A Note From Patti: In no way do I consider myself an authority on the Prather family. This family is simply a branch off of the Daily family of Clark Co., Indiana. My first encounter with the name was in regard to Valeria Prather and her marriage to Francis Jacob Stierheim in 1867. Barbara Stierheim, sister of Francis, was married to Seth Daily (son of D. W. and Mary Ann) in 1864. Therefore, my knowledge of the Prather family is rather limited. The information compiled here has been taken mostly from the census and marriage records, and filling in the blanks and other exact dates from various biographies and the family trees researched by others. I have listed and linked to those researchers and sources at the bottom of the page. My thanks to those whose information lent insight and possible leads which might be further pursued. I welcome any additions, comments or corrections. Thanks! -pdp

A family of English extraction, Basil William Prather was born 01 Feb 1741 in Frederick Co., Maryland. There he was united in in marriage to Clorender (Robertson) some time before the birth of their first child, Nancy, who was born in 1765 in Frederick County, Maryland. In about 1780, the family removed to Iredell County, North Carolina where they settled on a farm along Little Dutchman's Creek, near Harmony. There Basil co-founded Mount Bethel Methodist Church which was initially known as "Prather's Meeting House."

When the unrest between the colonies reached revolt and the colonists rose up against the mother country, Basil joined the militia. He was serving under Major-General Horatio Gates when the British troops overwhelmed them at the Battle of Camden on 16 Aug 1780, and during the battle Basil was wounded.

In 1789 Basil moved his family westward where General George Rogers Clark and his men were granted one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land which is referred to as "Clark's Grant." At the time they came west, Basil's sons Thomas, William, Walter, Basil R. Jr., Judge Samuel, Lloyd, John & Simon were all married except the last named. They were accompanied by other families to the territory, those including the Bennett, Brown, Gaither, Holman, Lutz, Robertson, and Swartz families. The group included about eighty persons who traveled first by land, and then by flat boat to Clark County, Indiana.

Here Basil was considered one of the "sturdy old pioneers who left their impress upon this section of Southern Indiana during the formative period of the state." He was also one of the founders of the New Chapel Methodist Church, and died 07 Oct 1822 in Utica Township. Laid to rest at the New Chapel United Methodist Cemetery, a plaque placed at the foot of his headstone honors his service during the Revolutionary War.

1. Nancy Prather - born 1765 in Frederick Co., Maryland; married John D. Cooper and died in Washington Co., Maryland.
2. William B. Prather - born 15 Aug 1766 in Frederick Co., Maryland; married 1st Ary Gaither, and 2nd Lettice McCarroll. He died 12 Apr 1858 in Jennings Co., Indiana.
3. Walter Prather - born 02 Feb 1768 in Frederick Co., Maryland; married Martha "Patty" Jacobs and died 27 Oct 1841 in Clark Co., IN.
4. Thomas Prather - born 23 Jun 1769 in Frederick Co., MD; married Rachel Gaither; died 25 Mar 1854 in Clark Co., IN.
5. Basil Robertson Prather - born 27 Jun 1771 in Frederick Co., MD; married Rachel Holman and died 12 Oct 1823 in Clark Co., IN.
6. Catherine Prather - born 1772 in Rowan Co., NC.
7. John Asa Prather - born 1775 in Rowan Co., NC; died after 1850.
8. Samuel Prather - born 1780; married Edith Ann "Edey" Holman and died about 1850.
9. Lloyd Benton Prather - born 25 Nov 1782 in Rowan Co., NC; married Nancy Redman and died 25 Apr 1867 in Douglas Co., KS.
10. Rebecca Prather - born 1784 in Rowan Co., NC.
11. Aaron Prather - born 1786 in Rowan Co., NC; died 11 Dec 1825.
12. Rachel Prather - born 27 Oct 1787 in Rowan Co., NC.
13. Simon Sion Prather - born 09 Nov 1791 in Rowan Co., NC; married Elizabeth Williams Simmons and died 12 Jan 1843 in Clark Co., IN.
14. Chole Prather - born 1794 in Rowan Co., NC.
15. Susanna Prather - born 1798 in Rowan Co., NC.

William was a school teacher before removing from North Carolina to Clark County, Indiana. Listed as a major in the Indiana Militia in 1808, he was also said to have served in the War of 1812. While in Clark County he owned a corn mill situated three miles south of the Schwartz's place on Six Mile Creek. He made changes to the mill, including the addition of a sawmill and for many years did a large business there before removing his family to Jennings County in 1816. There he served as a county judge for seven years and was a also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

William, according to stories passed down, does not appear to have been a monogamous husband, having fathered a child with a Lucinda Ashcraft in Kentucky in 1800 after the death of his first wife and during his marriage to his second ... and still later had children by a fourth.

It is said that William, also known as Skipjack, left Lettice in about 1832 and went with his son Bob and daughter-in-law Elizabeth (Pleasant) to Magnet, Perry Co., Indiana. While in that area, he was said to have been scalped but survived. No records indicate a divorce was granted and while it appears he was still married to Lettice, William had two more children by Rebecca VanMeters and this family resided near Paynesville, Kentucky where he was a Methodist preacher.

Family lore says he was "last seen on a boat a Brandenburg, Kentucky with a load of mules bound for New Orleans;" and further suggest he had "jumped boat" and met up with his two sons from North Vernon (sons from his marriage to Lettice). He afterwards became seriously ill from exposure and is believed to hav died on 12 Apr 1853 and was buried in Jennings Co., Indiana.

The only census record extracted for William B. Prather is the 1850 census in which he is residing in Vernon Twp., Jennings Co., Indiana. His household lists only himself, aged eighty-six, and his wife Lettice aged seventy-three. Their son Hiram is residing next door, and daughters Chole Campbell, wife of Samuel is listed as aged fifty-one living in near by Geneva Twp., and younger daughter Susan M. Jones, wife of David C., is listed as aged thirty-nine and residing in Sand Creek Township.

After Williams' death, Lettice is listed in the 1860 household of her son Hiram. She died on 16 Sep 1863 and is said to have been buried next to William.

1. Nancy Prather - born 14 Jan 1794 in Maryland, daughter of his wife Ary Gaither. Nancy married John Schwartz (also spelled Swartz) in Jefferson Co., Kentucky on 06 Jun 1814 and died 13 Jan 1832. Husband John born in Pennsylvania on 29 Dec 1797.
2. Ary Prather - born 18 Jul 1797, daughter of his wife Lettice McCarroll. Ary married James Hilton in Clark Co., Indiana and died in Jennings Co., Indiana on 26 May 1854.
3. Chole Prather - born 18 Jul 1797 in North Carolina, daughter of wife Lettice McCarroll. Chole married Samuel Campbell of Pennsylvania; died sometime after 1850 possibly in Jennings Co., Indiana.
4. Robert Prather - born 1800, son of William's union with Lucinda Ashcroft; married Elizabeth Pleasant and resided in Kentucky.
5. John Lloyd Prather - born 29 Jan 1801 in Indiana, son of wife Lettice McCarroll; died 17 Feb 1871.
6. Margaret "Peggy" Prather - born 07 Apr 1803 in Indiana, daughter of wife Lettice McCarroll; died 11 Nov 1805.
7. Cynthia Prather - born 27 Feb 1806 in Indiana, daughter of wife Lettice McCarroll. Cynthia married Henry Riggs of Virginia; died in Jennings Co., Indiana on 17 Feb 1834.
8. Rachel Prather - born 25 Dec 1807 in Indiana, daughter of wife Lettice McCarroll. Rachel married James or John T. Johnson; died 27 Mar 1852 in Jennings Co., Indiana.
9. Hiram T. Prather - born 13 Oct 1809 in Indiana, son of wife Lettice McCarroll. Married Mary Ann Huckleberry, daughter of David; died 27 Mar 1874 in Vernon, Jennings Co., Indiana.
10. Susan M. Prather - born 08 Aug 1811 in Indiana, daughter of wife Lettice McCarroll. Susan married David Clark Jones, son of George and Prudence (Keith); died sometime after 1850.
11. Mary Ann "Polly" Prather - born 19 Dec 1813 in Indiana, daughter of wife Lettice McCarroll. Polly married Thomas W. Prather, son of Thomas and Rachel (Gathier); died sometime after 1850.
12. Bertha Prather - born 03 Apr 1816 in Jennings Co., Indiana, daughter of wife Lettice McCarroll. Bertha married William T. Gaddy, son of Barnet and Matilda (Taylor); died sometime after 1851.
13. William Jennings Prather - born 17 Aug 1821 in Jennings Co., Indiana, son of wife Lettice McCarroll. William married Elizabeth Knight of Wayne Co., Indiana; died 23 Nov 1851.
14. William J. Prather - born about 1833, son of William's union with Rebecca VanMeter.
15. Nanny Sue Prather - born about 1835, daughter of William's union with Rebecca VanMeter.

In 1801, Walter and Patty appear to have remained behind when Jeremiah and his family crossed the Appalachian range traveling through Kentucky, and ultimately settling on the north bank of the Ohio in Clark County, Territory of Indiana. There Jeremiah became a manufacturer of bricks, and a member of the new Methodist faith.

Walter and Patty eventually made their way to Clark County, Indiana as well - but died 27 Oct 1841 in Clark Co., IN.

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