Cornelius Prather

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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]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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CONTINUED FROM ABOVE:

July 8 We start out very early this morning to reach ferry
at Green River before a large train get on bank -
find about 100 wagons ahead of us river high, we traveled,
(grass scarce) Very windy in the evening so we could
not ferry the river. 8 Miles
July 9

Cornelius Prather settled in California and the town of Philo,
CA. grew around his settlement.
The main building housed the postoffice for many years and was also a general
store and stagecoach stop on the route to the north coast. In later years,
it became a ranch resort which covered 160 acres of property.
After the property was no longer owned by the Prather family, it was
renovated with plans to become a restaurant, "The Cornelius Prather House".
It was during this renovation that the main building was sandblasted inside
and our to expose the original redwood walls. But it never became a
restaurant and in the late 1970's is was purchased by Jan Wax & Chris Bing.
They completed the renovation and opened the Philo Pottery Inn.
They also made pottery in the log cabin studio which is now the owners
quarters.

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Alice married M A Ray Abt 1873, of, Anderson Valley, Ca. M was born Abt 1850, of, Anderson Valley, Ca. [Group Sheet]

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