The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 652

J. H. PRATER.

For over a quarter of a century J. H. Prater has been connected with
agricultural interests in Kittitas county, having come to the west in 1890. That
he has been successful in his pursuits is evident from the fact that he owns
today a valuable property called Spring Brook Farm, which is largely devoted to
the raising of hay and grain and to dairy interests. Mr. Prater is a native of
Springfield. Missouri, born September 16, 1874, and is a son of John A. and
Martha Jane (Roberts) Prater. The mother was a native of Texas. Mr. and Mrs.
Prater were pioneers of Missouri and both have now passed away.

J. H. Prater was reared under the parental roof, acquiring his education in
neighboring schools and early becoming acquainted with farm work. In 1890, at
the age of sixteen, he came to Ellensburg and began his independent career by
working as a farm hand for some time. Subsequently he was for one and a half
years an employee of the electric power plant at Ellensburg and also followed
farming until 1902, in which year he started out for himself by renting land, so
continuing for about six years. At the end of that period he bought a farm three
miles southwest of Ellensburg, to the further cultivation of which he gave his
attention until 1911, when he disposed of it and bought the adjoining property,
which in the succeeding years has become very valuable through his untiring
labors and close attention. He has built a new barn on the ranch and otherwise
improved his property and installed modern equipment, increasing the yield from
year to year until he is now numbered among the prosperous agriculturists of his
neighborhood. His place is known as the Spring Brook Farm and there he raises
large crops of hay and grain and is also giving close attention to dairying,
keeping high grade Jersey cattle.

On the 8th of November, 1899, Mr. Prater was united in marriage to Lillian
Josephine Borden, a native of Farmington, New Mexico, and a daughter of
Alexander and Mary Borden, who in 1890 removed to Kittitas county. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Prater are well and favorably known in the social circles of their vicinity
and have many friends in Ellensburg, all of whom speak of them in the highest
terms of appreciation.

In his political affiliations Mr. Prater is a republican and has ever loyally
supported the party although he is not an office  seeker nor a politician in
the commonly accepted sense of the word. He is ever interested in all movements
undertaken on behalf of the public welfare. By his labors he has not only
attained prosperity for himself but has contributed to an appreciable degree in
the upbuilding of his section. His contagious enthusiasm in regard to the
opportunities offered in Kittitas county has had good results as it influenced
others to take up farming here with excellent success. Particularly notable is
his work in regard to dairying and the cattle industry has received new impetus
through his progressive and resultant methods.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.