No. 36

The Elders in 1827 Ira Dies

Dear Stewart,

Three months after her wedding to Henry Brother, the mother of your uncle, Charles Brother, was called back to Bath, New York. This was to attend to her dying father, age 46. This was in 1827 and her brother Ira, Jr., age four, was sent to live with their neighbor and tavern owner, Mrs. Metcalf. The boy threw a fit.

Mary Ann spanked him; telling him he would not catch whatever bug was going through the house.

Finally, he allowed Mrs. Metcalf to take his hand but he kicked the door shut to punctuate the matter.

This woke Ira Pratt, Sr., who asked for water.

Handing back the cup to Mary Ann, he spoke clearly, which surprised her, making her think it was too serious a matter and too taxing, so she begged him to be still.

He waved his hand as if now she was the bug going through the house. She knew the look. She lowered her chin. She picked at the dried flowers on the bedside table.

“The boy goes to Anna,” he said, referring to his sister, not their former slave. He meant for the boy to be raised by Mrs. Burrage Rice, living in Prattsburgh, who was childless. “Don’t let him near the tavern.”

“This is just for now, nothing is set firm now," Mary Ann inserted her plan, "Because you’re getting better.”

“No, I’m not.”

Mary Ann started to cry.

“You have my clear instructions.” And with that he fell asleep for good.

Mary Ann had no trouble arranging for the guardians, but it took some time to convince the boy.

Months later, she learned that she was expecting her first child and so began to pack things to move back into her childhood home at 22 Morris Street. While Mary Ann inherited the house, it passed now into her husband's ownership.

The boy Ira was eventually sent to be with the Rice Family in the country, where he attended the Franklin Academy, established by your elders and later the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, surprising all with his late-term intellect, but not his drive. That fit of kicking into what he wanted, well, he inherited from his father and never let go of that.

Mary Ann, who had as a young girl relied heavily on the families of Finch, Dutcher, and Metcalf, was now able to give back to them, this time sharing with them her own cut or dried flowers.

John Metcalf was still the county clerk. Years later Mrs. Metcalf would write to Civil War Marine Charley Brother during his time at sea, sending him Waverly Magazines, the latest gossip, news of who had a bee in their bonnet, who was kicking down a door, or staying at the tavern against his father’s wishes, and watching the traffic through the steps from the house on Morris Street, which still stands to this day.

— Miss Minnie

2025 Copyright Christine Friesel