Martin Kellogg, who spent 3 months in 1804 clearing the land and building a log house, may have been Prattville's first resident. A schoolhouse and church were later situated at the location, and the area was known to have as many as 14 potable water springs. The settlement was thought to have great promise, unfulfilled, of becoming a significant metropolis as settlers established homesteads there in the early 1800s. Joe Savage built a tavern near the Kellogg plot surrounded within a mile or so by various relatives. Peter Pratt and family moved from Whitestown, NY and opened a second tavern in the area in 1806, and founded a distillery and sawmill. Other businesses sprung up: a woolen factory, tannery, cabinet shop, blacksmith shop, grocery store and even a shoe shop. Within ten years the settlement became known as Prattville. Peter was politically involved, having become Justice of the Peace in 1811, County Treasurer in 1816, Sheriff in 1820, Supervisor in 1821, and Presidential Elector in 1840. Judge Pratt, as he was known, was active in other civic positions as well and passed away in 1932 at 87 years of age. Prattville became Prattham with the establishment of a post office in 1878.
Prattham
"Prattville"
The Rev. Lewis Kellogg, son of Martin Kellogg, wrote in 1876 of the very inception of the settlement. "I was born in Mexico Oneida County New York November 20th 1805. Prattville, on the northeast corner of which stood the log house of my nativity, the only house there, was not known (by name) till I was eleven yeas of age."
At one time "Prattville" gave promise of becoming the metropolis of the 20th town. The Gazetteer of 1836 credits it with only fifteen dwellings.