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land. 7. W. Pease.FULL OF VIGOR YET.Thomas J. Pratt of North Middieboro at 78 Enjov* ' itomobiling and Life Generally.MIDDEEBORO, Sept 10—'Thomas J. Pratt, one of North Middleboro’s prominent residents, quietly observed the 78th anniversary of his birth at his residence there today, being assisted by relatives. His health is exceptionally good, and he retains his faculties.Mr Pratt was born in the house in which the observance was held, and has spent the greater part of his life there. His early days in North Middieboro were about the, same as the routine life of a .boy, and included a thorough investigation of the many points of historic interest in that section. jFort hill, a point of great local inter- !est, the place where Indian chiefs andtheir warriors camped and fished the waters of the sluggish Nemasket, close by, is located on the Pratt, farm, and there many pleasant hours have been spent by Mr Pratt gathering Indian relics, including arrowheads, beads andstone tomahawks, of which he has a ,good collection. |As a young man Mr Pratt engaged in 5 farming, working the place which his father, Zebu ion K. Pratt, owned, and also engaged in the shoe industry. He liked this work and prospered at it.In the 6Q’s he went to Minnesota, in company with a brother, where they took, up 3204 acres of land. This they farmed for a while, wdth good success. While in the west they had many experiences with the Indians, all of which turned out pleasantly, and Mr Pratt was friendly with them.Eastern cooking appealed to the Indian braves in the west, and when a party of warriors had partaken of some of Mr Pratt’s doughnuts, they all agreed he was a first-class friend, and remained ardent admirers of him during his stay there. A few years later Mr Pratt returned to his ncutive place here.His residence at North Middieboro is one of the most attractive there, and was built by his father about 90 years ago. It is a large, imposing dwelling, well set off with a pretty lawn. Around the house are many beautiful trees, among them being a tall pane, which Mr Pratt prizes more than the rest. It was planted by him when he was eight years old.When sports are considered Mr Pratt is considerably interested. He states that ho is little interested in the present methods of playing baseball, but that as a boy ho was always ready for a game of “three old-cat” or “skip,” as it was often called. That game was similar to the present way of playing baseball, one difference being that a man could be put out by throwing a ball at him and hitting him.Mr Pratt has also tried automobiiing. and thoroughly enjoys it when the speed is kept down, but when a choice is to be taken between high speeding machines and horses. Mr Pratt declares bis preference for the horse.He married Miss DordanJa K. Pratt, the daughter of Otis Pratt, and they had two daughters. One married Edmund T. Pratt of Boston, a well-known business man, and they spent the summers here with Mr Pratt. The other married Senator David G. Pratt, and lives close by.
Newspaper Details
Boston Sunday Globe
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Sun, Sep 11, 1904
Page 65
Full Page
Clipped by
Harvard U.
MA, USA 07 Aug 2020
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