Helaman Pratt (1846-1909)

Helaman Pratt (1846-1909)

Mormon Pioneer and Church Leader of settlements in Utah and Mexico.

Vital Stats

 * Father: Parley Parker Pratt (1807-1857) - Famous Mormon Pioneer, Apostle and Martyr
 * Mother: Mary Wood (1818-1898) - Immigrant for Glasgow, Scotland
 * 1846-May-31 : Birth at Mount Pisgah, Pottawattamie, Iowa - Mormon Refugee Camp
 * 1874-Apr-20 : Marriage (1) to Anna Johanna Dorothea Wilcken (1854-1929) - Dora - Born in Dahme, Prussia
 * 1909-Nov-26 : Died at Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico

Biography
Helaman was born in a covered wagon during a one-hour stopover on the Mormon Trail near Mount Pisgah, Iowa.

In 1869 when the first LDS branch was organized in Overton, Nevada Pratt served as branch president Pratt served from 1872-1873 as president of the Glenwood Branch in Glenwood, Utah. He then was the head of the group who founded Prattville, Utah.

Missionary in Mexico
Pratt was one of the first missionaries to Mexico, and in 1876 at Hermosillo, Sonora, Pratt and Meliton Trejo performed the first baptisms recorded by the LDS Church in that country. Pratt latter served as president of the Mexican Mission based in Mexico City from 1884-1887. Pratt succeeded Anthony W. Ivins in this postion and was succeeded by Horace S. Cummings. After his release he moved to Colonia Dublan in Galeana, state of Chihuahua, Mexico. He also for a time owned and resided at the Cliff Ranch outside of Cave Valley, Chihuahua. In 1895 when the Juzrez Stake was organized in Mexico, Pratt was called to serve as one of President Anthony W. Ivins counselors along with Henry Eyring. Pratt served in the Juarez Stake presidency until 1908 when the stake was reorganized with Pratt's son Junius as president.

Family Life
He married in Salt Lake City, Utah, 20 April 1874 German Anna Johanna Dorothy ("Dora") Wilcken (Dahme, Zarpin, Rheinfeld, Ostholstein, Schleswig-Holstein, 25 July 1854 – Colonia Dublán, Galeana, Chihuahua, Mexico, 22 June 1929), daughter of Carl Heinrich "Charles Henry" Wilcken (Eckhorst, Holstein, Schleswig-Holstein, 5 October 1831 – Salt Lake City, Utah, 9 April 1914) and the first of at least four additional wives (m. Neustadt in Holstein, Ostholstein, Schleswig-Holstein, 10 August 1853) Eliza Christina Carolina Reiche (Neustadt in Holstein, Ostholstein, Schleswig-Holstein, 1 May 1830 – Salt Lake City, Utah, 13 August 1906), both of whom also became LDS Church members. He was also a polygamist.

Dora Wilcken's father had first come to Utah as part of Johnston's Army but later joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Children
Helaman was leader for a Mormon Polygamous Colony in Mexico. There are several wives and children to be listed here.

Children of Helaman Pratt and Anna Johanna Dorothea Wilcken

 * 1) Anna Amelia Pratt (1876-1926) - m. Gaskell Romney - Grandparents of 2012 US Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney
 * 2) Dora Pratt (1878-1904) -
 * 3) Rey Lucero Pratt (1878-1931) -
 * 4) Leah Pratt (1880-1853) -
 * 5) Ira Wilcken Pratt (1882-1944) - twin,
 * 6) Mary Irena Pratt (1882-1948) - twin,
 * 7) Erastus Leon Pratt (1886-1847) -
 * 8) Verde Pratt (1887-1961) -
 * 9) Amy Wilcken Pratt (1890-1976) -
 * 10) Caroline Eliza Pratt (1893-1897) -
 * 11) Charles Henry Pratt (1899-1962) -
 * 12) Joseph Wilcken Pratt (1905-1983) -