Armieger Howe Pratt

Sep 5, 1852 – Nov 29, 1929

Armieger H. Howe is my great grandfather. This is a photo taken with my Mother in Whatcom County, Washington State. My Mother was born in 1921, so this photo probably was taken in 1922 or 1923. It is such a warm photo that I wanted to learn more about him.  Once again a Google Search provided an answer.

Armieger H. Pratt, who has for a number of years been successfully engaged in the real estate business at Bellingham, has resided within the borders of Whatcom county for a period of forty-three years and has therefore been a witness of its remarkable development and progress. His birth occurred in Boston, Massachusetts, on the 5th of September, 1852, his parents being William Davis and Helen (Howe) Pratt, natives of Bristol, England, who immigrated to America in the ’40s of the past century and settled in Boston. The father, who was a sea captain, at one time had a line of ships of his own out of Bristol. It was about 1858 that he abandoned a sea faring life and removed to Oswego, New York, after which he was a sailor on the Great Lakes until the time of his enlistment in the Union army in the latter part of 1861. Two years later he became sick and was discharged. Recovering from this illness, he reenlisted and served until the cessation of hostilities. His son, William H. Pratt, enlisted in the Union army at the age of eighteen years and served throughout the period of the war, receiving several serious wounds. The latter spent nine months in Andersonville prison and was paroled just before the end of the conflict. When the war was over, William Davis Pratt, broken in health, returned to Oswego, New York, where he spent the remainder of his life in retirement passing away in 1876. He gave his political support to the republican party and attended the services of the Episcopal church. William D. and Helen (Howe) Pratt were the parents of three sons and two daughters, namely: Thomas, Elizabeth, William H., Ella and Armieger H. The wife and mother departed this life in 1856 and in the following year William D. Pratt was again married, his second union being with Mary Sweeney, a native of Nova Scotia. To them were born three children: Thomas and Mary, who died in infancy; and Sarah Jane, who is the wife of John Cole and now resides at Oswego, New York.

Armieger H. Pratt acquired his education at Oswego and there embarked in the produce and commission business at the age of eighteen. Several years later his brother, William H. Pratt, became associated with him in the enterprise, which they continued together until 1883, when A. H. Pratt made his way to Washington, settling in Whatcom county as a young man of thirty-one. His first work here was in connection with securing the right-of-way on the Bellingham Bay & British Columbia railroad. Subsequently he turned his attention to the contracting business, which claimed his time and energies until 1889, when he entered the express and ice business in partnership with John Stenger. He was thus active until about 1903, when he entered the real estate field, in which he has remained continuously to the present time, having an office in the Pratt building on Elk street, Bellingham. He has an intimate knowledge of property values and is thoroughly familiar with the realty upon the market. Mr. Pratt has negotiated many important transfers and is accorded an extensive clientage, for his vision is broad and his judgment sound in relation to those matters which claim the attention and demand the energies of the successful real estate man.

On the 16th of December, 1872, Mr. Pratt was united in marriage to Harriet Hall, a daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Simpson) Hall, the former born in Belfast, Ireland, of Scotch parentage, and the latter a native of Oswego, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt became the parents of three children: William D., Hariett E., and Elizabeth May, who is deceased. Mr. Pratt is a republican in his political convictions. He made a commendable record as councilman during the years 1900 and 1901 and has also served as road overseer and school director in Woodlawn township (district 31), which was named by him and his wife. Both are consistent members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Pratt has been a deacon for many years. He is also a worthy exemplar of the teachings and purposes of the Masonic fraternity and has served as master of the blue lodge. In 1884 he was a member of the Knights of Labor. His has been an upright and honorable life in every relation and the circle of his friends is a wide one.

History of Whatcom County Volume 2, Lottie Roeder Roth, pub. 1926, pgs. 142-143