Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
FREDERICK GROB is a farmer residing
three and a half miles southwest of Rocklyn, Washington, and was born November
1, 1874, in Baden, Germany, the son of Adam and Elizabeth (Krieg) Grob,
natives of Baden. Frederick is the second of a family of ten children,
all of whom are living in Illinois, with the exception of the subject of
our sketch, and a brother, Jacob, who lives near Rocklyn.
Mr. Grob came with his
parents to the United States in August, 1880, from Baden via Rotterdam,
Holland, being only fifteen days on water between that city and New York.
The family came direct to Kankee county, Illinois, where the father is
still living with other members of the family, and is a wealthy farmer.
The mother died in Illinois during October, 1881. Upon coming to
Illinois the father had only fifty dollars, with a large family of small
children, to aid in the support of which our subject worked with his father
until coming to the west in January, 1895. He realized that the opportunities
offered the young man of pluck and industry were much more encouraging
here than in the eastern states, so he came direct to the Big Bend with
the parents of his wife, whom he knew in the old country. He worked
for wages for two years, then started in to farm independently. On
December 16, 1897, he was married to Wilhelmina Kirsch, born in Baden,
July 2, 1877. She is the daughter of Andrew and Barbara (Schmitt)
Kirsch, with whom she came to Illinois in 1882. This union has been
blessed with three children; Walter G., born March 9, 1899; Esther H.,
born October 26, 1901; and Carl F., born July 20, 1903.
Mr. and Mrs. Grob are
members of the German Evangelical church. They started in life here
practically with no working fund, and now own three hundred and twenty
acres of good farming land, where they live, all under cultivation and
well improved. They have a large house, first class water facilities,
and two acres of orchard. They are among the most highly respected
citizens of Lincoln county.