WALTER CHARLES PRADT

Walter Charles Pradt was born in Pennsylvania in 1854 to Charles Rollin & Esther (Emmons) Pradt.  He lived with his parents until the time of their death.  The family resided in Holton, Marathon Co., Wisconsin and their closest neighbors were John and Rosa Kleist and the family of Thomas and Emaline Peckham who had four sons: William, Edwin, Robert and Thomas.  His father fought in the Civil War.  Walter died in 1943 and is buried in the Colby Memorial Cemetery.

1905 Wisconsin State Census, Colby, Marathon, Wisconsin

Mary Pradt, 41 yrs. (1864, Canada), white married female,
place of birth: parent 1: Canada
place of birth: parent 2:
family number: 11
page number: 01
line number: 37
Household Members
Head: Walter Pradt M 51y Wisconsin
Wife: Mary Pradt F 41y Canada
Daughter: Mary Pradt F 20y Wisconsin
Daughter: Kittie Pradt F 18y Wisconsin
Daughter: Mabel Pradt F 15y  (1890, Wisconsin)
Son: Charles Pradt M 12y Wisconsin
Daughter: Dorothy Pradt F 8y Wisconsin
Son: John Pradt M 6y Wisconsin

1910 Federal Census, Justice Precinct 2, Refugio, Texas

Walter Pradt
birthplace: Pennsylvania, White, Widowed, Male
father's birthplace: Vermont
mother's birthplace: New York
family number: 342
page number: 17
Household Gender Members
Head: Walter Pradt M 56y Pennsylvania
Daughter: Mary Pradt F 24y Wisconsin
Daughter: Catherine Pradt F 22y Wisconsin
Daughter: Mabel Pradt F 20y Wisconsin
Son Charles Pradt M 18y Wisconsin
Daughter: Charlette Pradt F 15y Wisconsin
Son John Pradt M 11y Wisconsin
Son-in-law: Joseph Blosser M 34y Texas

Family Notes

Obituary of Esther Pradt, 1902

Esther Emmons was born June 9, 1823 at Springville, Erie County, New York.  She married in January 1845 to Charles R. Pradt at Coudersport, Pennsylvania. Mr. Pradt was a carpenter and he and his family lived in Coundersport until 1858, when they moved to Plymouth, Wisconsin. Ten years later they moved to Glenbeulah in the same county, Sheboygan, and in 1872 came to Marathon County and set up a homestead in the town of Holton. In 1887 they moved to Wausau where Mr. Pradt died May 22, 1899. Five children were born to them: Henry W.; Lucien, who died at age of two and a half years; James E., who died at the age of seven months; Louis A., who is Assistant-Attorney General in Washington, DC; and Walter C., who lives at Colby. Has since died (1943).

Lani note/Feb 2006 Walter Pradt married Mary McKinley 8 May 1883. Mary was born in Canada and moved to WI.with her parents when she was a child. Walter & Mary had six children: Mollie, married Joseph Blosser;  Kittie; Mabel; Charles; Charlotte; and John Walter managed the Wausau Law & Land Office for his brother Louis then moved to the Colby, Clark Co. WI. area where he owned a general store until 1908. Mary’s health had begun to fail and a move to a warmer climate thought to help they moved Woodsboro,  Refugio, Texas and later to a farm in the same area.

At first the change seemed to help but then Mary’s health began To fail and she died 20 April,1910 she died at age 46.

Charles Rollin Pradt was b 23 July 1820 Winchester, New Hampshire. His father, Dr Noah Pradt, a noted physician moved his family to Rockingham, VT> shortly after Charles’ birth and there Charles grew to manhood.

In 1844 Charles moved to Coudersport, PA and he married Esther Emmons 6 Jan. 1845. His occupation was carpenter and builder. In 1858 they moved to WI. and settled at Plymouth, Sheboygan Co. WI. where Charles’ brother, Rev John B Pradt (afterwards assistant State Superintendent WI. was living.

Shortly after the Civil War started and Charles Pradt enlisted as a private in  Co H 14^th WI. Inf. He was with his regiment at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862 and was taken sick a few days afterward. He was sent to the hospital and remained there

until March 1863 when it was determined he would die of disease if he continued his military service and he was accordingly discharged. Because of his impaired health he moved from Plymouth, WI.  to a farm and took a homestead in Holten, Marathon Co. WI. where he and Esther lived until 1885 when he gave up farming. He then  bought a house in Wausau Marathon Co WI. town just east of the city of Wausau, WI. Located at the corner of Seventh and Warren Streets, where he lived until his death. For a number of years before his death he was deaf and three years before prior his eyesight failed entirely, and he became totally blind. He never recovered his health, shattered by his Army life and for many years suffered from disease of the digestive organs which finally caused his death. One sister out of family of eight children survived him, Charlotte Pradt, who had made her for several years before his death.

                   At the time of his death he  was survived by his wife, and three sons ,Louis of Washington DC; Henry of Wausau WI.; and Walter of Clark  Co, WI.

The parents of Esther Emmons were named Butterworth, apparently of the same family and generation of Wales and Appleton Butterworth.

I haven't seen any original documents and know no more about Charles and Mary than I've seen in your bio. I've seen Mary's maiden name spelled McKinley and McGinley.  Silvia Madeo

Esther Emmons Pradt was a niece of Appleton and Wales Butterworth.