor and Mrs. Pratt have their home at No. 611 First street, and are the parents of six children, namely: Douglas L., Irving H., Martin T., all of whom are engaged in business in Portland; Jo S., who is a clerk on a transport in the Pacific squadron of the United States navy; Allyne Francis and Gertrude S. The three eldest sons enlisted in Company H, Second Oregon Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Spanish-American war, and were soon sent (1898) to Manila, where they rendered efficient service as soldiers, being fortunate in retaining their health in spite of the trying tropical climate. On their return they all engaged in business in Portland, where they now reside. It will be observed by a perusal of this brief sketch of important events in the busy life of Professor Pratt that his career has been one of great utility. His long period of service in Portland as an educator has been characterized by marked success, a consensus of the opinion of those who have closely watched his record being that no incumbent of the office of superintendent of the city schools has done more than he to elevate the standard of the schools. As a citizen he has proven himself progressive and public-spirited, giving freely of his time and influence to the work of promoting those movements intended to enhance the intellectual, social and industrial prestige of the community in which he has spent the most active years of his life. Personally he possesses an abundance of those qualities of mind and character which tend to endear a man to those with whom he comes in daily contact, and the people of Portland who have learned to know him best are steadfast in their allegiance to and devoted in their friendship for him. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2009 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.