Death of Harmel Pratt
Well Known Attorney Passes Suddenly Away at His Home
Harmel Pratt, clerk of the state board of corrections, and chief clerk at the state prison, died suddenly last evening, at his residence, 702 Ninth East street, at the age of 56. He had been feeling well as usual, and after supper, spent some time at the piano, and was in a happy frame of mind. Presently he complained of a pain in the region of his heart, and laid down on the sofa. His wife at once applied hot flannels to his chest, which made him comfortable. But presently Mr. Pratt gave a gasp, became unconscious and died. His wife, formerly Miss Mary Culim, and a daughter, a teacher in the Wasatch school, survive him.
The deceased was one of the four sons of Apostle Orson Pratt by his first wife, the others being the late Orson Pratt, Jr., the well known music teacher, Warden Arthur Pratt of the state prison, and Laron Pratt of the Deseret News. He was born nine miles east of old Fort Laramie, while his mother was journeying across the plains toward Salt Lake City, and was raised in this city. Mr. Pratt was an attorney by profession, was formerly United States commissioner, and among his many accomplishments were his abilities as a musician and a chess player. He was a genial man of an even temperament, one who would manage to get along in the world, no matter what he ran up against, and he had a large number of friends. His death comes as a great shock to them, and his family are overcome by the sad event. Arrangements are being made for the funeral.
[Deseret News, Dec. 21, 1907]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Jan. 2006]
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Harmel Pratt Dies Suddenly
Member of Well-known Family Stricken by Heart Disease After Eating Dinner
Harmel Pratt died suddenly last evening of heart failure at his residence, 702 Ninth East street.
Mr. Pratt had been ailing for a day or two, but was not believed to be seriously ill. He ate dinner with relish last evening, smoked half a cigar and then went to the piano and played for a time. His playing was stopped by a severe pain in the chest which grew worse quickly. In a few minutes he expired.
Mr. Pratt was secretary of the state board of corrections. He was born in 1851, when his parents were crossing the plains, at a place about nine miles east of old Fort Laramie. He was the son of Orson Pratt, who, at the time of his death, was the last surviving member of the original council of twelve apostles of the Mormon church. Harmel Pratt was married to Miss Mary Culim and leaves the wife and a daughter, Miss Ada M. Pratt, who is a teacher in the Wasatch school. Among his other relatives is Arthur Pratt, warden of the state prison, who is a brother. No arrangements have been made for the funeral.
[Salt Lake Herald, Dec. 21, 1907]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Jan. 2006]
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Utah State News
Harmel Pratt, secretary of the state board of corrections, died suddenly on the 20th at his home in Salt Lake City. He was born in 1851 when his parents were crossing the plains at a place about nine miles east of old Fort Laramie.
[Eureka County Progress, Dec. 28, 1907]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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