Bruce Prater (1889 - aft. 1916)

Born 27 May 1889 in Weakley, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Willie Hazel (Fisher) Manning — married 5 Nov 1910 in Caruthersville, Pemiscot, Missouri, United States

Biography

Born in Dresden, Weakley County, Tennessee on 27 May 1889 ^[1]

In 1909, Bruce worked as a common laborer. He was said to be 5'7", with blue eyes and dark hair.^[1]

In April 1910, Bruce (age 19 [sic]) lived in Caruthersville, Pemiscot, Missouri with his mother Cynthia Prater (50)—a widow— , his brother Alfis (18), his sister Minnie Dunlap (26) and her husband Robert (26) and their daughter Mable (2).^[2] He was recorded to be a clerk working in accounting.

Bruce married Hazel Fisher 5 November 1910 in Missouri ^[3]

In early 1911, Hazel filed for divorce, but did not follow through.^[4] Their son Bruce Eugene Prater was born July of that same year.

In 1911, Bruce worked as a clerk for the Deering & Southwestern Railroad Co based in Caruthersville, Missouri.^[1]

On 10 June 1912, Bruce enlisted in the National Guard of the State of Missouri. He was said to be 5' 6" tall, possessed of blue eyes and light hair with a fair complexion. He was discharged in 1913 due to "change of residence."^[1]

In Dec 1912, Bruce was in the news for criminal charges—seduction.^[5] After posting bond, he fled to Terre Haute, Indiana, and was recaptured Dec 1913.^[6][7] He was given a 30 days sentence. "The complainant refused to appear against him in court."^[8] He also paid a $10 fee.^[9]

Bruce lived in or near Terre Haute, Indiana in 1915^[10] and visited in 1916.^[11]

In Feb 1917, Hazel again filed for divorce, this time from an absentee husband.^[12] In December, the case was dismissed for failure to prosecute.^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} "Missouri, Pre-WWII Adjutant General Enlistment Contracts, 1900-1941", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZH8-M4ZJ : Tue Oct 03 06:55:27 UTC 2023), Entry for Bruce Prater.
2. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1910; Census Place: Caruthersvill Ward 1, Pemiscot, Missouri; Roll: T624_804; Page: 4b; Enumeration District: 0149; FHL microfilm: 1374817
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #189931698 (accessed 27 December 2023)
   Bruce Prater (19), single son, Real Clerk, in household of Cynthia Prater (50) in Caruthersvill Ward 1, Pemiscot, Missouri, USA. Born in Tennessee.
3. ↑ "Missouri Marriages, 1750-1920", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HQPH-R52M : 18 January 2020), Hazel Fisher in entry for Bruce Prater, 1910.
4. ↑ 1911 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
   The Democrat-Argus (Caruthersville, Missouri) Fri, Mar 10, 1911, page 4
   Newspapers Clip: 138050793 (accessed 4 January 2024)
5. ↑ 1912 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
   The Pemiscot Argus (Caruthersville, Missouri) Thu, Dec 12, 1912, page 5
   Newspapers Clip: 138050879 (accessed 4 January 2024)
6. ↑ 1913 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
   The Pemiscot Argus (Caruthersville, Missouri) Thu, Dec 11, 1913, page 3
   Newspapers Clip: 138054757 (accessed 4 January 2024)
7. ↑ 1913 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
   The Democrat-Argus (Caruthersville, Missouri) Fri, Dec 12, 1913, page 3
   Newspapers Clip: 138055013 (accessed 4 January 2024)
8. ↑ 1913 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
   The Pemiscot Argus (Caruthersville, Missouri) Thu, Dec 18, 1913, page 6
   Newspapers Clip: 138054861 (accessed 4 January 2024)
9. ↑ 1913 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
   The Pemiscot Argus (Caruthersville, Missouri) Thu, Dec 25, 1913, page 1
   Newspapers Clip: 138055102 (accessed 4 January 2024)
10. ↑ 1955 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
    The Terre Haute Tribune (Terre Haute, Indiana) Wed, Jun 8, 1955, page 4
    Newspapers Clip: 138055663 (accessed 4 January 2024)
11. ↑ 1946 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
    The Daily Clintonian (Clinton, Indiana) Mon, Apr 22, 1946, page 4
    Newspapers Clip: 138055631 (accessed 4 January 2024)
12. ↑ 1917 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
    The Democrat-Argus (Caruthersville, Missouri) Tue, Feb 20, 1917, page 2
    Newspapers Clip: 138054371 (accessed 4 January 2024)
13. ↑ 1917 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
    The Pemiscot Argus (Caruthersville, Missouri) Thu, Dec 6, 1917, page 1
    Newspapers Clip: 138054484 (accessed 4 January 2024)

Research Notes

• Cannot find date of death or further information on him after the news article of April 1916 )from the 1946 paper's "30 years ago" section. - C.R.(Jan 2024)
• Hazel remarried in 1936. With no further divorce info, it seems likely that Bruce died prior to that year. - C.R.(Jan 2024)