JAMES J. PRATHER

Butte County

Biographies

JAMES J. PRATHER

JAMES J. PRATHER.--A native son of California and a man, who has made his influence felt in both agricultural and building circles, is James J. Prather, now one of the respected up builders of Gridley, Butte County. He was born at Linden, San Joaquin County, November 24, 1859, son of James J. and Mary (Mitchell) Prather, natives of Missouri, who crossed the plains from Missouri in 1856 and settled in California. His father died the day our subject was born and the mother afterwards married A.R. Anderson. James J. Prather, Sr. served in the Mexican War. Our subject attended the district school at Linden and was reared to farm life in 1870; he accompanied the family to Modoc County, settling in the Surprise Valley. That was during the Modoc Indian War, and although but a boy of twelve, he carried dispatches on his pony, really taking an active part in the war. His step-father was in the stock business and the lad rode the range, both in Northern California and in the Rogue River Valley, in Oregon, where the family had large stock interests. In 1880 the family returned to the San Joaquin Valley ranch at Linden, at which time our subject started out for himself.

He bought three hundred twenty acres at Peters Station, in San Joaquin County, and farmed it until 1886, when he disposed of the place and moved to Butte County, settling in Gridley, on October 28, of that year. It was on November 17, of the same year, that Mr. Prather was married. Miss Nancy Search, a native of Stanislaus County, becoming his wife. Upon his arrival with his bride, Mr. Prather bought a half-acre lot in East Gridley. It was covered with brush at the time of his purchase; but he cleared it, built a house and planted trees, and there the family have lived and all the children have been born.

Among the assets Mr. Prather brought to Gridley with him were his horses and mules, and he at once found employment at grading. He helped to lay out the town site of Palermo, graded the streets, etc., and later he took up contracting and building in Gridley and vicinity, and since 1887 has built over one hundred fifty buildings. Many of these have been burned but many are still standing as monuments to his skill. Among some of the buildings constructed by him we mention thirteen houses for C. A. Moore; two for George Wickman; seven for J. Shaffer; buildings on the Dodge ranch; ranch-houses for George Anderson, James Ferris, William Roof, and C. D. Gridley. He makes a specialty of bungalows and cottages, drawing his own plans in many instances. In his long career as a contractor he has become very well and favorably known throughout a wide area.

Mr. Prather has made a success of his operations and has wisely invested in property in Gridley. He is owner of four lots in Park side Addition, upon two of which he has erected houses of his own. With him are associated his four sons, who are recognized as experienced workmen. Mr. Prather is a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood, in which he has passed all the chairs; he also belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose of Gridley. The six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Prather are: Grace Mae, Elmer, George D., Ethel, Walter, and William.

Transcribed by Kim Buck.

Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1105-1106, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.

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