9/14/1933

RESIDENT OF MASON CO. MANY YEARS DIES FRI.
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A.J. (Gus Prater) Is Buried Saturday
Afternoon at Bethel Cemetery
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Last rites were conducted Saturday afternoon at Bethel for A.J. (Gus) Prater,
 who died last Friday about noon.  Mr. Prater, although born in Georgia,
spent the greater part of his life in Mason county, having come to Texas
something like 58 years ago.He lacked only five days of being 82 years of age.
Mr. Prater made his home upon his arrival here with the John Lindsay family.
Later he was married to Miss Francis Hinsley, the couple having recently celebrated
their fifty-seventh wedding anniversary.
The deceased lived an active life and was associated with many early day settlers 
in this county. Like many of these he suffered numerous hardships and several 
personal misfortunes. About 38 years ago he fell in a well and broke a leg 
and about ten years ago an eye was put out.
Two children also came to untimely deaths. A son, Alex Prater, was killed in 
California about twenty years ago and one daughter, Miss Vada Prater, 
died nearly 45 years ago.
Mr. Prater united with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, at Bethel,
 32 years ago, remaining a faithful member of that congregation until his death.
His widow, who has been an invalid for nearly fifteen years, survives together
with four sons and three daughters. They are Mrs. Alfred Bishop of Center Point,
Mrs. G.A. Wilkinson of Branchville, Maryland, and Mrs. Ernest Kruse, Arthur 
and Seth Prater of Peters Prairie, Linsday Prater of Mason and Ralph Prater of 
Brownwood. Seventeen grand children and six great grandsons also survive.
Rev. O.W. Benold conducted funeral services and burial was made in the Bethel 
Cemetery. Pallbearers included Ed Harris, Will Dobbs, Barber Amerine, 
George Sorrells, William Kruse and Hubert Jordan.


5/24/1934

Mrs. Gus Prater, 72, Is Buried at Bethel
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Death Occurs Monday After Many
Years of Illness
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Mrs. Gus Prater died Monday morning, May 21, at 2:20 o'clock at her home 
in the Peters Prairie community. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday 
afternoon at the Bethel church and burial was made in the Bethel cemetery. 
Rev. C.H. Garrett of Mason and Rev. C.L. Nicholson of Fredonia were in 
charge of the services.
Mrs. Prater was born in Brown County December 20, 1861, being 72 years, 
5 months and one day old at the time of her death. She was formerly Miss 
Susan Hindsley. She was married in 1876 to Gus Prater and the couple spent 
all of their married lives in this county. They were the parents of nine children, 
five sons and four daughters, seven of whom are living. They are Mrs. Bud Bishop 
of Center Point, Mrs. W. Wilkinson of Branchville, Maryland, Mrs. Ernest Kruse 
and Lindsay, Arthur and Seth Prater all of Mason County and Ralph Prater of 
Brownwood. Two half sisters, Mrs. Frank Hendricks of this county, and Mrs. 
Mary Wantz of Arizona, survive. Seventeen grand children and six great 
grandchildren also survive Mr. Prater passed away a little over eight months ago.
Mrs. Prater had been in ill health for many years and the greater part of that time 
was confined to her bed. She had been a member of the Methodist Church since 
1889 and lived a devout Christian life that will continue an inspiration to a host 
of freiends and neighbors for many years longer than her life time.Pall bearers were; 
George Sorrells, H.A. Jordan, William Kruse, Bill Dobbs, P.D. Amerine, and Ed Harris.