Biography of John Grogg, pages 570/571. History of DeKalb County, 
Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



John Grogg



	In the history of DeKalb county, as applying to the agricultural 
interests, the name of John Grogg occupies a conspicuous place, for 
through a number of years he has been one of the representative farmers 
of Grant township, progressive, enterprising and persevering.  Such 
qualities always win success, sooner or later, and to Mr. Grogg they 
have brought a satisfactory reward for his well directed effort, and 
while he has benefited himself and the community in a material way he 
has also been an influential factor in the educational, political and 
moral uplift of the community favored by his residence.

	John Grogg was born on July 1, 1845, in Plain township, Stark 
county, Ohio, and is the son of Daniel Grogg, whose sketch appears 
elsewhere in this work.  He accompanied his parents to DeKalb county, 
Indiana, and was reared on the old home farm, which was located east of 
where the county farm is now, and there he lived until twenty-four 
years of age. He assisted in the early cultivation of the home farm and 
during the winter months secured his education in the common schools of 
the neighborhood.  After his marriage, which occurred in 1867, Mr. 
Grogg came to Grant township, this county, and located on a part of the 
farm that his father had bought in 1840.  Not an inch of land, which 
he, secured had been cleared and he commenced to operate along the same 
lines, which characterized the early pioneers. The timber had to be 
felled, the stumps cleared and fences erected, as well as other 
necessary improvements, and at that time there was no road running from 
Auburn to this place worth mentioning, the only highway being a trail 
which had been cut around the swamps.  Mr. Grogg built a log cabin in 
which he made his home until he was able to clear his land and raise 
crops, from which time onward he was able to live in more comfortable 
circumstances.  His present attractive residence was built in 1889.  
Mr. Grogg is now the owner of eighty-eight acres of good, tillable 
land, practically all of which is in cultivation and he follows 
advanced agricultural methods, rotating his crops from year to year in 
such a way as to maintain the fertility of the soil, while the general 
appearance of the place indicates him to be a man of good judgment and 
sound ideas.  During the years in which he has resided in the township 
Mr. Grogg has taken an active interest in everything pertaining to the 
advancement of the community and has served as supervisor for twenty-
six years, this being a remarkable testimonial to his efficiency and 
the satisfactory manner in which he has discharged his official duties.  
In the improvement of the public roads he has been especially 
interested and has changed them from the early-day corduroy 
construction to as fine gravel roads as can be found anywhere in the 
county, and he has just reason to be proud of his attainments in this 
line.

	In 1867 Mr. Grogg married Catherine Kandel, who was born in New 
Bavaria, Germany, the daughter of Jacob and Katherine Kandel.  In 1859 
she came with her parents to America, who located first at Tiffin, 
Ohio, but 1860 came to DeKalb county, locating a half mile south of 
Feagler’s Corner, in Richland township, where they spent the remainder 
of their days.  To Mr. and Mrs. Grogg were born four children, namely: 
Daniel J., born in 1868, who assists his father on the home farm; 
Annie, who is the wife of Charles Zerkle, of Waterloo, has eight 
children, Ora, Forrest, Ford, John, Dewey, Guy, James and Lulu; Alta is 
the wife of John Melton, who lives west of Waterloo in Grant township 
and has two children, Blanche and Edna; Nannie is at home keeping house 
for her father. Mr. Grogg’s life has been characterized by duty 
faithful performed, and in this relations with his fellows he has 
earned their favorable opinion and is numbered among the popular and 
public-spirited citizens of this community.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com