My Genealogy Hound

John Ephraim Prater was born in Warren County, Tenn., May 19, 1831; son of Bazil and Sarah (Merrell) Prater, natives of South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, whose ancestors served in the Revolutionary War. Bazil, who was a farmer and a wheel-wright by trade, moved to Illinois about 1833, located in Fayette County, and died there shortly after. His widow died about six years later, leaving one son, our subject, then about nine years of age. He grew to manhood and learned the black-smith trade, and also house carpentering. He was also a mechanic and quite an inventor. While in Fayette County he married Miss Sarah Jane Hill, daughter of Henry and Ruth (Adams) Hill, and to this union were born ten children, nine sons and one daughter, only four sons and the daughter surviving: Henry B., J. J., James M., Alva D. and Ruth Lavina (Mrs. J. P. Huffman). Henry B. married D. L. Killian, of Granby Township, and they have six children, four daughters and two sons. H. B. and D. L. Prater live in Benton County, Ark. H. B., his wife and eldest daughter are members of the Baptist Church. J. J. married Miss Dona Hewlett, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Winters) Hewlett, of Vanburen Township, and they have one son, Oric. J. J. and wife are members of the Baptist Church. In 1869 our subject moved to Newton County, where he farmed for seven years, and also followed the black-smith trade. Mr. Prater is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also of the I. O. G. T., and has been a member of the Baptist Church for thirty-five years, being a deacon in the same. His wife is also a member of that church.