Prall, Wilson (1839-1913)

ANDERSON, BELL, BOLLY, BRENENMAN, CARTER, DARLING, GEEHON, HEATON, JUDD, PRALL

Posted By: Carl Malone (email)
Date: 5/6/2017 at 20:38:34

The Atlantic News Telegraph
Atlantic, Iowa
October 6, 1913

ANOTHER PIONEER IS DEAD

WILSON PRALL, ONE OF THE VENERATED PIONEERS OF CASS COUNTY, PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT.

A Resident of This county for Sixty Years and Respected by All—Death Overtook Him at His Home in This City.

Wilson Prall, one of the venerated pioneers of Cass County, and one of its largest landholders and most successful farmers, passed away at his home 500 Linn street, last night at 10:20 o’clock, after being sick since last Wednesday with pneumonia. He first felt the sickness in Omaha, where he had gone to attend the Aksarben celebration, and as he gradually grew worse through the day he came home that evening and had been confined to his bed from that time until his death.

Yesterday morning about 11 o’clock he asked for the Rev. Mr. Elston, of Griswold, to be called to his bedside and when the minister arrived and asked him if he wanted him to read from the bible, the dying man replied that he just wanted to shake hands with him and see his face and then say good-bye.

His children, George B. Prall, J. B. Prall, Mrs. R. R. Bell, of Wiota and his wife, were present at his death and their father passed into the Great Beyond as he had lived, without complaining and unafraid.

The deceased was in his 75th year, having been born on April 20th, 1839, in the state of Ohio, the exact locality not being known, as his parents died when he was quite young and left no authentic record of their lives, except that they were probably natives of Pennsylvania. The parents of the deceased Gabriel and Mary (Heaton) Prall, lived in Ohio for some time, later moving to Clark County, Ind., about the year 1846, and died there soon afterwards, leaving Mr. Prall, then a boy of 9 years, with the choice of going to work on a farm for his board and clothes or starvation. The boy chose the hard work and remained in Indiana until he reached the age of 19, then, in 1858, came to Iowa on horseback, in company with his uncle, Cornelius Prall. After arriving in this state he found employment cutting logs for David Barnett, of Grove City, and the next spring went to work for R. D. Geehon on his farm.

On August 4, 1859, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Judd, a native of this state, born in Jefferson county, and from this union nine children were born, six of whom are living: George B., in this city; Thomas W., of Timberlake, S. D.; Mary E., wife of R. Bell, of this county; John B., south east of town; Eva, wife of Thomas Carter, of Glencoe, Okla.; and Viola wife of Milton Darling. Throughout his long life of nearly sixty years in this county, the deceased has never mingled actively in political contentions and has never desired the honors of emoluments of public office of any kind. He has long been a member of the Masonic order, and has ever found entertainment and instruction in the meetings of this lodge.

The deceased is survived by his wife, the children named above, one sister, Mrs. Martha Anderson, of Martinsville, Ind.; two brothers, E. H. Prall, Hollenburg, Kan., and Lee Prall, of Bellingham, Wash., from a visit with whom deceased just retuned; nephews, Columbus, Ed. And Lee Prall, a niece, Mrs. Scott Brenenman, of Woonsocket, S. D.; a cousin, Mrs. Conrad Bolly, of Henryville, Ind., and many other relatives living in and around Henryviille. All of the relatives have been sent word of the death and are expected to arrive in time for the funeral.

Arrangements have been made for the funeral services to be held at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon at the Christian Church. The Rev. Mr. Elston, of Griswold, will have charge, and interment will be made in the Atlantic cemetery. The Masonic lodge, of which the deceased was a valued member, will be in charge of short services which will be held at the grave.

In the passing of Mr. Prall Atlantic and the community has lost one of her most successful and respected citizens, a man who made himself what he was by hard work and the determination to succeed and in the years which he spent in this city and vicinity he has formed innumerable friendships with people who respected him for his sterling worth.

NOTE FROM CONTRIBUTOR: Wilson Prall was born April 20, 1839 and died October 5, 1913

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