Robert V. Grattan is one of the well known and active factors in the community at Burden, and during the past administration had made a very satisfactory record as postmaster.
Mr. Grattan is a native of Burden, Kansas, where he was born May 29, 1884. His father, Robert Grattan, was an Irishman, born at Newtownards in Ireland and came to this country when about thirty years of age. In 1871 he was a pioneer homesteader in Cowley County, locating 160 acres of land one mile west and four and a half miles north of Burden.
He proved his real Irish character for industry and thrift, and was a succeasful farmer on that place until his death in 1889, at the age of about sixty-nine. He affiliated with the democratic party, Robert Grattan married Mrs. Amanda C. (Grisham) Tatum. She was born in Kentucky in 1847 and died at Burden, Kansas, February 3, 1909. By her first marriage to William Tatum she had a child, William V. Tatum, who now lives on a farm north of Burden. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Grattan had three children: Mollie, who lives at Pittsburg and is now the wife of J. R. Sivey, a painter and paper hanger; Roberta Alice, who is unmarried and lives with her brother Robert; and Robert V.
Robert V. Grattan was educated in the public schools at Burden, attended the high school, and at the age of about nineteen gave up his studies and returned to the home farm, which he actively managed until 1905. Subsequently this farm was sold. In 1905 Mr. Grattan came back to Burden and for eight years followed the barber’s trade and still owned his shop on Main Street. He gave up the active work of his trade to accept the appointment from President Wilson as postmaster of Burden, and had had active charge of the office since May 22, 1913. Mr. Grattan owned a modern residence on Main Sreet, built in 1911.
He had been a loyal democrat since casting his first vote. He is a member and deacon of the Baptist Church, is past master of Clinton Lodge No. 233, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, at Burden, and belongs to Wichita Consistory No. 2 of the Scottish Rite, to Burden Chapter of the Eastern Star, to Burden Lodge No. 238, Independent Order Odd Fellows, is a member of the Robekahs and of Burden Camp No. 1027, Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Grattan was married February 4, 1909, at Burden, to Miss Anna W. Wilson, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Frank and Sarah (Franklin) Wilson, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Grattan have one child, Viola, born May 26, 1910.