Last Civil War soldier buried in Adams County to be recognized Saturday at Illinois Veterans Home

QUINCY — Pvt. William Prater, the last Civil War soldier to be buried in Adams County, will be recognized in a memorial dedication ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 24, presented by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Gen. George A. McClernand Camp No. 4 of Springfield.

The ceremony will be in Sunset Cemetery at the Illinois Veterans Home, 1707 N. 12th, at Pvt. Prater’s gravesite in Division 12, Row 21.

The pubic is invited to attend. Those attending should use the U.S. 24 entrance and are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

At the age of 100, Prater died in the Illinois Veterans Home. He served in the 69th Illinois Infantry in 1862 and again in 1865 in the 14th Illinois Calvary. Prater was present at the battles of Lookout Mountain, the battle of Knoxville and aided in the capture of John Morman. He was captured in Georgia and spent seven months in Andersonville Prison.

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is a fraternal organization dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of veteran heroes who fought and worked to save the Union in the Civil War. Organized in 1881 and chartered by Congress in 1954, SUVCW is the legal heir and successor to the Grand Army of the Republic. The Last Soldier Project is dedicated to honoring the last Civil War soldier to be buried in each county throughout the United States.