- C. F. Nelson Pratt
-
Charles Forest Nelson Pratt[1][2] Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 10th Essex districtIn office
1927–1935Preceded by Sargent Wellman Succeeded by William Landergan Personal details Born February 4, 1891
Saugus, MassachusettsDied November 5, 1968
Saugus, MassachusettsPolitical party Republican Alma mater Northeastern University
Boston University School of LawOccupation Law Student
Shoe Factory Foreman[3]Charles Forest Nelson Pratt (February 4, 1891 – November 5, 1968) was a Republican politician from Saugus, Massachusetts.
Biography
He was born on February 4, 1891 in Saugus, Massachusetts. A graduate of Saugus High School, Northeastern University, and Boston University School of Law,[4] During World War I he was a conscientious objector and was working at the A. E. Little shoe company.[5] Pratt was elected to the Saugus School Board in 1916. Three years later he was voted to the Board of Selectmen where he would later serve as chairman.
In 1925, he made headlines for his plan to arm 100 hand-picked citizens in order to deter bandits from operating in Saugus.[6]
From 1927-1935, Pratt was a member the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[4] Despite being a Republican, he supported president Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal [7] and represented the National Shoe Workers during their 1933 strike.[8] He was a member of the Banks and Banking and Counties commissions.[4]
During Pratt's tenure in the Massachusetts House, each district was representatived by the top three vote-getters in the general election. His co-representatives were Tony A. Garofano (1927-35), Fred A. Hutchinson (1927-33), James E. McElroy (1933-35)
After his career in the state legislature, Pratt was as a member of the Saugus Board of Selectmen and Essex County Commissioner. He would be the last Republican to served as County Commissioner until Kevin Leach in 1991.
Pratt ran three times for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district seat. He lost the nomination in 1937 and the general election in 1936 [9] and 1941.[10] He also lost the nomination for the 6th congressional district seat to William H. Bates in 1950.
Pratt was a member of the Freemasons and the Odd Fellows.[4]
He died on November 5, 1968 in Saugus, Massachusetts.
Legacy
On June 16, 1961, the intersection of the Lynn Fells Parkway and Route 1 was dedicated the C. F. Nelson Pratt intersection in his memory. The intersection has since been replaced by an overpass also dedicated to Pratt.[11]
References
- ^ http://www.essexcountyveterans.com/showprofile.aspx?site_id=738
- ^ Catalogue, Boston University, 1928
- ^ Public Officials of Massachusetts. The Boston Review Publicity Service (Richard T. Howard). http://www.archive.org/texts/flipbook/flippy.php?id=publicofficialso19271928bost.
- ^ a b c d "Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts". Massachusetts House of Representatives. http://www.archive.org/stream/publicofficialso19331934bost/publicofficialso19331934bost_djvu.txt. Retrieved 2009-12-09. "Pratt, C. F. Nelson, 3 Johnston Terrace, Saiigus, 10th Essex House District. Republican. Born: Saugus, Feb. 4, 1891. Educated: Saugus High School, B. U. Law, Northeastern University. Occupation : Law Student. Organizations: Masons, Odd Fellows, Essex County Republican Club, Saugus Rep. Town Comm. Public OfRce: Saugus School Board 3 yrs., Board of Selectmen, 5 terms, Chrm. 1927-'28, Mass. House 1927-'34."
- ^ C. F. Nelson Pratt in the World War I draft registration of June 5, 1917
- ^ "Saugus, Mass., Plans to Arm Citizens to Oppose Bandits". Associated Press in the New York Times. November 19, 1925. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50815F9385D1A728DDDA00994D9415B858EF1D3. Retrieved 2009-12-11. "Because he feels that it would destroy the enthusiasm of any bandits who might feel inclined to operate in Saugus, C. F. Nelson Pratt, ..."
- ^ "Legislature Urged In Massachusetts To Help President". Christian Science Monitor. January 24, 1934. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/301471042.html?dids=301471042:301471042&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jan+24%2C+1934&author=&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Legislature+Urged+In+Massachusetts+To+Help+President&pqatl=google.
- ^ "Up and Down Beacon Hill". Christian Science Monitor. September 25, 1933. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/304793362.html?dids=304793362:304793362&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Sep+25%2C+1933&author=&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Up+and+Down+Beacon+Hill&pqatl=google.
- ^ http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1936election.pdf
- ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O7QKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aE0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5520,4372612&dq=cf+nelson+pratt
- ^ http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/actsResolves/1969/1969acts0419.pdf
Categories:- Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
- People from Saugus, Massachusetts
- Northeastern University alumni
- Boston University alumni
- Massachusetts Republicans
- 1891 births
- 1968 deaths
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