Death of Mrs. A.T. Prouty
This old pioneer died at her residence on north Park st. at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, aged 80 years, of typhoid fever. She had been in poor health for some time. Her husband was buried four weeks ago yesterday. She had been a resident of Kalamazoo over 50 years and in her younger days took an active part in social matters. A large family of children survive her. The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon from the residence at 4 o'clock. Kalamazoo Gazette August 20, 1887 page 4

Sophia Ransom Prouty, eighth child and fourth daughter of Major Ezekiel and Lucinda Fletcher Ransom was born at Townshend, Vt., Feb. 15, 1807. She was brought up on the farm, sharing with her sisters the multifold duties incident to the operation of the estate, and with them attending the schools of the locality during her girlhood years. She married Amariah T. Prouty, Townshend, Vt., Nov. 28, 1828. Mrs. Prouty was a woman of sense, of domestic habits, quick and decisive in action. She took but little interest in social affairs outside the immediate circle of her intimate friends and relatives. She was always active and concerned in all things that made for the interest and welfare of those around her, and her influence always favored that which was for the good and true. She had been reared at her father's home, in the strictest creed of the close communion Baptist church, but after her marriage with her husband united with the Congregational Society, and in that relation was a devoted Christian woman to the end of her long and useful life. Her health was somewhat impaired by the infirmities of age for a time previous to her death. It occurred at Kalamazoo, Aug. 19, 1887, just one month after that of her husband and her remains laid by his side in Mountain Home cemetery, where "Life's dream over, she sleeps well."
Amariah Taft Prouty, her husband, was an early resident of Townshend. Vt., but was born at Langdon, N. H., Sept. 24, 1802, and was named after Judge Amariah Taft, the lawyer. Mr. Prouty, by his own application to study and such advantages as he was able to enjoy in the common schools, acquired a good education in the English branches. He early manifested the mechanical instinct, and when about 18 years of age was apprenticed to a cabinet maker to learn the trade. Young Prouty soon became skilled in the art. His work became noted for its beauty of design and elegant finish, and to be the fortunate possessor of one of his mahogany center tables was the highest good fortune to which the house wives of the day aspired. Soon after his marriage he moved to Glenns Falls, New York, where he followed his trade until the year 1836, when he emigrated to Michigan and located at Kalamazoo. He bought several lots at the northwest corner of Park and South streets, adjacent to the home of his father-in-law, on which he erected a handsome and commodious residence, which is still standing, though several times remodeled, and is among the oldest structures in the town. He did much of the work on the home himself, utilizing one wing of it for a shop, in which he continued at his trade until about 1838, when he was elected secretary of the Kalamazoo Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which subsequently did an extensive business throughout the state. In his official capacity, adjusting losses and collecting, premiums, he made frequent visits to most of the organized counties, and at one time probably had the most extended personal acquaintance with Michigan people of any one in the state.
He conducted the affairs of the company with success as its chief executive officer, but in common with nearly other corporate concerns in the state, it was unable to weather the hard times of the early 40s, and was compelled to go into liquidation.
After winding up the affairs of the insurance company Mr. Prouty turned his attention to farming and fruit raising, which pursuit he followed the remainder of his life, providing a competency for his declining years.
Mr. Prouty was a habitual reader, a sharp politician and thoroughly familiar with the history of his country in every detail. He never sought office though acting with the dominant party; a Whig at first, and then a Republican. He religiously cast his vote at every election. During his manhood he made up a current series of scrap books filled with newspaper excerpts, pertaining to almost every subject and event of interest to all classes of citizens and of great use and value in perpetuating the early history of the town, county and state. He closed his long and useful career at Kalamazoo, Michigan, July 9, 1887, dying at the age of 85, on the very ground where he had first taken up his new home 51 years before. Historical outline of the Ransom family of America