JOHN PRATHER, Williamsville, is the son of Enos and Mary (Sargent) Prather, who were born in Virginia dnd Maryland respectively. John Prather was born December 16, 1813. He began the business of farming and stock raising with his brothers, Enos and William, at the age of fifteen years, and continued with them sixteen years, since which he has carried on the business. Drove cattle from Ohio to Philadelphia and New York before the days of railroad transportation. Mr. Prather was married in Pike county, Ohio, December 11, 1836, to Mary J. Jones, daughter of Samuel and Lucy Jones, of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Prather were blessed with the following named children: William, John, Samuel E., Henry S., John F., and Mary Lucy. Samuel E. and John F. are living. Mr. Prather came to Springfield in 1867, in which city he lived ten years, and then moved to Williamsville, Illinois. He owns twenty-two hundred acres of good land in Sangamon county, part of which is in Williams township; eight hundred and fifty acres in Logan county, and twenty-two hundred acres in Kansas. Mr. Prather owns the old home farm in Pike county, Ohio, purchased by his grandfather Sargent about the year 1794, and in connection with said farm owns fourteen hundred acres in Ohio. Mr. Prather was in connection with a company which imported shorthorn cattle from England and brought them to Ohio. Was one of the first stockholders in the State National Bank in Springfield, Illinois; was assistant assessor of the United States Internal Revenue for the Twelfth District of Ohio, in Waverly, Pike county. His father was one of the first circuit judges in Pike county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Prather's education was received in the common schools. Mrs. Prather is a member of the Methodist Church. Both have been active in life's affairs and successful in their accumulations.