Prater/Prather Genealogy* 120,000+ Family Members
Benjamin Franklin Prather, Prater
1772 - 1851 (79 years)-
Name Benjamin Franklin Prather Suffix Prater Born 30 Apr 1772 Lynchburg, Campbell Co., Va. 
Gender Male Died 30 May 1851 Lenior City, Roane Co., Tn. Record Change 12 Apr 2009 Occupation Plantation (90 slaves) Reference Number 6.013.01 Buried Prater Cem. on His Plantation Person ID I32695 120k Last Modified 28 Jul 2015
Father William Thomas Prather, b. Abt 1748, ,Bedford, Va , d. Abt 1796, ,Wythe, Va (Age ~ 48 years) Relationship Natural Mother Martha Wyatt, b. Abt 1752, ,Bedford, Va Relationship Natural Married Abt 1770 Pa. Family ID F13998 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 Nancy Elizabeth Layne, Lane, b. 1777, ,Jefferson, Tn , d. 03 Jun 1838, Lenoir City, Roane Co., Tn. (Age 61 years) Married 06 Nov 1798 Jefferson Co., Tn. Children 1. Clarisa Prater, b. Lenoir City, Roane Co., Tn. [Natural]2. Clarence Prater, b. Martel, Tn. [Natural]3. Samuel Prater, b. 16 Oct 1800, Lenoir City, Roane Co., Tn. , d. 07 Aug 1840, Lenoir City, Roane Co., Tn. (Age 39 years) [Natural]4. Thomas Prater, b. 08 Dec 1801, ,Roane, Tn , d. 26 Jun 1842, Lenoir City, Roane Co., Tn. (Age 40 years) [Natural]5. Elizabeth S. Prater, b. 12 Nov 1805, Lenoir City, Roane Co., Tn. , d. 12 Feb 1870, Waco, McLennan Co., Tx. (Age 64 years) [Natural]6. George Washington Prather, Prater, b. 23 Jul 1806, Lenoir City, Roane Co., Tn. , d. 18 Apr 1874, Waco, McLennan Co., Texas (Age 67 years) [Natural]7. William Prater, b. 23 Jul 1811, Lenoir City, Roane Co., Tn. , d. 22 Jun 1856, Tn. (Age 44 years) [Natural]8. Letitia S. Prater, b. 22 Jul 1816, Lenoir City, Roane Co., Tn. , d. 14 Apr 1886, Prob. Mo. (Age 69 years) [Natural]Last Modified 28 Jul 2015 Family ID F16348 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 2 Unknown Indian Woman, c. Descendant: Rita -- Living Wash.D.C. Last Modified 28 Jul 2015 Family ID F16473 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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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
- !This is the line of Tracy Prater and Sarah Louise Mott,Tracy's brothers