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

  
  

• 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.