Grater, William H.

GRATER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 15:17:11

WILLIAM HARRISON GRATER
born Oct 1, 1835, Ohio

W. H. Grater is another one of the respected pioneers of Warren county, Iowa, and, like many of the best men scattered throughout the West, and occupying useful positions in spheres of life, he looks back to Ohio as place of his birth.
W. H. Grater was born in Licking county, Ohio, October 1, 1835, son of James M, and Sarah (Tuttle) Grater, he being the ninth in their family of ten children, six sons and four daughters. James M. Grater was a native of Massachusetts, a man of fine physique, commanding presence, and more than ordinary intellectual attainments. For many years he sailed the waters of the Atlantic, and he also traveled much on land, visiting various climets and countries and many of the States of the Union. He lived to the ripe old age of eighty years. As early as 1844 he visited Indiana, where he finally settled. On many of his travels he was accompanied by his wife, whose amiable disposition and beautiful character were an inspiration to all who knew her. She died at the age of sixty-four years. From such parents the subject of our sketch naturally inherited good principles; and when he early started out in life for himself, although he was equipped with only a common school education, and with no capital whatever, he had the impress of a Christian mother's training and possessed to a marked degree the good judgment for which his father was noted. It was in 1856 that he left home to make his own way in the world and came to Iowa, his objective point being Warren county. Lawrenceburg, a hamlet of Liberty township, was a progressive place in the 50s and in it he cast his lot for some years. He secured employment with Mr. Condit, a large landholder and mill owner, whose mill was located on section 7. In this mill Mr. Grater proved himself a competent and trusted employee, and subsequently he conducted it for some time on his own account. During the early years of his residence in Iowa he earned sufficient money to buy a farm, which in later years, he disposed of. Now he owns a fine farm on section 28, Liberty township, on which he has made his home since 1887. When our country was in the throes of a rebellion his patriotism asserted itself and he enlisted in the First Iowa Cavalry, December 8, 1862. Unfortunately he was stricken down with illness soon after his enlistment, which necessitated his discharge and he returned home. His political affiliations have always been with the Republican party, of which he is a stanch and zealous member. His first presidential vote was cast for the martyred President Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Grater's wife, a lady of pleasing address and happy disposition, and for many years a helpmate in the true sense of the word, was formerly Miss Sarah D. Rose. She was born and reared in Tennessee. Eight children have come to bless their home, namely: Amanda, wife of John Sandy, a popular man of Warren county, Iowa; H. C.; Charles F.; Erin W.; Lewis G.; Glenn; Adeline, wife of Henry Westerly; and John. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.451