Biography of H. G. Grattan
This biography appears on pages 492-493 in
"History of Winneshiek and Allamaee Counties Iowa 1882"
By W. E. Alexander, Sioux City, Iowa: Western Publishing Company, 1882
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 Mr.
Carroll and established the Carroll Co. Rebulican, 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 C. H. McCormick & Co., in whose employ
he continued sixteen years, although moving his family to this county in 1865
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, the 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.