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 ORNELIUS PRALL, a successful stock-grower of Seven Hickory Township, honorably represents one of the self-made men of
the West. He was born Jan. 25, 1834, in Morgan
County, Ohio, and is the son of Asa and Asaneth
(Botkin) Prall. His family was originally from
Germany, although Asa Prall was born in New
Jersey in 1803. Mrs. Prall was born in Greene
County, Pa., in 1807. Her father, Robert Botkin,
was a native of Ireland, and her mother was of
English birth; their families had emigrated to the
United States at an early day, seeking to avail
themselves of the many privileges offered by this
liberal Goverment to men of all nationalities. Asa Prall’s famity removed to Pennsylvania when he was a boy, and he passed his early life in that State. Coming to Ohio in 1831 he engaged in farming there, and remained a few years. In 1844 he resolved to move still farther westward, and accordingly came to Indiana and settled in Clark County, and thence in 1851 to Van Buren County, Iowa. In the latter place he made his permanent home, and passed the remainder of his life there. His death occurred in about 1875. The following is the record of their family: Thomas, born in 1831, in Pennsylvania, is married and resides in Iowa; Robert, born in 1832, in Ohio, also resides in Iowa; Cornelius is the subject of this sketch; Sarah was born in 1835, in Ohio; she has been twice married and twice made a widow; her first husband was Anthony Bradford, and her second husband was Hafford Bradford, each bearing the same name although not related to each other; her home is in Schuyler County, Mo. Matilda, now Mrs. Columbus Fowler, was born in Ohio, and resides in Harper County, Kan.; Euphronius, deceased, was born in Ohio, and died in Iowa, in 1881, leaving a wife and two children; John, who died in childhood, was born in Ohio; Amanda, deceased, was born in Indiana, and became the wife of George Brooks, a resident of Iowa; Charles C. was born in Indiana, and is a resident of Iowa. Cornelius Prall remained in Indiana when his father removed to Iowa, but his marriage occurred soon after and he took his young wife there on their wedding trip, to visit his family and see the country. After remaining four or five months they decided to return to Indiana, and in 1853 located in Monroe Township, now in Clark County, and were engaged in farming on rented land three years. Mr. Prall then removed to Edgar County, Ill., and soon after his arrival there his wife was stricken down and died, leaving a little child five months old, who soon followed its mother to the grave. In February of the following year, Mr. Prall married Miss Amelia D. Thompson. Mrs. Prall’s father was a native of New York and her mother of North Carolina. In the winter of 1859 Mr. Prall came to Coles County, making his home in Seven Hickory Township, only about two and one-half miles from their former residence. For three years he rented land, and at the expiration of that time was enabled to buy forty acres of his present estate. Proud in the possession of a home he could call his own, he cultivated and improved his land, and by hard work and the exercise of due economy, in a few years added forty acres more to his farm. He was prospered in business and added forty acres successively in the years 1867, 1872 and 1881, and in 1886 made a purchase of eighty acres; he now owns 240 acres of land, all of which is under good cultivation. In 1883 Mr. Prall was again bereaved of his wife, who died on the 27th of April, leaving a family of eight children. The following is their record: Louisa M., born Feb. 1, 1858, married Thomas Todd, a relative of Abraham Lincoln’s family, and lives in Scotland County, Mo.; William A., born Aug. 1, 1859, married Miss Mary Perrel, and lives in Comanche County, Kan.; Florence, born Aug. 8, 1861, married John W. Watkins, and is a resident of Seven Hickory Township; Alice, born Nov. 25, 1863; Mary, Sept. 1, 1865; Charles, June 20, 1869; Josephine, Jan. 14, 1871, and Walter, July 11, 1874; the four latter reside at home. In conducting his farm Mr. Prall gives special attention to stock-growing, raising the best breeds of cattle, horses, sheep and hogs, and dealing to some extent in graded stock. Mr. Prall is deserving of great praise for his persevering efforts in overcoming obstacles. When he came to Coles County he possessed but 13 in money and a broken-down team, but with untiring courage and energy, he has battled successfully with the world, and made a comfortable home for himself and family. He belongs to the Charleston Lodge of the Odd Fellows’ Association. In politics he is a member of the Republican party, and in 1880 received the appointment of Drainage Commissioner, holding the position until 1885, when he resigned. The portrait of Mr. Prall, which is presented in connection with this personal narrative, will be looked upon with pleasure by his many friends, and forms a valuable adjunct to the Coles County Album. |
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