Louisa Barnes Pratt

Louisa Barnes Pratt (November 10, 1802 – September 8, 1880) was a prominent advocate for women's vote and other related causes in the 19th century as well as a Latter-day Saint missionary.

Early life Louisa Barnes was born in Warwick, Massachusetts, on November 10, 1802, to Willard and Dolly Barnes. Her father served in the British forces during the War of 1812 although in her autobiography she alleged he was a supporter of the United States. She attended school, although found it hard to be obedient. She was sent to live with an aunt near her home when she was about 5 years of age. She and her family moved to Quebec, Canada in July 1810. Her family were members of the Church of England, and Louisa was baptized into the Episcopal Church when she was 14. Not long after her baptism, Louisa went to live with a sister-in-law who taught her to tailor.

Louisa traveled back to Massachusetts in her early twenties and visited many of her family members. Alone, Louisa started a school, trained her horse, offered tailoring services, and took care of her family until she traveled westward to Salt Lake City with her children They had been apart five and a half years, during which time she overcame cholera, malaria, scurvy, and her children's bout with small pox, provided for them and led them from Nauvoo to the Salt Lake Valley.

Missionary

Pratt was set apart as a missionary to serve in French Polynesia with her husband in 1849. Their daughters accompanied them on their mission. They were forced to end their mission due to French laws prohibiting foreign missionaries. The Pratts returned to the United States and moved to San Francisco and then to San Bernardino, California.

Later years Pratt's husband, Addison, was called on two more missions to Tahiti in 1854 and in 1856. However, due to the law restrictions, he did not remain there long. The Saints in San Bernardino were asked to return to Utah by Brigham Young. Addison refused to leave and stayed in California, but Louisa and two of her children moved to Beaver, Utah. There she contributed to the Women's Exponent. Her husband died on October 14, 1872, while they were separated. Louisa caught pneumonia and died in Beaver on September 8, 1880.

Throughout her life, Pratt kept a detailed journal of her life. Her autobiography was published in a version edited by S. George Ellsworth by Utah State University Press.