Thursday, February 8, 2018

1880s Autograph Album of Franklin Washington Lincoln Pratt, "Frank", of Walled Lake, Michigan


Autograph album with inscriptions in the 1880s that belonged to Franklin Washington Lincoln Pratt, "Frank", of Walled Lake, Michigan.


Inscribers came from Michigan cities and towns, such as :
  • Detroit
  • Farmington
  • Novi
  • Walled Lake
  • West Sumpter

The album measures approximately 4" by 2-3/4" and contains the sentiments of 45 of Frank's relatives, friends, schoolmates and teachers.  An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.

Surnames in the Album

? [9]CCourterMMarshall [3]
BBassettFFarringtonMcGill
BickingGGrahamMiller
Bird [3]GrayPParker
Bradshaw [2]GreenPattison
BruceHHuntPratt [9]
BushJJones [2]RRanous [2]
ButlerKKirbyson


From brief online research, hopefully correct - corrections and additions requested:

Franklin Washington Lincoln Pratt, "Frank", was born February 23, 1868 at Detroit, Michigan, the son of Martin Van Buren Pratt and Isabella (Miller) Pratt.  The Isabella Pratt who inscribed a page in Frank's album on February 27, 1881, was presumably Frank's mother, although the handwriting looks to be that an older person.


I believe that George's paternal grandparents were Samuel Pratt and Lucy (Hitchcock) Pratt, who each inscribed pages in the album.  Lucy inscribed her page at West Sumpter, Michigan, and noted that she was almost 83 years old.



Pratt and other relatives who inscribed pages: [and there were probably more who didn't express a kinship]
  • Auntie Bird; inscribed on July 11, 1881.  Possibly Harriet (Pratt) Bird, a sister to Frank's father Martin Van Buren Pratt.
  • Joseph H. Bird of West Sumpter, Michigan; presumably Frank's cousin Joseph Hiram Bird, son of Hiram Bird and Harriet (Pratt) Bird, who was a sister to Frank's father Martin Van Buren Bird.
  • Mrs. Emily Bird; presumably Emily (Sutfin) Bird, wife of Frank's cousin, inscriber Joseph Hiram Bird.
  • Elvira Bradshaw; inscribed on July 3, 1881.  Frank's cousin
  • Hattie Bradshaw; inscribed at West Sumpter, Michigan, on July 2, 1881.  Frank's cousin
  • Nellie Bruce; Frank's cousin
  • Frank Farrington; Frank's cousin
  • George Hunt; Frank's cousin
  • Alto Jones; Frank's cousin
  • Dellie Miller; inscribed on July 4, 1881.  Frank's cousin
  • A. Pratt, Jr.
  • Annie Pratt; inscribed on April 10, 1881.  Frank's sister Mary Anna Pratt
  • Ida; inscribed on February 23, 1881.  Frank's sister Ida Pratt.
  • Sammie Pratt; inscribed on March 9, 1881.  Frank's brother Samuel Pratt

Two of Frank's teachers inscribed pages.  Lydia G. Courter; inscribed a page at Farmington, Michigan, on June 4, 1882.


Maud Green of Farmington, Michigan; inscribed on April 11, 1881. 


On January 24, 1894 at Novi, Michigan, Franklin Washington Lincoln Pratt married dress maker Duana Charlotte Abbey, daughter of Walter Abbey and Lucinda (Austin) Abbey.   Frank and his wife lived in various places in Oakland County, Michigan.   Frank died in 1948; his death record mentions that he was married, so Duana presumably outlived him.    I don't know where they are buried.

Sources
U.S. Federal Censuses
Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950

Inscribers in the Album
  • Alice
  • Augusta
  • Della; inscribed at Walled Lake, Michigan, on March 28, 1881
  • Nett; inscribed at Farmington, Michigan, on February 4, 1881
  • Libbie; inscribed at Novi, Michigan, on January 13, 1883.
  • M. G.; not sure of surname initial.  Inscribed on November 9, 1881
  • Mina
  • Genia
  • Flora
  • Mrs. D. H. Bassett
  • Will R. Bicking of Walled Lake, Michigan; inscribed on January 12, 1883
  • Auntie Bird; inscribed on July 11, 1881.  Possibly Harriet (Pratt) Bird, a sister to Frank's father Martin Van Buren Pratt.
  • Joseph H. Bird of West Sumpter, Michigan; presumably Frank's cousin Joseph Hiram Bird, son of Hiram Bird and Harriet (Pratt) Bird, who was a sister to Frank's father Martin Van Buren Bird.
  • Mrs. Emily Bird; presumably Emily (Sutfin) Bird, wife of Frank's cousin, inscriber Joseph Hiram Bird.
  • Elvira Bradshaw; inscribed on July 3, 1881.  Frank's cousin
  • Hattie Bradshaw; inscribed at West Sumpter, Michigan, on July 2, 1881.  Frank's cousin
  • Nellie Bruce; Frank's cousin
  • Lilly Bush; inscribed on January 10, 1888
  •  Myra Butler; inscribed at Detroit, Michigan, on October 30, 1884.
  • Lydia G. Courter; inscribed at Farmington, Michigan, on June 4, 1882.  Frank's teacher
  • Frank Farrington; Frank's cousin
  • Sarah Graham; inscribed at Farmington, Michigan, on 11/9 1881
  • W. S. Gray; inscribed on April 11, 1881.  Frank's schoolmate
  • Maud Green of Farmington, Michigan; inscribed on April 11, 1881.  Frank's teacher
  • George Hunt; Frank's cousin
  • Alto Jones; Frank's cousin
  • Emily Jones; inscribed on February 10, 1881
  • Jennie Kirbyson; inscribed at Novi, Michigan, on January 13, 1883
  • Allie Marshall of Novi, Michigan; inscribed on April 11, 1881
  • Ella Marshall of Novi, Michigan; inscribed on February 24, 1881.  Frank's schoolmate
  • Willie Marshall; inscribed on April 12, 1881
  • Ella McGill; inscribed on February 4, 1881
  • Dellie Miller; inscribed on July 4, 1881.  Frank's cousin
  • Robert Parker of Farmington, Michigan; inscribed on December 10, 1882
  • Emma Pattison; Frank's schoolmate
  • A. Pratt, Jr.
  • Annie Pratt; inscribed on April 10, 1881.  Frank's sister Mary Anna Pratt
  • Franklin Washington Lincoln Pratt, "Frank", of Walled Lake, Michigan; album owner.  He started the album on February 4, 1881
  • Ida; Frank's sister, Ida Pratt
  • Ida; inscribed on February 23, 1881.  Frank's sister Ida Pratt.
  • Isabella Pratt; inscribed on February 27, 1881.  Presumably Frank's mother Isabella (Miller) Pratt
  • Lucy Pratt of West Sumpter, Michigan; inscribed on July 5, no year written.  Frank's grandmother, Lucy (Hitchcock) Pratt
  • Sammie Pratt; inscribed on March 9, 1881.  Frank's brother Samuel Pratt
  • Samuel Pratt; Frank's paternal grandfather
  • Alice E. Ranous; inscribed on February 7, 1881
  • Clara Ranous; inscribed at Novi, Michigan, on February 4, 1881

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