Son of Martin Thomas Prather 1822 – 1894 and Elizabeth Ridgeway 1837 – 1904

"THE RUTHVEN FREE PRESS", Ruthven, Palo Alto County, Iowa, Wednesday,
February 8, 1939, Page 1, Column 1 & Page 8, Column 3

D. W. PRATHER FUNERAL SUNDAY

Passed Away Thursday Evening of Last Week; Came Here 37 Years Ago.

Daniel Wilson Prather was born near Des Moines, Iowa, February 14, 1866, and passed away at his home in Ruthven, Iowa, February 2, 1939, at the age of 72 years, 11 months, and 18 days. His parents were Martin and Elizabeth Prather and when a young man he moved with his folks to Audubon county, where he grew to manhood.

On February 25, 1890, he was united in marriage to Mary Evaline Calloway and eight children, three boys and five girls, were born to this union.

The family lived in Audubon and Polk county, where the deceased was engaged in the lumber business, until 1902 when they moved to a farm on the north side of Silver lake, south of Ruthven. They lived for a short time on a farm near Gillett Grove, and then returned to the vicinity south of Ruthven. In 1934 they retired from farming and moved to Ruthven where the deceased made his home until his death. Mr. Prather served as town marshal in Ruthven for about three years. Following a paralytic stroke last September he was forced to give up this position, and while he rallied from this attack and was able to be about our town again, he had lost so much of his strength and vitality he was unable to survive a recent illness with pneumonia and passed away last Thursday evening at 8:30.

He is survived by his devoted wife, three sons, Claude and Howard of Ruthven and Harold of Graettinger, and four daughters, Mrs. D. D. Waterman of Ruthven, Mrs. Arthur Roberts of Royal, Mrs. Roy Broadie of Estherville and Mrs. Walter Pitcher of Emmetsburg. One daughter, Bertha, passed away in 1928. Mr. Prather is also survived by one brother, Ed Prather of Ruthven, one sister, Mrs. Annie Howard, of Des Moines, 21 grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Mr. Prather was a member of the Methodist church and well liked by all who knew him. His last words, "I have knowingly wronged no one, and I have always tried to live a temperate life," spoken as death came to him, characterized his entire life. He was devoted to his family, interested in their welfare, and always striving for the better things of life.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Ruthven last Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock with Rev. Belden Weikel, pastor of the church, officiating. Rev. Weikel chose the 20th and 21st verses of Jude for the text of his sermon.

Mrs. A. L. Bragg, Mrs. Lewis Capener, Harry Nelson and J. H. Thatcher sang, "In the Sweet Bye and Bye," "Sweetly Resting" and "Going Down the Valley One by One" with Mrs. Merle McGranahan at the piano.

Five grandsons and one nephew were the pallbearers.

Burial took place in Crown Hill cemetery.

The Lightle Funeral Home of Ruthven had charge of funeral arrangements.