Rebecca Brown Stirling
EARLY LIFE
Rebecca Brown was born in Canada to parents David and Hannah Brown in 1843 [01] and on the 1850 census, her family is found living in Niagara, New York [02]. By 1858, the Brown family had relocated to the city of Auburn in Geauga County, Ohio where her father set up a medical practice [03] .

MARRIAGE
Rebecca married John Stirling in Auburn, Ohio on December 24, 1862 [04], and John was possibly acquainted with Rebecca’s family while both groups were living in the New York area. By 1863, their first daughter, Elizabeth Thomson Stirling was born [05], and around 1865, John and Rebecca relocated to Ft. Wayne, Indiana where his sister Marion’s family was living [06]. While in Ft. Wayne, Rebecca and John’s second daughter, Elvira Brown Stirling was born on 25 Mar 1866 [07].

SPOKANE FALLS
At the beginning of 1884, Rebecca and her daughter Elvira, 17 years old at the time, moved to Spokane Falls, Washington Territory. The trip from the Grand Rapids Wisconsin area where her brother lived to Spokane Falls took 5 days and nights and within a few days of her arrival, Rebecca acquired a new home and took in 5 boarders. Elvira described the house as new, with plastered walls except in the kitchen [12]. Rebecca and Elvira both appear on the 1885 Washington Territory census [13].

SECOND MARRIAGE
While living in Spokane, Rebecca’s daughter Elvira married William Lee in 1887 [14] and Rebecca married for a second time to William Pratt. The ceremony took place on July 31, 1894 in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho [15]. William G.F. Pratt was born in New Jersey in 1854 and both of his parents died by the time he was seven [16]. He was raised by a family named Finney out of Binghamton, New York [17], and as an adult, worked at various jobs moving west. William relocated to Spokane Falls in March of 1882, homesteading about ten miles north of the city and was employed as a pressman at a local newspaper for about four years. He later purchased and edited The Spokane News until it burned down during the Spokane Fire of 1889 [16]. William was a boarder of Rebecca’s in 1893 [19] and after their marriage in ‘94, Rebecca and William settled in the Medicine Lake area of Spokane, possibly in what was Rebecca’s boarding home at the time [20][21].  By 1901, they had moved to the Sunny Slope addition area of Spokane [22]. At some point, the couple took into their care a young girl, Emma Holmes who along with her sister Roxana was the motherless child of one of Rebecca’s acquaintances. Daughter Elvira  and William Lee took Roxy under their wing and both sisters appear as part of the Pratt or Lee households on the 1900 censuses at which time Emma was 18 and Roxana 16 [23][24].

William and Rebecca were involved in many business enterprises in the area including mining and land development ventures such as Sterling Heights, an upscale Spokane residential area [25]. Will, as he was called, was a self made man. In his own words, “…I came to Spokane with a $20 gold piece in my pocket on March 1, 1892”, and by 1910, he was rated at about $75,000 [25]. William Pratt also had extensive farming interests and was listed as an orchardist,  gardener and fruit grower in various references over the years [16][20][21][22].

In 1916 Rebecca Brown Pratt passed away at the age of 74 [26]. She was buried in the Lee family plot at Greenwood Cemetery in Spokane and her monument, inscribed “dear love, dear, love mother” is shared by other Lee family members. Will G. F. Pratt appears on the 1920 and 1930 US censuses still living in their large home and occupying his time as a janitor for a grocery store [27][28]. He passed away in 1946 [29].

SOURCES / CITATIONS
[01] Rebecca Pratt tombstone – born 1843, died 1916
[02] 1850 US Census, Niagara, Niagara County, New York, 11 Sep 1850 (Chk page number)
[03] 1860 US Census, Bridge Creek Post Office, Auburn Township, Geauga County, Ohio, 18 Jun 1860, page 869
[04] Rebecca Brown – John Stirling marriage license, in possession of G. Pruitt
[05] elizabeth birth
[06] Marion Stirling Obituary, Fort Wayne News, Feb 7, 1906, p2, BURGESS
Mrs. Marian Thompson Burgess, wife of Francis Burgess, died at 2 o'clock this morning at the family home, 714 West Jefferson street, at the advanced age of 85 years. The husband is one of the veteran shopmen of the city, now employed by the Wabash company. Mrs. Burgess' death was due chiefly to the infirmities of age. She had been for many years in frail health, and during the past four months had declined so rapidly that her death had been expected at almost any time. The end came most peacefully. The deceased was born in Dumblaine, Scotland, April 1, 1821, and came with her parents to America in 1853, settling in Buffalo, N.Y. Here she was united in marriage to Mr. Burgess in December, 1859, the husband bringing his bride at once to Fort Wayne, where the family has since resided. Surviving members of the family are the husband and one daughter, Miss Elizabeth Burgess. Mrs. Burgess had been for many years a devoted member of the First Presbyterian church. Funeral services from the residence Friday afternoon, Rev. Dr. Moffat and Rev. H. B. Master officiating. Internment in the family plot at Lindenwood.
[07] Family Search IGI Individual Record Batch No. 8507702, Sheet 76, Source Call No. 1395971
[08] 1880 US Census, Lincoln Township, Jasper County, Missouri, 5 Jul 1880, page (chk page no)
[09] The New Bryant and Stratton Common School Book Keeping Pub.: Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co. 1880
Inscribed: Elvira B. Stirling Parsons, Kansas, January 31st, 1881; book in possession of S.Lee
[10] Elizabeth B. Stirling – George M. King wedding announcement, 29 Jun 1883, in possession of K.Fogg
[11] Elvira mpls portrait
[12] Letter from Elvira Stirling to sister Elizabeth King, 17 Feb 1884
(PAGE 1) Dear SisterSpokane Falls , W.T.Feb 17, 1884
I read your last letter in Grand Rapids on Christmas, suppose I deserve a good scolding for not answering it long ago. You see by the heading we are a long way from G.R.and in Washington Ty. Mamma had been intending for some time to come out but I was to stay at Uncle Will’s and attend school this winter and spring then come in (PAGE 2) the summer. But when it came within two days of the time she was to start I changed my mind and came with her. Am so glad now that I did for we had a very pleasant journey, were five days and five nights on the way. It will be four weeks tomorrow since we arrived at Spokane Falls . We arrived Monday and Mamma secured a house Tuesday and we moved in the same day. The house is new never been used and is all plastered except the kitchen. We have 5 boarders all young men and are (PAGE 3) getting along nicely. The place is very pretty and the climate is a good bit like that of Kansas accepting that the summers are not quite as warm nor the winters as cold. There is a Methodist college here and I shall attend it, Mamma says I must go until I graduate. It is a four years course. Think I will attend the public school the rest of the year and then begin at the year so that I can go through with a class. Tell George that I didn’t see anything of his letter, guess he forgot to  (PAGE 4) Address   Elvira B. Stirling    Spokane Falls, WT    P.O.Box 255     write it, didn’t he? I can’t help laughing every time I think of you thinking Minnie might marry George. He is a very fine young man, very quiet but not the person Min would take to. She is all over that love affair I spoke to you of in my last and is now going with a young man she jilted for Broocks (illeg) - her Broocks and bride are now in G.R. visiting. I recd. a letter from Min the other day.  She reports all well. Uncle has been putting up ice. (PAGE 5) suppose he is through by this time. He still holds on to the ice business althugh he hires the most of  that work done one (?,illeg.) of the Ketchum boys that has worked for him for the last five years or more has charge of the ice business. Uncle works very hard himself moving buildings, building dams, etc. Minnie is at home all the time now, Uncle and Aunty do not want her to teach anymore. Aunt Mary (PAGE 6) is quite well again. I think she was sick when I wrote last. They did not want me to come out when I did. Uncle said if I stayed there Mamma would get sick of the country and lonesome by spring and go back. He did not want her to come. When I wrote that letter Mamma and I were living in Centralia just across the river from G.R. keeping house for the man that owns the Centralia saw mill but I went to school in G.R. It is getting late and I must stop. Write soon to your sister.       Vi
[13] 1885 US Census, Spokane Falls, Spokane County, Territory of Washington, 14 May 1885
[14] Alvira B. Stirling – William H. Lee Marriage Certificate, Spokane Falls, 25th of July, 1887
[15] Rebecca Stirling – William Pratt Marriage Certificate, 31 Jul 1894, in possession of K.Fogg
[16] 1900 History Of Spokane County, Page 599, William Pratt
WILLIAM G. PRATT, a pioneer of 1883, is a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, born December 15, 1854. His father died when he was three years old and his mother when he was seven. When eight years old he went to Binghamton, New York, where he grew to manhood and was educated. In 1874 he removed to Illinois and he followed farming and dairying. There for the ensuing four years, then went to Missouri and thence, in 1879, to the Sacramento valley, California. After a residence of two years there he came to Spokane county and took a pre-emption in what is now Cook,s addition to Spokane, but three years later sold this to Francis Cook. He then located a homestead, ten miles north of Spokane. Between the years 1885 and 1889 he was employed by Routhe & H.T.Cowley as pressman on the Chronicle. He afterward purchased the Spokane News and edited that until the fire, then, in company with S.L. and F.Z. Alexander, established the Union Printing Company, but he sold his interest in this enterprise the following year. He purchased a tract of railroad land and still owns one hundred and fifty-four acres of it, forty of which are within the present city limits He is now engaged principally in market gardening and as an orchardist, but is also heavily interested in mining enterprises, being president of the Black Jack Mining Company. Mr. Pratt has long been one of the substantial and progressive citizens of the city and, though never ambitious for political preferment or for leadership among his fellow men, has always commanded their respect and confidence. He is a man also, who could always be relied upon to do his full share for the advancement of the best and deepest interests of the city. He is now prominently identified with the First Baptist church of Spokane and with the Young Men's Christian Association. On July, 31, 1894, he was married, in Coeur d'Alene City, Idaho to Mrs. Rebecca Stirling, a native of New York.
[17] 1870 US Census, Town of Binghamton, Broome County, New York, 22 July 1870, Page 33
[19] R. L. Polk & Co's Spokane Directory, 1893
Stirling Rebecca (wid T), res Medical Lake road s of city (p584)
Pratt Wm G F, gardener, bds Rebecca Stirling. (p514)
[20] R. L. Polk & Co's Spokane Directory, 1895
Pratt Wm G F, gardener, res Medical Lake road s of city (p408)
[21] R. L. Polk & Co's Spokane Directory, 1896
Pratt Wm G F, gardener, res Medical Lake road s of city (p472)
[22] R. L. Polk & Co's Spokane Directory, 1901
Pratt Wm G, fruitgrower, res Sunny Slope add. (p645)
[23] 1900 US Census Cass Precinct, Third Ward, Spokane, Washington, 4 June 1900
[24] 1900 US Census, Abernathy Precinct, Spokane County, Washington, 23 June, 1900
[25] The Spokane Spokesman-Review, 1933, Page 20, 1883 – 1933 They Knew City As Mere Village
Will G. F. Pratt was an early Spokane newspaper man and once owned and published the Spokane News. He and Mrs. Pratt owned Sterling Heights addition, which C. H. Braden platted, and sold lots at $600 per lot. In 1910, he was rated at $75,000. "And I came to Spokane with a $20 gold piece in my pocket on March 1, 1882." he added. "I worked for H. T. Cowley when he published the Chronicle."
[26] Rebecca Pratt Obituary, Spokesman Review, Spokane, Washington, May 3, 1916
Pratt: Funeral services for Mrs. Rebecca Pratt, age 74, who died at St. Luke's hospital Sunday, will be held at 10 a.m. today from the First Baptist church, the Rev. John Snape officiating. Mrs. Pratt had resided near Reitmier station on the Medical Lake line for the last 30 years and was a charter member of the First Baptist church. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. George M. King of Louisiana and Mrs. W. H. Lee, R.D. No. 4, Spokane, and the husband William G. Pratt, at the family home.
[27] 1920 US Census, Avon Precinct, Spokane City, Spokane County, Washington, January 7, 1920
[28] 1930 US Census, First Ward, Block 1421, Spokane City, Spokane County, Washington, April 16, 1920
[29] William Pratt Obituary

SEPARATION
For reasons yet unknown, Rebecca took their two daughters and left her husband John probably in the mid 1870s, and for the next 5 to 10 years Rebecca traveled west. In June of 1880, Rebecca and her daughters are found living in Lincoln Township, Missouri where she is supervising a farm, with four laborers / farmers listed as part of her household [08]. At the beginning of 1881, daughter Elvira was taking business classes in Parsons, Kansas [09] where  they were  most likely staying  with Rebecca’s  brother A.O. Brown. In  June of  1883,
Rebecca’s  daughter Elizabeth was  married to George King at A.O.’s home [10], and at the end of 1883, Rebecca, with daughter Elvira was keeping house for a gentleman in Centralia, Wisconsin, across the river from her brother William in Grand Rapids [12].
David Brown
b. 1806
Hannah Blair
b. 1803
Rebecca Brown
  b. 24 Feb 1842
William Henry Brown
b. 6 Jun 1832
Mary Ann Brown
b. 1831

Elvira Brown Stirling
b. Mar 1866
Elizabeth Thomson Stirling
b. 4 Dec 1863
John T. Stirling
b. 11 Oct 1822
James S. Brown
b. 25 May 1836
Alpha Otis Brown
b. 19 Aug 1834
Armenia Brown
b. 12 Oct 1839