308 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 



A STEADFAST DEFENDER OF THE FAITH 



119. J. FRANK PRATHER, Illinois Shorthorn veteran, was born 

 January 24, 1859, in Pike Co., Ohio. In his early years his 

 father JOHN PRATHER, an extensive feeder of market cattle, re- 

 moved to Williamsville, 111., where he pursued his livestock activi- 

 ties. MR. PRATHER was educated in the rural schools, receiving 

 a partial high school education in Williamsville. At the age of 

 sixteen, he assumed care of the show herd of his brother, SAMUEL 

 E. PRATHER. The head of the herd was Brurer's Booth, and the 

 two principal females were Queen of Riverdale and Silly Dale, 

 the latter two tracing to imported White Rose by Publicola. In 

 1877 his father purchased for him the farm he at present occu- 

 pies, and the following year he embarked on the breeding of 

 Shorthorns. 



His most noted years with the Shorthorns date from his asso- 

 ciation with C. B. DUSTIN in 1891. He was at that time anxious 

 to secure a bull with which to head his herd, and learning that 

 MR. DUSTIN was going to Scotland, made arrangements with him 

 to secure a herd bull from DUTHIE of Collynie. MR. DUSTIN'S 

 herdsman selected for him two bulls and eight heifers, but one 

 of the heifers failed to suit, so MR. DUSTIN traded him for a 

 promising bull calf he discovered in the pasture. Of the two 

 bulls first purchased by MR. DUSTIN, MR. PRATHER secured 

 Duke of Hamilton 2d, and he also retained a half interest in the 

 calf. This calf developed rapidly, and attained a showyard 

 record equalled by few bulls of the breed. He was named Baron 

 Cruickshank, and was used turn about by MR. PRATHER and 

 MR. DUSTIN, year by year, until he was five years old. Baron 

 Cruickshank weighed 2,640 pounds in mature shape, but was 

 not coarse in frame, and possessed a smoothness and mellowness 

 of flesh seldom equalled. When Baron Cruickshank reached his 

 fifth year, the partners deemed it inadvisable to ship him about 

 so much, hence MR. DUSTIN gave MR. PRATHER the bull Proud 



