Reuben Garfield Prater (1880 - 1920)

Born 7 Dec 1880 in Union County, Tennessee, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Effie (Faires) Wakefield — married 12 Jan 1905 (to 1920) in Colfax, Whitman, Washington

Died 5 Dec 1920 at age 39 in Big Sandy, Chouteau County, Montana, USA

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Biography

Reuben Garfield Prater

BIRTH 7 Dec 1880 Union County, Tennessee, USA

DEATH 5 May 1920 (aged 39) Big Sandy, Chouteau County, Montana, USA

BURIAL Colfax Cemetery, Colfax, Whitman County, Washington, USA

The Big Sandy Mountaineer

"The Big Sandy Mountaineer carried the following article: R. G. Prater Dead – Result of Accident: Last Wednesday the people of Big Sandy were greatly shocked when the news was circulated that R.G. Prater, living on a ranch about 9 miles west of town, had met death in a gasoline explosion at his home.

The supposition is that Mr. Prater had been engaged in cleaning his clothes, using gasoline in the operation, and at the same time preparing dinner in the same room, when in some unaccountable manner, the gasoline became ignited, causing the explosion, killing Mr. Prater and setting fire to the house.

Two boys working in the field saw the fire and hurried to the scene where they were successful in putting out the fire and rescuing the body of the victim of the explosion.

Mr. Prater had been a resident of Big Sandy country for some years, and was very well thought of among his neighbors and friends, and was one of our successful farmers. He had been chairman of the school board of District No. 11 and was a very efficient official.

Mrs. Prater was not at home at the time of the accident, being in poor health and at the time taking medical treatment in California, and it was thought unadvisable to notify her of the accident, as it naturally would have a tendency to have serious consequences.

Two brothers of Mr. Prater came from Washington state the latter part of the week, and on Saturday departed with the remains for the state where interment was made.

Mr. Prater leaves a large number of warm friends here, who are greatly grieved at his sudden and violent death, and the sympathy of the community goes out to his family in their bereavement."

• Fact: Burial Colfax Cemetery, Colfax, Whitman County, Washington, USA

Children

1. Ralph Everett Prater 1906–1989
2. Faires G Prater 1908–1975

Sources

• Reuben Garfield Prater (1880-1920) on Find A Grave: Memorial #107192478 retrieved 08 April 2020
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=geer_family_tree&id=I514371

Sources: Title: Ransom Erastus Geer Family Bible Note: copy of Bible pages sent to Ginger August by Virginia Austin (128 Gracey St., Sparta, TN 38583) February 25th, 1988. Bible was then in the possession of great-grandaughter, Nelda Glee Bradley Lee (Mrs. Robert L. Lee), 4220 Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN 37204. The front pages of the Bible have been lost and there is no information about the printer or the date of publication. Repository: Media: Book Text: "Salinah Geer was Born April the 10th in the year of our Lord 1841"