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- from "The Waukausha Freeman", 16 Dec 1880
On Friday morning, the 3d inst., Mrs. Mary Louise Pratt, eldest daughter of A. E. Perkins, Esq., of Mukwonago, and wife of Jos. A. Pratt, of that place, expired at the Jones House, Burlington, at the early age of 35, a victim of the dreadful destroyer - consumption. Mrs. Pratt was on her way from the far west, where she had spent some months with her husband in the vain hope of at least a partial restoration to health. A few weeks before her death her mother was telegraphed for, and answered the summons in person, and her father went on a few days later, so that she was surrounded by loving hands and hearts in her last illness. But in the last week of her life there sprang up within her an irrepressible longing to see her old home once more, and so she was tenderly brought back, and the little party reached Burlington, Racine County, on Tuesday evening. Tired as she was, the eighteen miles that intervened between her and the home of her childhood seemed an impossible journey, and she stopped with her friends, to rest. She never afterwards rallied sufficiently to undertake the remainder of the journey, and on Friday morning she was called away to her eternal home. The writer of this memorial was acquainted with Mrs. Pratt in her girlhood, and knew her as one of the most charming and brilliant of young ladies, a decade and a half ago. Although independent in thought and action, she was devoted in her affection and solicitude for her friends, and those who knew her best were those who loved her most. In her school studies she was energetic and untiring, and for their better prosecution attended school in Boston, and afterwards at Carroll College and at the Rockford Seminary. Her school work at the latter place brought on a severe illness which is thought to have been the foundation of the disease which finally proved fatal. In September, 1870, she was married to Mr. Joseph A. Pratt, of Mukwonago, and with a loving husband and a happy home near the parents whom she idolized, her lot in life seemed enviable, indeed. After the birth of her little daughter, Gracie, in 1874, however, her health gradually failed, and a year ago it was seen that her life was in imminent danger. Since then every means known has been tried to restore her, but in vain. As a last resort, on the 23d of September last, her husband took her to Platte Valley, Nebraska, but the change seemed for the better only for a few weeks, and when she became certain that her end was near she felt anxious to come home to die. Thus a precious life has faded away before reaching its prime. The loss is felt beyond the family circle, and although the grief-stricken parents and husband, the brothers and sisters, as well as the orphaned little girl of six years old, will receive the tender sympathy of all in their great loss, that loss will be felt to extend to the society itself, among which she moved, and she will be long and lovingly missed there. T.W.H.
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1845 - 1880 (35 years)
Abraham Ely Perkins, b. 18 Dec 1816, Lyme, New London, CT 
