Jessie Casbrook Prather

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Jessie married Rufus William Standefer 21 Mar 1912, Bosque Co., Tx.. Rufus was born 25 Feb 1887, Meridian, Bosque Co., Tx.; died 20 May 1968, Waco, Tx.. [Group Sheet]

1. Rufus William Standefer
2. Frances Lucyle Standefer was born 18 Dec 1912, Meridian, Bosque Co., Tx.; died 25 Oct 1990, Greenboro, n.C..
3. Lola Louise Standefer was born 01 May 1915, Prob. Bosque Co., Tx.; died 18 Feb 1992, Austin, Travis Co., Tx..
4. John Prather Stanefer was born 02 Feb 1920, Clifton, Bosque Co., Tx.; died 25 Jan 1973, Midland, Tx..

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

Ben moved and lived in Mo. for about three years after the war. He then
returned to Bosque Co.,Tx. where he farmed and ranched and extensive 2000 acre
operation.

Benjamin married Mary Ann Drahn 11 Mar 1866, McLennan Co., Tx.. Mary was born 17 Dec 1847, Berlin, Germany; died 25 Mar 1923, Womack, Bosque Co., Tx.; was buried , Smith Bend Cem.. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Occupation: Farmer; Rancher
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

When a boy of 15 yrs., George enviced great tact for managing the affairs of
he fathers farm (which consisted of serveral hundred acres) and this caused
his father to place him in charge of managing his entire plantation and
businesses. He continued managing his fathers estate until he was 24 yrs.
At the age of 22 he was converted to religion at a Muddy Creek Camp Meeting
and was liciensed to exhort. At 24 yrs. he married the daughter of Gen.
Thomas Love (of North Carolina). After he married he move to the adjoining
Co. of Blount where he farmed for severial years then he moved to Gipson Co.
in West Tn. which at that time was a wild country. He cleared and put into
cultivation a farm, but did not remain more than 2 or 3 yrs. when he removed
to near Paris,Henry Co.,Tn. where he farmed for 9 yrs. when his wife died.
In 1845 he was married to the daughter of Rev.William Lambdin,of the Memphis
Conference. George was ordained Deacon by Bishop Soule, 28 Nov. 1847
in the Meth. Church at Jackson,Tn., and 5 Dec. 1852 he was ordained Elder by
Bishop Andrew at Brownsville. In 1854 he decided to go to Texas to look at
land and purchased land near Waco,Tx. on the South Bosque River, McLennan Co.
In the fall of 1854 he moved his family to Texas where he farmed over seven
hundred acres. When he was at an age that he could no longer farm he moved
to a home on Austin St. in Waco,Tx. and let his children run the farm.
On Saturday 18 Apr. 1874 he died in his garden. He was an honest, bold, candid
sincere Christian gentleman who gave 1/3 of his yearly earnings to his church.

It is believed that G.W.Prather came to Texas because his uncle, William
Prater, had settled near the Brazos River and had land that spanned
Brazoia and Ft. Bend Counties in TX.
William Prater was one of the "Old Three Hundred Settlers", who was listed
as a settler in Austins First Colony.
George Washington Prather also settled on the Brazos River, but his
land spanned Austin County, to the northwest of Williams property.

Born at his father plantation northeast of Lenoir City, Tn. (Roane Co.)
Some of his descendants live in Texas today.
Example: Great Grandson Charles Prather of Grand Prairie, Tx.(Phone unlisted)
George W. Prather was living in Tn. in 1850 census.

George married Martha Love 12 Sep 1829, MacOn Co., n. Carolina. Martha (daughter of Thomas Love and Mrs Martha Love) was born , N.C.; died , Henry Co., Tn.; was buried , Blake Cem., Henry Co., Tn.. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Occupation: Plantation (90 slaves)
• Reference Number: 6.013.01
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!This is the line of Tracy Prater and Sarah Louise Mott,Tracy's brothers
G W & Jim.AFN-15VC-97K

With the death of his mother and the marriage of his sister, Benjamin Franklin
Prater along with his brother and father left Stokes Co, North Carolina for
the Tennessee territory. Benjamin's father, William is said to have died
between Dandridge and Knoxville and his sons continued on the route west to
Knoxville's Campbell's Station and then proceeded South to the Holston River
(now Tenn. River) about five miles south of Martel, Tn. Here Benjamin and his
broth Thomas settled and farmed until their deaths. Thomas died unmarried in
1813, and was the first to be buried in the family cemetery which is located
on top of a hill about 1/4 mile southwest of Benjamin's home.
In about 1797 Benjamin began building his beautiful brick mansion amidst the
vast 1854 acres he owned on the Holston River. It is said to have taken one
hundred slaves two years to construct the original from part of the house
using brick made on the site. (the exterior walls are 3 bricks thick and the
interior walls are 2 bricks thick).
Today many of the architectural features of the house are original to the
structure. The grandiose appearance of the house is achieved by the placement
of the house on a high foundation with a full cellar underneath which was
typical of residential architecture built during the time. The corbeled
chimneys are another detail of interest as well as the unigue brick cornice
used around the entire house. Also worth of notice are the wooden windows put
together with wooden pegs. Equal to,if not exceeding the gracious character of
the exterior of the house are the many interior details which still exist.
There was a fireplace in every room in the house, however four of the eight
have been covered over. Upstairs in both front bedrooms are mantles original
to the house. The intire house has hardwood floors which were cut the width
of the room so there are no borards pieced together. The doors in the house
are original, however those in the ell structure were of course added later
when this part of the house was built. It is interesting to note the variety
of doors used in the house and some of the beatiful etched copper hardware.
It is in this house that Benjamin and Nancy raised 8 children.
Benjamins grandson Hugh G. Prater continued living in the home after Benjamins
death. Then later, Hugh's son Oscar Blaine remained after his fathers
death.
During the period that Hugh and Oscar lived there (1851-1900) is when the ell
structure was added to the rear of the house which now contains the dining
room and kitchen downstairs and the two garret bedrooms upstairs.
After his fathers death,Oscar Blaine Prater remained in the house despite many
financial problems causing multiple trust deeds to be drawn against the
property before it was finally taken from him in 1900, by John McReynolds.
Subsequently, in 1909, R.N. Calloway purchesed the house and he and his family
lived there until 1915, when H.M. Milligan bought the house and lived until
1951. From 1951-1956, the Kinser family, who added the current front porch and
columns, owned and lived in the house. In 1956, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Carr bought
the house and completed the renovation of the house including the addition of
the sunroom to the back, in Nov. of 1992 Dr. Thomas M. Koenig
purchased the house and also made renovations.
This beautiful home continues to survive and all that have lived there have
added to its interesting history.
The Prater Plantation home is located at the end of Beals Chapel Rd. about
5 miles N.E. of Lenior City, Tn. overlooking a beautiful lake which at one
time was part of the bend in the river which the house was built facing.

I have visited the home many times over the past few years.
It pleases me when I am able to visit this wonderful home and see the
continueing beauty of the home, grounds, and beautiful lake that surrounds
it on two sides. Gary Benton Prather (1992)

NOTE: Indians lived accross the river from Benjamins home.
There are people who claim to be descended from Benjamin through a
"base born" child and/or children of an indian woman.
I have not researched this family group at this date. GBPrather

!This is the line of Tracy Prater and Sarah Louise Mott,Tracy's brothers G W & Jim.AFN-15VC-97K

Benjamin married Nancy Elizabeth Layne, Lane 06 Nov 1798, Jefferson Co., Tn.. Nancy was born 1777, ,Jefferson, Tn; died 03 Jun 1838, Lenoir City, Roane Co., Tn.; was buried , Prater Cem. on Her Husbands Plantation. [Group Sheet]

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• Ancestral File Number: 15VC-98R
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Thomas married Mrs Martha Love of Nc. Mrs was born , of Nc. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009