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Stoneburg MasonReceives 50-Year Pin9. M. PRATERis pictured above. In his coatlapel can be seen the 50-year1Masonic pin which was presented to Mr. Prater by the Bowie Masonic lodge for 50 year membership. Mr. Prater, who lives I in Stoneburg, first joined the Stoneburg lodge and then transferred to Bowie when the Stoneburg lodge disbanded.D. B. Benson, long time friend of Mr. Prater, took the place of Carl Russell, Worshipful Master, and presided during the presentation of the 50-vear pin to Mr. Prater. District Deputy Claude Spencer of Nocona had been asked by the Grand Lodge to maketh«- presentation.Mr. Prater has lived in the Stoneburg community almost all his life. His parents, Mr. and Mrs.J. T. Prater, moved to a ranch five miles northwest of Stoneburg from Grayson county in 1883 when S. M. was three years of age. That was before there was a town of Stoneburg and there were* few houses between the Prater home and Henrietta.Mr. Prater has been away from this county only a few years. In 1901 he took part in the drawing for land in Oklahoma. He was one of the fortunate men who drew land. He got 100 acres 2'i miles northwest of Sugden, Okla. He says that he did not have much faith in the drawing but thought he would try it. When he got on the Hock Island to go to El Reno where the drawing was held the train was so crowded with passengers going to the drawing that he had to ride in the baggage car. Mr. Prater drew a number in the 1300rds and there were over 7000 registered. After spending 14 months in Oklahoma he returned to this county. On Jan. 8, 1903 he was married to Betty McDonald, whose folks had come to this county in 1850 and lived at the west edge of Queen’s Peak. They spent from 1912 to 1914 in Ochiltree county where they settled on land. He raised some wheat there but as his farm was 50 miles from the railroad it, cost him 25 cents a bushel to get his wheat to m irket.The Praters built their present home in Stoneburg in 1915. Their two sons and families, Donald and John J. live on the Prater land.
Newspaper Details
Bowie News
Bowie, Texas, US
Thu, Nov 25, 1954
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Marcus W.
TX, USA 15 Jun 2018
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