Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Stories and Notes: See Notes

Notes:

Stories and Notes:
Benjamin Paul Prather, for many years a prominent farmer in Brown County, South Dakota, was born in Urbana, Illinois, May 29, 1880. He was the son of Homer Silsby and Jessie Emma (Marriott) Prather who were born in Ohio and Illinois, respectivel y.

"Paul" Prather married Cordie May Reese in Urbana, Illinois, in 1902, to which a son Avery Montell Prather was born in 1903. After their divorce in 1906, Paul removed to the plains of South Dakota where he met his second wife-to-be, Mae.

In his beginning years in South Dakota Paul worked on a local farm, the "Lincoln Ranch". Near there he met Mae Rose Harrington of Brown County, SD. They married in 1907, and lived and farmed on rented land near Plana, SD, Cambria Township. In 19 15 they bought 160 acres in Bath Township, raised their four children (Homer, Jessie, Raymond, Frank), and lived until Paul's death in 1947.

Over the years Paul and his family raised live stock, including hogs, a few cattle, milk cows, horses, and chickens. One of Paul's specialities was the development of "Improved Brown County Yellow Dent Seed Corn". To develop this champion seed c orn he took a good ear of corn, cut off and discarded the tip and butt (small kernels), shelled the ear, "graded" the kernels, and planted the bigger plump kernels. The result was ears with bigger plump kernels. Paul sold this improved seed cor n by the ear to farmers who came from miles around.

During the dry weather periods of the 30's, their sandy South Dakota plains soil blew easily, requiring extraordinary measures to ensure a crop: these included the spreading of manure and straw using horse power to keep the soil in place. Horse s were used extensively in farming in those days. In 1938 a new house was built on the farm. Daughter Jessie applied her talents in the drawing of the house plans. Paul liked trees and so planted many around the homestead.

At a later date, Paul and Mae purchased a second quarter section of farm land. Years later it was subdivided into two 80 acre parcels and deeded to sons Frank and Raymond. Frank farmed as a close neighbor to his parents until 1946 when he sold h is land and moved to California. Raymond farmed about 6 miles from Paul and Mae's farm until his death in 1962.

After Paul's death from a heart attack at age 67, Mae moved to Aberdeen, SD, and son Homer worked and lived on the farm briefly.

Benjamin married Cordie May Reese on 6 Sep 1902 in Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois, United States. Cordie was born on 30 Jul 1884 in St. Joseph, Champaign County, Illinois, United States; died on 26 Jul 1962 in Masonville, Delaware, Iowa, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Avery Montell Prather was born on 31 May 1903 in St. Joseph, Champaign County, Illinois, United States; died on 25 Nov 1931 in Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, United States; was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Manchester, Delaware, Iowa, United States.

Family/Spouse: Mae Rose Harrington. Mae was born on 4 May 1888 in Groton, Brown, South Dakota, United States; died on 11 Sep 1950. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Homer Justin Prather was born on 24 Feb 1908 in Aberdeen, Brown, South Dakota, United States.
2. Jessie Myrtle Prather was born on 25 Jan 1910 in , Brown, South Dakota, United States; died on 13 Nov 1997 in Aberdeen, Brown, South Dakota, United States.
3. Raymond Howard Prather was born on 10 Mar 1912 in Plana, Brown, South Datoka, United States; died on 31 Jul 1962 in Plana, Brown, South Datoka, United States.
4. Frank Edward Prather was born on 18 Feb 1914 in Aberdeen, Brown, South Dakota, United States; died in Aug 1980 in Napa, Napa, California, United States.

Homer married Jessie Emma Merriott. Jessie was born on 18 Feb 1857 in Somer Township, Champaign County, Illinois, United States; died on 13 May 1883 in Somer Township, Champaign County, Illinois, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Benjamin married Caroline Matilda Stevens. Caroline (daughter of Silsby Stevens and Mary A. Graham) was born in 1823 in , , Vermont, United States; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Sophia Penn. Sophia (daughter of Benjamin Penn and Mary Sargent) was born on 8 Jan 1795 in , , Maryland, United States; died on 7 Dec 1857 in , Clermont, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Silsby married Mary A. Graham. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]