Brierfield in Bibb County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Absalom Pratt House
Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, October 17, 2010
1. Absalom Pratt House Marker Side A
Absalom Pratt built this house 8 miles west of here circa 1835 though a section was constructed earlier. It was moved to this site in 1994 by the Cahaba Trace Commission, restored by the Alabama Historic Ironworks Commission, 1997-98, and dedicated by both organizations on November 15, 1998.
Born in Stokes County, North Carolina, Absalom Pratt settled in River Bend with his brothers, Hopkins, Joab and John, 1816-1818. Parents Richard and Rebecca Pratt soon followed. In 1822, Absalom married Mary Dickerson. Together they had 12 children. A son, Richard Hopkins Pratt, was principal of Six Mile Academy and Bibb County Superintendent of Education.
Reverse:
Absalom was appointed colonel of militia in 1841 and served as Schultz Creek Baptist Church clerk, 1840-44. He died of typhoid fever in 1845 and is buried in the Pratt-Wallace cemetery. Wife Mary lived until 1882. According to tradition, she operated a Cahaba River ferry and rather than allow the ferry to be used by Union troopers, under General James H. Wilson, Mary set the ferry adrift in April 1865.
The last family members, great-grandsons
this page online
Erected 2000 by The Pratt Family and The Cahaba Trace Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Education • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1865.
Location. 33° 2.554′ N, 86° 57.294′ W. Marker is in Brierfield, Alabama, in Bibb County. Marker is at the intersection of Montevallo Road (State Highway 25) and County Road 62, on the left when traveling west on Montevallo Road. Marker located near the entrance to the Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brierfield AL 35035, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bibb Naval Furnaces Brierfield Furnaces (within shouting distance of this marker); Bibb Furnace (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hayes-Morton House (approx. half a mile away); Sunshine & Dorothy Morton House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Six Mile Male & Female Academy Site (approx. 3.8 miles away); Site of Six Mile Male And Female Academy
Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, October 17, 2010
2. Absalom Pratt House Marker Side B
Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, October 17, 2010
3. Absalom Pratt House and Marker
Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, October 17, 2010
4. Absalom Pratt House
The house is used as the Visitor Center for the Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park and general offices of the Cahaba Trace Commission
Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, October 17, 2010
5. Absalom Pratt House
Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,564 times since then and 169 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 19, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
