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- Mildred G. Perry - June 7, 1869 - July 8, 1950. Daughter of Jerome and Sarah E. Cross Perry. Wife of Herman F. Pratt. Married September 20, 1893.
Newspaper Obituary - Thursday, July 13, 1950 Sandy Creek News - Sandy Creek, New York - Mildred G. Pratt, Retired Educator, Dies, Aged 81 - Mrs. Mildred G. Pratt, for many years associated with educational work in the schools of this town throughout her residence here a leader in community activities, died Saturday morning, July 8, 1950 at her home in Lacona after several weeks of illness. For the past few years her health had been failing and she had been unable to participate in her former activities. Mrs. Pratt devoted a great part of her life to teaching, and was a former principal of the local school and a former superintendent of the first supervisory district of Oswego county. She was born in Fernwood June 7, 1869, daughter of Jerome and Sarah Cross Perry. She was a graduate of Mexico Academy and studied at Syracuse University and Cortland Normal school. She taught in Fernwood, Orwell and Altmar, and was a training class teacher in the Sandy Creek school for some years. From September 1909 to June 11, 1911 she was principal of the Sandy Creek High School, and shortly after the office of district superintendent of schools was established she became the first district superintendent of the first supervisory district of Oswego county. She continued in this position until her retirement July 31, 1931. Under her enthusiastic leadership the schools of this district reached a high scholastic standing. The interest and forethought which Mrs. Pratt evinced in the rural schools under her supervision greatly helped both teachers and pupils in their work and it was said that one had only to examine exhibits made by the schools at the Sandy Creek Fair each year and in which she was keenly interested, to know the results of her cooperation. In 1894 she was married to Herman Pratt, the couple thus having celebrated their Golden Wedding six years ago. Mrs. Pratt was a member of the official board of the Methodist church; recording secretary of the state WCTU, a member of the Sandy Creek WCTU; of Rhadamant Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution; members of the Wednesday club and the Sandy Creek Branch of the Red Cross, and also on the board of the Annie P. Ainsworth Memorial Library, in all of which she had been active as long as health permitted. Besides her husband, she is survived by several cousins and nephews. Services were held at her home at 2 p.m. Tuesday, with Rev. Herbert Harrison, of the Olean Methodist church, former pastor of Sandy Creek Methodist church, officiating, and Rev. W. H. Halsted, present pastor of the local church assisting. Just before the service, members of the Sandy Creek WCTU took part in a state-prepared service of tribute to Mrs. Pratt, led by Mrs. F. I. Bellinger. Tributes were given by Mrs. Winifred Upton and Mrs. Walter Sprague, assisted by Mrs. Harold Douglass and Miss Bess Hollis. Speaking from the vantage point of his long association with Mrs. Pratt, Rev. Harrison, her former pastor, after reading two poems she had previously requested to be used, "I heard the Voice of Jesus," and "Crossing the Bar," said that, like her Master, Mildred Pratt was primarily a teacher, adapt at the teaching of youth, whom she taught by the contagion of her own gracious, sweet and thoughtful Christian personality. Many, he said, were inspired by the Monday Bible class for young people, which she taught for many years. A teacher by vocation, she took her unusual talents and utilized them in other services, particular mention being made of her work in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She had a gentle concern for all and was a good neighbor, but first of all she was a churchman; she cast her life always on the side of Godliness and righteousness, Rev. Harrison said, concluding with the particularly applicable words, "Oh gentle soul, Oh noble spirit, hail, and for a time, farewell." Burial took place in the family lot in Willis cemetery, Fernwood, bearers being Judge Eugene Sullivan, Sheriff James Bartlett, James Fuller, W. M. Sprague and W. W. Wilcox. A D. A. R. ritual ceremony took place at the grave, with a memorial marker being dedicated.
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1869 - 1950 (81 years)