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 Joun PRATHER, an extensive feeder of market cattle, re- 
moved to Williamsville, Ill., 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. Prater. 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 Dutuie 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 
