William Lewis Prather

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 6.883.06
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

Bio of Joseph A. Prather: Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, IL.
Biographical Sketches. 1909 (yr.)
(a copy located at the Denver, Colo. Library)

This venerable citizen of Raccoon Township, Marion Co., has been a very active
man in the development of this part of the Union, having spent his long life
in this and her sister state on the east (Indiana). He has seen the wonderful
growth of the country from its wild prairies, dense forsest, inhaited by red
men and wild beast to one of the richest and best courntries in the world.

Joseph A. Prather was born in Clark Co., INdiana, January 31, 1824, the son of
Sihon and Elizabeth Williams Prather, the former a native of North Carolina
and the latter of VA. The subject's father grew up in the Tar Heel state and
moved to Clark Co., Indiana, where he lived on a farm and where he and his
wife both died. He was a Democrat and held the office of Justice of the Peace
for several years. He was a member of the Methodist church, well known and
influential. They were the parents of the following children: Louisa,
deceased; Samantha, deceased; Thomas, deceased; John, deceased; Joseph A., our
subject; William, deceased; Margaret lives in Clark Co., Indiana. Several
children died young.

Joseph A. Prather, our subject, had few opportunities to become educated,
however he attended subscription schools for a time and lived at home until he
was 21 yrs. of age, when he went to Floyd Co., Indiana, and in 1844 married
Sarah Ann Patrick, a native of Clark Co., IN. where she was born December 3,
1827, the daughter of William and Nancy Harris Patrick, the former a native of
North Carolina and the latter of VA.
They lived and died in Clark Co., IN., on a farm. There were twelve children
in their family as follows: Jeremiah, Rebecca, John, Elizabeth, Mary, William,
Solomon, James, Nancy, Lewis, Sarah Ann and Eliza. they are all deceased
execept the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Prather became the parents of
nine children, three deceased, namely: Nancy who married Roland Warren, lives
in Centralia, IL. and is the mother of eight children:
Margaret, who is now deceased, having died January 24, 1908, married Lewis
Patton, haveing become the mother of ten children, one who is deceased; John,
who married Belle Oldfield, is a farmer and teamster at Centralia, and has for
children: Elia J., who married Thomas Shaw, of Centralia, is the mother of
Eight children; Emmons R. a farmer in Raccoon Twonship, first married Mollie
Gaston and later Lillie Blair, of Raccoon Township, having had four children
by his first wife and two by the second; Etha is the wife of Charles Bundy, of
Raccoon township, a full sketch of who appears in this work; Orville, who is
living on part of the old home place in Raccoon township, married, first Laura
May, and his secnd wife was Annie Howard, had three children by each wife:
William died at the age of 7 yrs.; George died when 2 yrs.
The subject has 53 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren. After his
marriage our subject lived in Floyd Co., In. having come to Marion Co., IL. in
1854, where he purchased two hundred and twenty acres of land in sections 29
and 32. He made all the improvements on the place, there having been but very
little when he took charge, but being a good manager and a hard worker he soon
developed a most excellant farm and established a comfortable home.
He carries on general farming, raising all kinds of grain, fruit and stock and
making a success of all that he undertakes. He is a Demorcrat in politics and
has held some of the offices in Raccoon township, always taking much interest
in the affairs of his townshipo. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church at Walnut Hill. He has always b3een a hard working man and is still
very well preserved for a man of his years, having a good business mind and
able to manage the many details of his fine farm with profit form year to
year. He is a very well read man, keeping well posted on all current topics.
As a result of his life of industry, honesty and kindness he has scotes of
worm friends and if a single enemy he does not know it. Teveryone in this
part of Marion Co. know "Uncle Joe" Prather, as he is familiarly called and
everybody respects him highly.

Joseph married Sarah Ann Patrick 22 Nov 1844, Clark Co., In.. Sarah (daughter of William Patrick and Nancy Davis, daughter of William Patrick and Nancy Harris) was born 03 Dec 1827, of, Clark, In; died 28 Feb 1917, of, Clark, In. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Occupation: PLANTATIONER; J.P./FARMER
• Reference Number: 5.326.12
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

On 5 Mar., 1830 Sihon S. & Elizabeth Prather sold 150 acres on Silver Creek.
In 1832 the Prathers sold 123 acres. Capt. Richard Bashear received #111,112,
114, and 234 acres of #194 Plat delivered & deed issued to Basil Prather
1 Sept., 1789.// Basil & Fanny Prather of Jefferson Co., Ky. sold 200 acres to
Joseph Bartholamew. (this is the Capt. Basil Prather of Louisville, Ky. and
not the father of Simon Prather, but rather a cousin of Simons father).
War of 1812 listed Sihon in Capt. Chas Beggs Light Dragoons Indiana Militia.

Sihon married Elizabeth Williams, Simmons 27 Sep 1813, Clark Co., Ind.. Elizabeth was born 04 Nov 1794, of, Va; died 25 Sep 1866, ,Clark, In; was buried , New Chapel Cem, Clark, In. [Group Sheet]

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William married Nancy Harris of Va. Nancy was born , Va.; died , Clark Co., In.. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Occupation: Surveyer; Farmer/Pioneer
• Reference Number: 4.123.03
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!He is ancestor of all early Prathers in IN.He was a Rev.soldier.in NC

He was born in Rock Creek, Prince George Parish, Fredrick Co., Maryland.

Basil was a Rev. War soldier and was wounded during that war.
He served in the N.C. Militia (#6907) served in the army at the
Battle of Camden, S.C., where he was wounded in the left knee
on 16 Aug., 1780. He was serving under General Gates with the rank of
Private.

During and after the War he moved west, settling in several states including
Va., N.C., and Ky. until he settled in Utica Township, Clark Co., Ind.
where he came with others to Clarke Grant, which was in what is now known
as Clark Co., Ind.
A community was formed there by the Prather families, the Prather Community
of Utica Township. The old Prather School still stands but is no longer used.
Utica is located near what is now Watson, Clark Co., Ind.
The Prather family built the first Methodist church in Ind.
(it was the first built but another church was being built nearby and
was registered first, thus the Prather church was built first but was
the second one registered in the state of Ind.)
Ref. "History of the Ohio Falls Cities, and their Counties" Vol. III says,
(p.402) "About 1804 a round-log house was erected on an acre of land in tract
Prather." (Walter was son of Basil Prather and son-in-law to Jeremiah Jacobs.
Secretary of the Trustees' Board at the time was Basil Prather).
The church which was built by the Prather and Jacob family was called New
Castle Meth. Church and many members of the Prather family are buried there.
Today it is known as the New Chapel Meth. Church. The present church is
one that has been moderized over time, but the age of the church can be seen
and understood by visiting the old grave yard.
While living in N.C. Basil donated land to build a church near Harmony N.C.
The church was called Prather Chapel.
Basil once owned 400 acres on " Little Dutchman's Creek", Salisbury Dist.,
Rowan Co., N.C. but he had purchased a total of 3000 acres from the
commmissioners in 1789.

A legend states that he leased land along the coast of N.C. and while
riding near the beach on his property, he witnessed a sea battle.
One of the ships exploded and while the battle continued, sections of this
ship washed ashore. Basil was said to have found much "loot" from these
sections and among the "loot" was some gold.
Shortly afterwards he sold his property and moved west because questions
were being asked by officials regarding the gold that was carried by the
ship that had washed ashore. (none of this has been proven and is only
a "family tail").
We do know that he moved to Ky. and that a document was found showing that
he had buried gold under an old log house which was located accross the
river form his home. He paid Bill Hatfield $10. to dig up the gold hidden
under this log cabin. The amount of gold is unknown, but $10. in this day
and time was alot of money to pay for a common laborer to dig up anything
small or simple. The log cabin was located near Magnet, Ind.
After moving to Ky. he was involved with surveying. One of the areas that
he surveyed was in Fayette Co., KY. where his twin brother, Baruch William
"Peter" Prather later built his plantation home about 6 miles southeast
of present day Lexington, KY.

His Will was proved 7 Oct., 1822.

The Will of Basil was lost during the 1937 flood in Clark Co., Ind. as was
his original tombstone.

Basil married Clorinda unknown, Chloe Maryland. Clorinda (daughter of Lloyd Robertson and Mrs Robertson, daughter of Loyde Robertson and Mrs Loyde Robertson) was born 14 Aug 1748, Lower, Frederick, Md; died 27 Jul 1812, Utica Twp., Clark Co., Ind.; was buried , New Castle Cem., Watson, Ind.. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!P-A,give 2 b.14 Aug 1747 & 8 Aug 1748,Take your pick.

She was born in the Lower Potomac Hundred, Salisbury Dist., Fredrick Co., Md.
She was the daughter of Lloyd Robertson.