Otis C. Pratt would be regarded as an obscure Ohio artist and sculptor whose lifespan was November 24, 1845 to his death on September 24, 1921, if it were not for the diligence of an unknown W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) worker, who sometime during the 1930s, stopped to read his lengthy epitaph on a mid-sized white marble monument at the Greenwood Cemetery in Wellington, Lorain County.
The monument also marks the grave of his mother, Rachel Camilla Warner Pratt, who died in 1877 at the age of 51. Her husband, Lyman B. Pratt, lived until 1897 and later married again but is buried alone also at Greenwood Cemetery. Otis was their only child.
It was intriguing to read Otis C. Pratt's lengthy epitaph published in "The Ohio Guide" on page 125, with a veiled reference to him appearing on page 364.
Also, thanks to Find A Grave, there are posted photos of the inscriptions for Otis C. Pratt on one side and his mother on the opposite side.
However, it became a bit puzzling upon realizing what was obviously a lack of space on either side that would be needed to entirely accommodate an epitaph approximately 21 lines in length.
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So, an in-person visit to Otis C. Pratt's gravesite was in order to resolve the lingering questions and some nagging doubts if the epitaph was really carved on the monument at all?
The monument was rather easy to locate in the cemetery thanks again to the unknown author who wrote that it was in the southwest corner of the cemetery.:
Upon arrival at the cemetery's entrance, a quick left turn and short drive was all that was needed to bring the Pratt monument in clear view.
Then a walk around examination of the monument's sides revealed that there is just enough detail left of the fading multi-line epitaph that was carved on the front side of the marker above the surname of PRATT spelled out in large raised capitol letters that provided the needed answers.
Photographs below were taken during the August 10, 2022 visit to Otis C. Pratt's gravesite.:
Below is a close-up view of the front of the monument and what remains to be seen of the epitaph. The last word in the last line is "Farewell".
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Also below, take particular note of the last sentence in the red outline box on page 364 of "The Ohio Guide".:
*******Below is a partial transcription of Page 125 in “The Ohio Guide” of Otis C. Pratt's epitaph the unknown author regarded as important enough to include in the publication under the category of “Art”.:
“In wind-swept Greenwood Cemetery on the edge of the village of Wellington, Lorain County, is the grave of a neglected artist who composed for his headstone an unusual epitaph. This plaintive cry, perpetuated by Otis C. Pratt (1845-1921), gives voice to the sense of bafflement that must have been common to many artists in early Ohio who found themselves without encouragement or support;
"Stranger: I live in an Age when
coruption [sic] was in our Government
and the ballot box was begged [sic] for;
When martyred Presidents and riots
echoed over our land; When Law and
respect clung to the rich and shunned
the poor; When money and fashion
had the brains, and Talent went
over the waters, for want of Free
Schools of Art supported by our
Government. Such were the conditions
which caused my Landscape discovery
to decay with me, as Nature shows it.
Farewell P.R.A.T.T."
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Thus, initially due to not seeing any photographs of the other two sides, with the one assumed to be the back of the monument - which is traditionally blank; the last hope rested on the remaining side that it contained Otis C. Pratt's epitaph.
Thankfully, the hope was realized upon a close up view of the monument's entire front. Indeed carved on it was the epitaph which reveals to us more about Otis C. Pratt and the times he lived in. How fortunate we are that the carving was much more readable almost 100 years ago than it is today.
It is quite sad because of its deteriorated condition a stranger visiting now most likely would just pass by the Pratt monument; perhaps glance at it; but then keep walking.
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(See earlier blog posts from January 5, 2022 and February 15, 2022).
