His WW I draft registration card, filed 5 June 1917, records Wess Prather, age 24, residence Morehead, Ky, born 30 April 1893 in Morehead, Ky, occupation farmer, self-employed, single, supporting one child. (The marital status field asks “Married or single (which)?”, and thus does not make a distinction between widowed and never married.)

His death certificate records Wess Prater (Prather), age 36 years 4 months 0 days, born 30 April 1892 in Ky, died 29 Aug 1928 in Morehead, Rowan Co., Ky, married, husband of Mrs. Clara Prater, father Alfred Prater, mother’s maiden name Lizsa Hall, both born in Ky, cause of death “don’t know - probably due to too much moonshine whiskey” - medical statement from G. Nickell, informant Mrs. Wess Prater, Morehead, Ky, burial in Caudill Cemetery.

1920 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, enumerated 14 Jan, lists on p. 7B as family #143/152:
Prayther, Perry, 21, coach cleaner for rail road; Zelma, wife, 17; Wesley, brother, 26, widowed, drayman for G-- works (first word illegible, has no ascenders or descenders.) All born Ky Ky Ky.

Her birthdate was given as Aug 1895 on the 1900 census, but as 5 Aug 1896 on her death certificate, which stated Bessie Prayter (Prather), age 17 years 4 mos 21 days, died 26 Dec 1913, father Wm Hardin, mother’s maiden name Mary Foster, cause of death eclapsia, burial in Johnson graveyard. The marital status field is blank, but her occupation is given as housewife.

Rowan Co. marriage book 7, p. 504, lists the marriage on 21 Dec 1911 of Wess Prather, 18, farmer, born and resident in Rowan Co., father Alfred Prather born Morgan Co., mother Lizza Prather born Rowan Co., to Bessie Harden, 15, born and resident in Rowan Co., father Wm H. Harden, born Morgan Co., mother B. Harden, at G. M. Hall’s by W. T. Hall, witnesses Clara Caudill and George Hall, bond surety by George Hall.