Prattsville, then part of Saline County, was first settled by Elder Joab Pratt, a Baptist preacher, accompanied by several other families, with the surnames of Mayfield, Pumphrey, McDaniel, and Cobb, all arrived by wagon train from Bibb County, Alabama in 1841.

[5] Mr. Pratt founded Philadelphia Baptist Church soon after settling in the area south of the modern day city limits.

The Old Camden Trail was one of only five main roads in Arkansas during the 1800s and served early settlers of Prattsville.

[6] During the Civil War, as part of Gen. Frederick Steele's Camden expedition, part of the larger Red River Campaign, attempted to cross the Saline River at Pratt's Ferry with his troops to get his nearly supply-less Union Army back to Little Rock along the Old Camden Road, however the water there was too high, and Gen. Steele and his troops turned south to cross at Jenkins Ferry, where his Union Army were engaged by Confederate Troops in what is called the Battle of Jenkins Ferry.

[7] Gen. Steele's Camden expedition cost the Union army countless men and badly needed supplies.

[8] Gen. Steele and the Union Army escaped and made a retreat back to Little Rock along the Old Camden Trail.

[11] David Delano Glover (January 18, 1868 – April 5, 1952) was born and attended public school in Prattsville.

He donated millions of dollars to worthy causes, including the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences campus, the Delta Project, the U.S.

Naval Academy, where he graduated with classmate Jimmy Carter,[14] First Tee of Arkansas, the Prattsville Community Center, and others.

He sold the bonds at a profit to make a small fortune in the worst economic climate in American history.

After World War II, he was known as the "kingmaker" due to his influential power over the state's political branches.

[17] Thornton played "a key role in fashioning the articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon concerning the Watergate cover-up.