Prater/Prather Genealogy* 120,000+ Family Members
John Albert Prather
1875 - 1965 (89 years)-
Name John Albert Prather Born 21 Nov 1875 ,Van Zandt, Tx Gender Male Died 12 Feb 1965 Alamogordo, Otero, Nm Record Change 12 Apr 2009 Occupation Rancher Buried Beside His Ranch House, Under Pecan Tree Person ID I74571 120k Last Modified 28 Jul 2015
Father John Ellis Prather, Rev, b. 15 Feb 1845, ,,Al , d. 1922, Alamogordo, Otero, Nm (Age 76 years) Relationship Natural Mother Mallissa Ann Browning, b. 30 Sep 1850, ,,Ms , d. 24 Aug 1933, Alamogordo, Otero, Nm (Age 82 years) Relationship Natural Married 18 Feb 1868 Smith Co., Tx. Family ID F26786 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Rose S. Goodman, b. 24 Dec 1884, of in , d. Nov 1974 (Age 89 years) Married Penasco, Otero Co., n.Mex. Children 1. Lena Prather, b. of Nm [Natural] 2. James Prather, Jimmy, b. N.Mex. , d. N.Mex. [Natural] 3. Thomas Ellis Prather, b. 19 Jul 1899, Weed, Otero Co., n.Mex. , d. 28 Jan 1976, Anthony, Dona Ana Co., n.Mex. (Age 76 years) [Natural] 4. Commie Catherine Prather, b. 14 Sep 1910, Alamogordo, n.Mex. , d. 12 Jul 1982, El Paso, Tx. (Age 71 years) [Natural] Last Modified 28 Jul 2015 Family ID F18736 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Notes - John Prather was born in Tx. and moved with his parents to Big Springs, TX.
John A. Praher married Rose Goodman, who later inherited a large sum
of money and cattle after her father and brother died.
John began looking for land in the Otero Mesa area.
He purchased land in Otero Co., N.Mex. near Alamogrodo.
He owned a large Ranch near White Sands Missile Testing Range.
After he and his wife divorced in 1922 he concentrated his ranching
efforts on horse and mule breeding.
He sold many horses and mules to the Mexican Government.
Later as the McGregor Missile Range was developed near White Sands,
the government tried to take his Ranch. Armed with 3 guns he met three
county sheriffs at his gate. He told them that he would not give up his home.
He offered the sheriffs a compremise by offering to lease the government his
land at $1.00 an acre for life and if the sheriffs tried to remove him, he
"did'nt want to shoot anybody - but he would if he had to"!
The government refused his offer and gained his property though the courts.
The court sent him a check to cover his loss but John sent it back to them.
He continued living on the missile range for a while . He said that no
missile ever hit him or his cattle. The government didn't allowed him to stay
his family continued ranching as if nothing had happened. John became ill at
age 88 and went to stay with his niece, where he died.
Mrs. Gaba his daughter continued ranching after his death.
The check which the government sent him ($100,985) remained untouched,
drawing no interest.
John's home is now just an island in the mist of the McGregor Missile Range
of the White Sands Reservation, near Alamogordo, N.Mexico.
It now sets in what has been made a state park.
His home, a seldom used ranger station.
- John Prather was born in Tx. and moved with his parents to Big Springs, TX.