| Notes |
- The following info. is from "Valley Leaves, Vol. 20, 1986:
The Dawson Herald of Dawson, Navarro Co., TX.
Appy Russell, wife of T.W. Prater, was the daughter of Jeremiah and Mary "Red"
Russell.
The russells moved to Morgan Co., Ala. in the 1850's from GA.
Thomas & Appy's daughter, Sarah Jane, married John Franklin Cottongame in
Morgan Co., Ala. on June 23, 1881. He was the son of william and nancy
Caroline (Nelson) cottongame.
The Russells and Praters also married into the Breedlove, Oden and Royer
families.
The following sketch was written by T.W. Prater and was dated at Dawson, Texas
Jan. 16, 1921:
I was born in Franklin Co., Ga. Jan. 15, 1842 and was the son of John and
Polly Prater.
My father moved from GA. to about ten miles southwest of Decatur, Morgan Co.,
Ala. when I was just a child. I lived there until I came to Texas about 1895.
I married Miss Appie Russell on June 15 (13?), 1865.
In 1861 I volunteered to fight in the conflict between the states in the
Confederate service under Gen. P.D. rody, Col. Joseph Patterson and Capt. Sam
Brown, 5th Ala. Cavalry, Company C.
When I put on my uniform and started to go to the battle-front my mother
followed me to the gate, put her arms about my neck and kissed me, she said
for the last time, and made me promise to meet her in Heaven. I turned and
replied, "Mother, I will do my very best", and here is where I learned the
value of a mother's prayers. Those Prayers of my mother followed me on the
battlefields of Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Mississippi and they have
followed me in the battles of life to this day.
I fought my last battle in conflict on the 3rd day of April, 1865 at Selma,
ala. When we had orders from headquaters of Gen. Forest for every man to take
care of himself we threw our guns in the lake and carried out the orders.
When I got home there were 10,000 Yankees camped near mother's house.
When I walked up into the yard my mother saw me and came to me shouting,
"Glory, Glory, My Son has got home at last!"
I learned the peace had been declared and they were all having a big
celebration. About one mile from my mother's home was a Baptist church. and
two Yankee preachers learning that my mother was a member of this church, came
to her and asked permission to preach there. She gave them permissin and told
them to do all the good they could. theis was the second Sunday in April,
1865. One of the preachers, after getting my mother's consent turned, looked
at me and said, "Come to church." I told him my clothes were not sufficient
to go to church, they being just a greasy Confederate uniform. He said that
was all right, they would be in their uniforms.
When the people began to pass by on Sunday morning a 10 o'clock somting said
to me to go, and I went. At 11 o'clock the Lord blessed my soul and I was made
to cry out, "Glory! Glory! Glory! and from that day until this I have drunk
deep at the fountain of my Master.
I am now the only one of the older Prater family living. My mother, father,
brothers, and sisters have long since crossed over. I was ordained a Deacon
in the Baptist church about 40 years ago, and though I could never read or
write I was a delegate several times and was a member of the Muscle shoals
association. I was baptized by Elder J. Gunn.
"Dear friends, I am now in the evening of life, going swiftly toward the
setting sun. I have fought a good fight for my Master and I am not tired yet.
To my friends and soldier comrades of Morgan and Lawrence Counties, Ala., you
all remember T.W. Prater and if we never meet this side of eternity agian,
meet me in Heaven."
T.W.Prater
Route 1
Purdon, Texas
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Thomas Wilburn Prater Obituary:
T.W. Prater, an old and highly esteemed citizen of several miles north of
Dawson, Texas, died Saturday at 10:15 a.m. May 5, 1923 after an illness of
some 12 days duration during which time he underwent an operation for a
complication of troubles.
Mr. Prater had reached the age of about 81 years. He was the father of 15
children, five of whom survive as follows: John, Jim, Sam, Farris, and Mrs.
J.F. Cottongaime, all of this vicinity. He also has 49 grandchildren, 49
great-grandchildren, and on great, great grandchild.
The pall bearers were all grandsons, they being: Gurney Breedlove, Virgil,
Jerry, Irvin, Loyd, Nelvin and Lee Prater, Wyley and Wilmer Cottongame and
John Oden.
He was a good man, the kind of man that will not only be missed by his
relatives, but one who will be missed by the entire vicinity. the Herald has
a story of his, life, written a couple of years ago by himself, which we will
print in the near future.
The funeral was held at the Baptist church Sunday afternoon at which time
beautiful tributes were paid to the life of this good man. the attendnce at
the funeral, which was very large, attested to the high esteem in which he was
held.
He came to Dawson about 1892.
He was in Confed. Army in Civil War. ( Co. C. 5th Ala. Cav.
He surrendered at Decatur Ala. on or about April 1865 on account of the war
being ended. He was living Purdan, TX. when he applied for his war pension in
1913. He stated he was first in 12th Ala. Reg. Infantry before he went into
Co. C. Cavalry. Pension #24241 Navarro Co., TX.
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Prater/Prather Genealogy* 120,000+ Family Members
1842 - 1923 (81 years)