- H. G. GRATTAN, P.O. Waukon, farmer, sec. 10; owns a farm
of 270 acres, pleasantly
- situated, and with first class improvements; is a son of
Amos and Abbey GRATTAN; was born in Oswego Co., N.Y., in 1826,
his parents emigrating to Wisconsin in 1835, entering a claim
of land upon which the city of Kenosha was subsequently located.
At the age of 13 he engaged in the office of Kenosha Telegraph,
then published by Sholes Bros., pioneer publishers, in whose
employ he continued some four years, after which he went to Janesville,
Wis., in 1845, and became identified with the Janesville Gazette
till 1848, when he established the Freeport Journal, continuing
the publication till 1852. He then went to Mt. Carroll and established
the Carroll Co. Republican, and was afterwards connected
with the Sterling Gazette. In 1853 he discontinued his
connection in the newspaper business and engaged as salesman
for John S. Wright in the agricultural implement business, which
he continued till 1861, when he engaged as traveling salesman
and collector for G. H. McCormick & Co., in whose employ
he continued sixteen years, although moving his family to this
county in 1805 and locating on his present farm. He also run
the implement business in Waukon some four years. Mr. G. has
been married three times, his first marriage being to Miss Jane
FRANK, of Wisconsin, in 1847, who died in 1849; his second in
1850 to Phoebe J. TISDEL, of Illinois, who died in 1865. In 1866
he was married to Mrs. Rosena RUSSELL. By his first wife he has
one son, Marion T; by his second wife, Orlando T. and Mary, having
lost one daughter, Jane; and by his present wife he has two children,
John and Decorah. Mr. G. was postmaster of the Ludlow postoffice
some twelve years, tke office now being discontinued. He is at
present one of the trustees of the Agricultural College, also
a member of the A. F. & A. M.
-
- [Taken from "The History of Winneshiek and Allamakee
Counties, Iowa" by W. E. Alexander; (c)1888 Western Publishing
Co., Sioux City, Iowa; pp. 492-493]
|