Prall, George bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 539-540; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
George Prall. This gentleman whose portrait is shown on the opposite page is the pioneer business man and settler in the new town of Rapatee, which lies in Knox County, across the lie from Fairview Township. His home is the finest residence in the village and was the first erected there. Mr. Prall is partnership with William Harden, (see another page in this Album) built the grain elevator in 1883. He shipped the first carload of grain out of the village, as well as the first load of hogs and cattle. The little town is becoming noted as a grain and stock-shipping center and for this reputation it depends mainly upon our wide-awake subject. Mr. Prall is largely interested in lands in Fairview Township where he was formerly engaged in farming and where he now owns one hundred and sixty acres on section 11, together with eighty acres on section 14.
Before outlining the life history of our subject it may be well to say a few words regarding his parents and their family. His father, Asher Prall, was born in Hunterdon County, N. J., and came to this State in 1845, settling on section 11, Fairview Township. He lived to be sixty-six years old. He had married Catherine McGrath, a native of New Jersey, who survived her husband and reached the age of three-score and ten. The good couple had four children of whom our subject was the first-born. John, who now lives on a farm in Iowa, married Eliza J Brunton and has eight children; Jane is the wife of William Swigert, a retired farmer now living in Rapatee; Cornelius enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry, was taken ill with the measles and died at Cairo, Ill., when twenty-one years old.
The gentleman whose name initiated this life history was born October 10, 1831, in Hunterdon County, N. J. He attended the common schools there, and in this county, to which he accompanied his parents when he was fourteen years old. The journey was performed partly by rail and partly by river boats the landing being made at Copperas Creek. The lad assisted his father in the development of the homestead and continued to follow agriculture until hi intelligent observation of affairs led him to embark in the grain and stock-buying, which he thought promised to prove remunerative. His energy and tact are being rewarded in this new enterprise, as his industry and skill were in the old.
The first marriage of our subject took place in Tazewell County, his bride being Miss Rebecca Golden. The union resulted in the birth of one child – Fanny, now the wife of William Wycoff who lives in Fairview. The wife and mother passed away in 1860, and Mr. Prall subsequently married Catherine, a daughter of John and Jane (Suydam) Winters. This union was blest by the birth of four children – Cora, Jan, Kate and George, all of whom are still at home, except Cora who married Frank Grim and lives in Fairview Township. They have two children, Earl and Verley.