John Lloyd Prather

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

Cornelius Prather resided at his birthplace in Jennings Co., Ind. until 16
years of age. In 1842, he, with his parents, moved to Scott Co., Ind. where
they resided until 1845. They then moved to Keokuck, Ia, for one year. In
1846 they moved to Liberrtyville, Ia. It was there that Cornelius married .
In 1855 Cornelius, his wife and 2 children moved to Union City, Union Co.,
Iowa. They resided there until the spring of 1862 While in Union City, 3
daughters were born th them.
Cornelius was a member of the Masonic Lodge and held a high degree. by trade,
he was a wagon-maker, carpenter, blacksmith, and brick-layer.
On May 5, 1862, he and his family left Union City with a emigrant wagontrrain
bound for California. He settled in Anderson Valley, Ca.
According to articles in "The Robin", published in 1965 & file with the
Jefferson Co., Genealogy Soc., Fairfield, Ia. Cornelius had 2 teams of oxen
with 3 yokes on a wagon whe he started to California. Some of the animals wre
sold during the tedious 5 month trip.
Some where near Sacramento he left the last of the train; others had stopped
off at different places on the way. He stopped in Healdsburg on 30 Sept.,
1862, & stayed one month before moving on to Anderson Valley. Reaching there,
he had only $1.50 ("six bits") in money. Part of this amount was sent back to
Healdsbug for medicine as all three of the children had the measles. Soon
after they arrived at the home of his brother, William, who had come to the
valley in 1855. William was now married & had one daughter, Hattie, about 1
year old. After staying there a few days, the Cornelius Prather family moved
into a house owned by Cyrus Clark, on a ranch or claim of about a section of
land. Clark & his friend, Bullock, were woodsmen; they worked on the coast.
The house leased by Cornelius was located near the Navarro River; the family
lived there 4 years, rent free. Cornelius worked at whatever jobs he could
find. A son, John Lloyd, was born in 1863 & daughter, Nancy Eliabeth, in 1865.

Cornelius was elected Justice of the Peace, 3 Sept., 1879 & was re-elected
each consecutive election until 4 Nov., 1890

On 18 June, 1888, the post office of Philo was established, also instituted by
Cornelius Prather. He was the first Postmaster appointed.. He took an active
part in the formation of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Philo & the
erection of the church building on land, to which he gave a conditional trust
deed. The building was dedicated 10 July, 1892.
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DIARY OF CORNELIOUS PRATHER'S TRIP ACROSS THE PLAINS OF IOWA TO CALIFORNIA:
May 5, 1862 -- Started to California:

May 5 Stayed at George's 15 Miles
May 6 Got to Brookville 12 O'Clock 12 Miles
May 9 Left Brookville traveled middle Nodeway 12 Miles
May 10 Traveled to West Nodeway 2 Miles
May 11 To Nishnabotany, rained at night 20 Miles
May 12 To West Nishnabotany 21 Miles
May 13 To Glenwood 14 miles, 5 to branch 19 Miles
May 15 To Bluff City -- population 3,000 2-1/2 Miles
To River. 2-1/2 Miles
Waited for Jones till morning. Did not come.
Left Hamilton on east side of Missouri River.
May 16 Crossed Missouri River to Omaha. Population 3,000
Traveled to a branch. Good roads. Fine weather. 13 Miles
May 17 Was raining in morning. Traveled 1/2 day in rain. 10 Miles
May 18 The wagon run over me. Traveled on Platte Valley. 15 Miles
May 19 A little rain in morning. Cool day, traveled. 20 Miles
May 20 Traveled to Loop Ford River. 22 Miles
May 21 Ferried the river, traveled. 13 Miles
May 22 Traveled, wood scarce. 20 Miles
May 23 Traveled to Wood River. 22 Miles
May 24 Traveled up Wood River to place of crossing,
good road, cool day. 14 Miles
May 25 Stopped at noon yesterday and lay over till
afternoon today, we are 156 miles from Missouri
River. We stayed until Monday morning. Hamilton
came up Sunday. Jones also came up.
May 26 Hamilton's Frank got run over with the wagon,
broke his leg. We traveled. 20 Miles
May 27 Van Wagoner's cows was not this morning there..
We traveled. 15 Miles
May 28 We had first rate roads and plenty of wood and
good water until night before last we had to use
water of platte. / The water is muddy but not bad
taste. It being a good cool day, we camped on the
open plain by some pools of water and a little wood
there. A little rain and some wind last night.
Not very severe. Bliss and Jones went gunning
yesterday, have not returned. We guarded cattle,
lost (28) form the first. We traveled. 25 Miles
May 29 We had muddy roads today on account of rain last
night; afternoon -- afternoon the road better.
Very Cool today, some rain in evening. High winds,
traveled very late. 30 Miles
May 30 Last night, 1st cattle get away, we found them.
Got late start. Traveled. 15 Miles
May 31 Good road except some sand ridges and few mud
holes. Cool day traveled all day. 25 Miles

June 1st. 1862:
Sunday laying by at the Springs. No wood some good
Buff. Chips. I saw two Buffalo. Yesterday morning
at some distance the boys gave them a chase. Did not
get any .. Afternoon we started on... traveled. 10 Miles
June 2 Bad road this morning we are on North Platte.
Since noon yesterday the road is better. Now we
are out of the mud but in sand -- a little warmer
afternoon. Some sand bluffs, some good level road -
traveled to North Bluff Creek.. good water. 18 Miles
June 3 Over sand bluffs all afternoon, not so much in the
afternoon. Traveled. 15 Miles
June 4 Sand bluffs and mud nearly all the time today. 25 Miles
June 5 We doubled team to cross a heavy sand bluff today
for the first time. We had the worst road today we
have met with. 16 Miles
June 6 We traveled half day on good road to Castle Creek. 11 Miles
June 7 Our company numbers 11 at present. Traveled. 25 Miles
June 8 Laying by on Sunday all well. Bliss killed an
antelope the first in our train. We are laying
at Crab Creek.
June 9 We passed Cobble Hills today and the appearance of
ancient ruins. Good resemblance... Traveled. 23 Miles
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(Continued below wifes information)

Cornelius married Evaline D Ford 01 Jan 1851, Liberville, Jefferson Co., Ia.. Evaline was born 16 Oct 1826, ,,Oh. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

CONTINUEATION OF THE DIARY OF CORNELIOUS PRATHER'S TRIP
FROM IOWA TO CALIFORNIA:

June 10 We are corralled for the night opposite Chimney Rock
and in sight of Court House Rock which was nearly
opposite where we stayed last night and we are in
sight of Scott's Bluff which is 29 miles ahead. Wide
valley on this side but very wet.
Platte very high, wood very scarce, all we have is what
we can gather of drift along the river. Very scanty
supply. We traveled today .. 23 Miles
We had a stirring little scene in camp today at noon.
Hamilton cained his daughter. A little after talking
her about disobedience and she saucing him and she
started for the river as though she was going to throw
herself in -- one Mr. Skeen went and stopped her and
she got in with another wagon.
June 11 We had some very good road and in the evening we had a
small thunder shower. Traveled. 25 Miles
June 12 We passed a camp of Sous (Sioux) today, they were
very friendly. We are now in camp near a French trading
post - the French have Indian Squaws for wives, we had
some mud today on account of rain yesterday. It threatens
rain today. We lay up 1/2 day -- traveled. 15 Miles
June 13 Bad roads on account of heavy rains -- traveled. 16 Miles
June 14 Weather cool, three hail storms today -- no damage
done. All well but me and I am not sick but have
rheumatism. We are this evening opposite Ft. Larimy.
June 15 We left Larimy this morning and in a shourt distance we
entered into the Black Hills. rough road traveled about 12 Miles
June 16 Very rough road stopped before noon there being plenty
of grass -- grass has been very scares for some time,
we traveled about... 8 Miles
June 17 Good mountain road today.. Traveled. 17 Miles
June 18 Good road grass scarce, fine day. -- met 53 Salt Lake
teams camped with or near 40 more Salt Lake teams -
Traveled. 25 Miles
June 19 We traveled on good road till noon and the most of
the train said they were going to lay over until the
next day and I did not think it best to make such long
drives and then stop so often and three wagons of us
drove out and this day we traveled 20 Miles
June 20 We joined a small train of five wagons today noon,
Hamilton and Jones we had very heavy hail storm this
evening and half past 4 o'clock we traveled about
12 miles, grass is short. 13 Miles
June 21 We had some very heavy road today, passed some trading
stations, grass short we can see snow on the mountains
that is south of the river, we traveled about .. 15 Miles
June 22 Heavy fog this morning. We have 18 men in our train.
6 families, 6 women and 10 children. We traveled
through some Alkali swamps today and some very heavy sand
-- we crossed the Platte on the lower bridge and camped
on the south side - toll with a ticket of free passage for
the upper bridge was .50 cts. for a wagon and a team.
We traveled about .. 18 Miles
June 23 We drove 4 miles and went into camp - grass very good
- snow on site, road good. 4 Miles
June 24 After staying two nights on the south side of Platte we
crossed back to the north side on a good bridge. River
high, road rough for 10 miles and then fine and good for
15 miles being sport of park. We passed some very strong
Alkali water. 26 Miles
June 25 We had no grass for our cattle last night and we hooked
on soon after daylight and about 5 miles to good water
and grass -- got breakfast - after breakfast we started
on, it being nearly 10 o'clock. We had a very good road
the day though. We passed some very strong Alkali water
today, we are camped on sweet water this evening, grass
short. 23 Miles
June 26 4 miles and we cross sweet water on a toll bridge at a
stage station at which place there was 100 soldiers in
camp quartered -- toll $1.00 per team and wagon -- we
pass Independent Rock, next the Devil's Gate go into camp
at noon for day. Grass and water good, we traveled. 11 Miles
June 27 There was a kind of grass or weed where we camped last
night that made our cattle sick. The most of them got
better so we hooked up and traveled on to find better
grass -- Late in evening we stop and take our cattle far
from the road to get grass -- find it good.. 20 Miles
June 28 Traveled afternoon, cattle a ;; right.. go 9 miles camped
early, take cattle off road for grass, find it good.. 9 Miles
June 29 Heavy sand for five miles - just as we got through two
men came with news that the indians had stampeded 140
ponies of some Californians- the emigrants soon got into
a large train - the indians soon left - got away with
ponies but left a few of the indian ponies -- we traveled
all day. Very cool, no grass, 95 wagons in camp. 26 Miles
June 30 Got breakfast early and started on to find grass passed
where tow men got killed, on the 28th by Indians, the
savages go away without any injury. We are near the south
pass. Traveled. 13 Miles
July 1 We had a stampeed last night at midnight with our cattle
they were in a correll they run aginst some wagons and
broke two wheels and tore a tent down with 8 or 10 persons
in it, no one hurt -- we come on to pretty good feed today,
road good -- traveled.. 9 Miles
July 2 We started out with 28 wagons, and one buggy all for
California. We had the finest kind of road for shod
animals but rather gritty for barefoot teams -- we
passed a stage coach that had been stripped of its cover by
Indians. We passed the last sweet waters this evening.
We are in camp a short distance north of twin mounds.
We get our water from a snow bank, the weather is very
cool. We traveled ... 20 Miles
July 3 We started on this morning passed the sumit and stopped
at Pacific spring at noon, passed three companies of the
Ohio sixth in camp three miles from the springs - some
little sickness in camp. We traveled about .. 7 Miles
July 4 No travel. Some drunk men in camp. -- very cold.
July 5 We start out and drive 25 miles without any grass to
Little Sandy. Grass scarce -- Evaline sick (wife of
Cornelius) water high. 25 Miles
July 6 Traveled to Big Sandy, it was very high, run into our
wagons, crossed over.. 10 Miles
July 7 We have elected a captain for our train last evening
-- grass better that is good, Evaline is better.
Several in train sick (diarheoa) we traveled today.. 17 Miles
------- CONTINUED UNDER CHILDREN'S INFORMATION ------

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 6.810.04
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

LDS records show that he may have been born in Rowan Co.,N.C. and brought with
parents to Clark Co.,Ind., but LDS records also show him born in Clark Co.,Ind
If John Loyde was born in N.C. or Ind. is uncertain but we show him
married and living in Jennings Co.,Ind. in 1822.

John married Mary Comer Johnson 24 Jun 1822, North Vernon, Jennings Co., In.. Mary was born Abt 1805, of, Jennings, In. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Occupation: Judge
• Reference Number: 5.315.01
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

Judge William Prather was borrn in Frederick Co., Md.

He served in the War of 1812.

He moved from Iredell Co., N.C. with others in his family and allied families
Clarks Grant, Clark Co., IN. He was a school teacher in N.C.

He was listed as a Major in the Clark Co., IN. Milita in 1808.

William owned a Mill on Six Mile Crk, 3 mi. below Schwarrts. The style of the
mill was undershot; it was used for grinding corn. After several ownerships
the mill was operated by John Prather. He made various changes in the old
structure. He also added a sawmill; for a number of years he did a large
business.
In 1816 William and his family moved to Jennings Co., IN. There he served as
County Judge for 7 years.
William was a member of the Methodist-Episcopal Church. The first Methodist
sermon preached in Jennings Co., IN., was at Prather's log cabin in 1816 by
J. Chitwood, a local preacher. Shortly thereafter Russell Bigelow of Ohio
organized a churrch at his house and named Brother Prather as leader.
In 1830 William Prather lost his vision.

The information on Williams marriages came from Dewey Prather, a grandson,
and is related in his family genealogy which was collected by Sandy Prather
Merritt of Barington, IL. (1980)

Dewey Prather: Early 1900's (NOTE: Only part of the following is proven!!)
When William left N.C. in 1799, after his first 2 children were born, he
traveled to Indiana with Basil, his father and his wife's family, the
McCarroll's. Somewhere along the Ky and IN. borders, he took a horse and
"slipped away". He went to Breckinridge Co., now Lower Meade Co. and soon
"married", possibly childhood sweetheart, Lucinda Ashcraft. they had a son,
Robert "Bob", born 1800 in Ky. Lucinda died shortly after and is buried in
Ashcraft Cem. in Brandenburg.
William went back to McCarroll family, with son Bob, (from Lucinda Ashcraft)
at Prather, IN. (near Watson) in Clark Co. Stay with his wife McCarrol and
had, John, Peggy, Cynthia, Rachael, Hiram, Susan, mary, bertha, Lettuce, and
William.
Around 1832 he starts haveing family problems and leaves. William and son,
Bob, and Bobs wife Elizabeth Pleasant goes to Magnet, IN. which is in Perry
Co. There William "Marries" Rebecca VanMeter. He was scalped at English near
Magnet, Ind. but survived. Then William and Rebecca "Becky" and son Bob and
Bobs family canoed up river and up Wolf Creek to Caseyville, now Paynesville,
Ky. Went about 4 miles below and bought land. Was a farmer and Methodist
preacher. Had son, William Jennings "Bill Jenkins" Prather, born 1833, and
Nanny Sue born 1835. William was last seen on a boat at Brandenburrg, Ky.
with a load of mules for New Orleans. Word had gotten back to Magnet, Ind. to
his wife, Rebecca VanMeter, and son Bob, that he had jumped boat and was
met by two sons from North Vernon, which were sons by his wife Lettice
McCarrol. Mid-January of 1858, word came that he was seriously ill from
exposure. Later word came that he had died and the families to meet corpse on
boat at Brandenburg, Ky. to go to Jeffersonville, IN. and Prather, IN. for
burial. When they arrived at Jeffersonville, they learned that the grave
hadn't been dug at Prather, IN. so they had a short service at Livery Stable
and told families they could go home that they would take body back to
N.Vernon, IN. for burial. I'm sure there must have been some family
differences about where he should be buried.

Marriage Bond:
24 June, 1797, surety is Van Swearingen. T.L. McCarrell consents.
Witnesses, Van Swearingen and Samuel Blake.
27 June, 1797 Minister's Return. "William Prather and Lettis McCarrell,
in the Calf Pasture at the house of Robert Jamison, in the presence of Samule
Blake, Van Swearingen and others." Marriage performed by John Young

In 1863, Lettice McCarroll Prather died and was buried next to William. this
is prrobably what has confused some researchers: since husband and wife are
buried next to earch other, it probably was assumed no other "wives" existed
and, in fact, there legally might have been no other "wives". there is no
mention of divorce from Lettice McCaarroll and I don't know if dates of
marriages to Lucinda Ashcraft and Rebecca Van Meter exist in the courthouses
or if, in fact, they were simpley not legally married.

An interesting fact is that William became known a "Skipjack" around IN.
"Skipjack" is a word which is used for fish that leap in and out of the water
or play on the surface of water.
We can only assume that this refers to his "jumping" ship (or river bardge)
as related in the above story.

William married Lettice McCarroll 27 Jun 1797, Fincastle, Botetourt Co., Va.. Lettice (daughter of James McCarrell and Margaret McKibbin) was born 18 Sep 1779, ,Botetourt, Va; died 16 Sep 1863, North Vernon, Jennings, In. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009