Pratt, Martin Taylor, 1880-1954.

Martin Taylor Pratt was born August 20, 1880 to Mr. and Mrs. Irving W. Pratt, school teachers in Portland, Oregon. Martin Pratt served in the Oregon Volunteer Infantry, Company H, during the Spanish-American War, 1898-1899. Upon returning from the Philippines he attended the Portland Business College. From 1901-1912 he was Multnomah County's deputy assessor. In 1913, he became a deputy sheriff and three years later chief deputy sheriff. He was appointed sheriff of Multnomah County in 1930, and elected 1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944. In 1948, he was defeated for reelection and retired from law enforcement. He was a member of several fraternal and professional organizations: the Masons, Al Kader Shrine temple, Elks, Scout Young Camp, United Spanish War Veterans, and Pacific Coast International Association of Law Enforcement Officials.