M. W. Brother Pretzman was born at Springfield, Ohio, on August 4, 1867. He received his early education in the public schools there and later studied in Wittenberg College. Before completing his college course, he went abroad, studying for a number of years in France and Germany. Some time after his return from abroad he received the M. A. degree from Wittenberg College.
He moved to Columbus in 1886, reading law in the office of Powell, Ricketts & Black, and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in April 1889. He opened an office in Columbus, practicing alone until 1897, when be became a member of the firm of Williams, Taylor & Pretzman, and continued as a member of this firm until 1907, when he opened an office for himself. In 1915 he became a member of the law firm of Higgins, Pretzman & Davies, later leaving this firm to associate with his son, Allen, in the practice. He served as Assistant City Attorney under Judge Selwyn M. Owen and was an active member of the Columbus Bar Association.
He was ever prominent as a citizen and leader in civic movements. He was president of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce in 1910, and was trustee of the Columbus Public Library for several years. He was a member of the Columbus Country Club, the Torch Club, the Sojourners and Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.
He was an active member of Nelson Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he taught the Men’s Bible Class for many years and was deeply interested in the work of the Sunday school.
On October 11,1892, he married Miss Clara Louise McGuire, to this marriage two sons were born.
M. W. Brother Pretzman was initiated an Entered Apprentice January 11, 1898, in Columbus Lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M.; passed to the degree of Fellow Craft February 8, 1898; and was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason May 20, 1898. He served his Lodge as Worshipful Master in 1901-1902.
He was a member of Ohio Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M., having been exalted to the degree of Royal Arch Mason in June 1908. The Royal and Select Master Degrees were conferred April 9, 1909, and the Super Excellent Master Degree November 12, 1909, in Columbus Council, No.8, R. & S. M. He was a member of Mt. Vernon Commandery, No.1, K. T., having received the Order of the Red Cross March 25, 1909, and the Knight of Malta and Knight Templar April 22, 1909.
The degrees in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite were conferred in the Valley of Columbus by Enoch Lodge of Perfection, June 6, 1900; Franklin Council Princes of Jerusalem, June 7, 1900; Columbus Chapter Rose Croix, June 7, 1900; and Scioto Consistory, June 8, 1900. He served Enoch Lodge as Grand Orator and Columbus Chapter Rose Croix as Master of Ceremonies and Most Wise Master. He was crowned an honorary member of the Supreme Council 33° Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, at Detroit, Michigan, in 1910. He became a member of Aladdin Temple, A. A. N. M. O. S., and November 21, 1911.
In the Grand Lodge, he served as District Lecturer of the Fourteenth District from 1907-1909, In October, 1909, he was appointed Grand Orator; was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1910; Senior Grand Warden in 1911; Deputy Grand Master in 1912; and became Grand Master October 23, 1913. At the time of his death he was the Representative of the Grand Lodges of New Hampshire and Wisconsin near the Grand Lodge of Ohio.
His friends came to know him as a deep student of matters of Jurisprudence and his counsel was valued highly in the larger problems with which Masons in Ohio had to deal. He was of the highest type of Mason and every Brother who once felt the kindness and warmth of his great big heart .was left with the feeling of friendship and confidence of his assuring personality. Brother Pretzman was a good man and true, faithful to his every duty and loyal in his friendships.
The funeral services were conducted at the home Thursday afternoon, September 4, 1930. The host of friends who gathered to pay him loving tribute attested his constant, upright Christian life. Internment in Greenlawn Cemetery, Section 32, Lot 20, Columbus, Ohio.