Henry Otis Pratt
Encyclopedia
Henry Otis Pratt was a lawyer, Methodist Episcopal minister, and two-term Republican
U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 4th congressional district
.
Born in Foxcroft, Maine, Pratt attended the common schools and Foxcroft Academy
.
He graduated from Harvard Law School
.
He moved to Charles City, Iowa
, in 1862 and taught school.
He was admitted to the bar
in Mason City, Iowa
, in 1862, but his commencement of practice was delayed by the Civil War
.
He enlisted in the Union Army
in August 1862 and served in Company B of the 37th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
, until March 1863, when he was discharged at Fort Pillow in Henning, Tennessee
. He commenced the practice of law in Charles City, Iowa
, in 1864.
He was the County superintendent of public schools of Floyd County, Iowa
in 1868 and 1869.
He served one term as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from 1870 to 1872.
In 1872, Pratt was elected as a Republican to represent Iowa's 4th congressional district in the 43rd United States Congress
. He was re-elected two years later, and served in the 44th United States Congress
. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1876. He served in Congress from March 4, 1873 to March 3, 1877.
Returning to Iowa, he served as president of the 1877 Republican State Convention.
After studying for the ministry, he was ordained and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in October 1877. He continued his ministerial duties until retired on account of age in October 1918.
He died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
, on May 22, 1931. He was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 4th congressional district
Iowa's 4th congressional district
Iowa's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers most of the north-central part of the state....
.
Born in Foxcroft, Maine, Pratt attended the common schools and Foxcroft Academy
Foxcroft Academy
Foxcroft Academy located in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, was established as a private college preparatory school on January 30, 1823. According to its handbook, part of its historic mission as a private school is the education of secondary students from Maine communities who are without a high school...
.
He graduated from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
.
He moved to Charles City, Iowa
Charles City, Iowa
Charles City is a city in Floyd County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2010 census a decrease of 160, or 2%, from 7,812 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Floyd County. Charles City is a significant commercial and transportation center for the area, located on U.S...
, in 1862 and taught school.
He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in Mason City, Iowa
Mason City, Iowa
Mason City is the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 28,079 in the 2010 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census. The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth counties....
, in 1862, but his commencement of practice was delayed by the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
He enlisted in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
in August 1862 and served in Company B of the 37th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
37th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 37th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, nicknamed the "Graybeard Regiment," was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
, until March 1863, when he was discharged at Fort Pillow in Henning, Tennessee
Henning, Tennessee
Henning is a town in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 970 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Henning is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land....
. He commenced the practice of law in Charles City, Iowa
Charles City, Iowa
Charles City is a city in Floyd County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2010 census a decrease of 160, or 2%, from 7,812 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Floyd County. Charles City is a significant commercial and transportation center for the area, located on U.S...
, in 1864.
He was the County superintendent of public schools of Floyd County, Iowa
Floyd County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,303 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,526 housing units, of which 6,886 were occupied.-2000 census:...
in 1868 and 1869.
He served one term as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
from 1870 to 1872.
In 1872, Pratt was elected as a Republican to represent Iowa's 4th congressional district in the 43rd United States Congress
43rd United States Congress
The Forty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1873 to March 4, 1875, during the fifth and sixth...
. He was re-elected two years later, and served in the 44th United States Congress
44th United States Congress
The Forty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877, during the seventh and...
. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1876. He served in Congress from March 4, 1873 to March 3, 1877.
Returning to Iowa, he served as president of the 1877 Republican State Convention.
After studying for the ministry, he was ordained and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in October 1877. He continued his ministerial duties until retired on account of age in October 1918.
He died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
, on May 22, 1931. He was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery.