Last of the Pratt Brothers
Brother Parley P. Pratt has received notice of the death of his uncle, Nelson Pratt, who departed this life at the home of his son E.D. Pratt, of Norwich, Huron county, Ohio. His demise occurred on Wednesday, May 8th, and he was aged 73 years, 11 months and 12 days.
Nelson Pratt was the youngest of the Pratt brothers whose names have figured so prominently in “Mormon” history. They were Anson, William, Parley and Orson, all of whom are deceased; Nelson, however, was never a member of the Church. He was favorably disposed toward the Gospel and entertained the Elders who called upon him, but either was not sufficiently convinced of the divinity of “Mormonism,” or like many others, had not sufficient courage to embrace it in the face of a hostile world.
Anson died at Winter Quarters, William in Salt Lake City, Parley in Arkansas at the hands of an assassin, Orson in this city, and now Nelson, the last of the five brothers, in Ohio. They were all men of character, and the names of Parley and Orson especially will be enshrined in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints among those of the most brilliant and powerful defenders of the faith, by tongue and pen, instruments in the hands of the Almighty in brining thousands upon thousands to the knowledge of the truth. The name of Pratt is for ever identified with the imperishable system known in the world as “Mormonism.”
[Deseret News, May 20, 1889, 2]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow]