This aged and venerated citizen of Ward’s Grove Township, is now approaching the eighty-fourth year of his age, but, notwithstanding, is remarkably hale and hearty, having preserved his faculties in a marked degree. His estimable partner is still spared to him, being now about seventy-seven years old and in good health. They form a pleasant and jolly old couple, who have looked upon life in a philosophic manner, and obtained much good therefrom. They own and occupy a snug homestead of eighty acres on section 8, and without making any pretense to fashion or display, are in the enjoyment of all the comforts of life.

Our subject is the son of William and Lydia (Vealy) Groesbeck, who were natives of Rensselaer County, N. Y. The paternal grandfather, Nicholas Groesbeck, was a native of Holland, and upon emigrating to America, settled in Rensselaer County, N. Y., where he engaged in farming until his death, in 1819. On the mother’s side grandfather Peter Vealy, was a native of Rensselaer County, N. Y., served in the Revolutionary War, and was taken prisoner by the British. After the struggle was ended, he returned to his native county, where he became a well-to-do farmer, and a pillar of the Presbyterian Church; he died in 1819.

William Groesbeck, the father of our subject, learned the trades of carpenter and shoemaker, which he followed in Montgomery County, N. Y.; but finally resumed his residence in Rensselaer County. In the meantime he served as a soldier three years in the War of 1812. Rather late in life he removed to Ohio, spent his last days at the home of one of his sons. Politically, he was a member of the old Whig party; the mother passed away prior to he decease of her husband in Washington County, N. Y. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Nicholas and Hugh are deceased; Peter; Dow, our subject; Cornelius, deceased; Charity in Vermont; and Jemima in Washington County, N. Y.

The subject of this sketch was born at Schaghticoke, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Dec. 31, 1805, and was reared a farmer’s boy, with no school advantages to speak of, as his father was in limited circumstances, and could not afford to dispense with his services by sending him to school. He remained at home until reaching his majority, then began working on a farm in Montgomery County; being thus occupied until his marriage. After this event he farmed on rented land, and carried on stock-raising. In 1833 he changed his residence to Jefferson County, where he sojourned until 1848. Next he resolved to seek his fortunes in the Great West, and, coming by train to this county, located on the land which he now occupies; but upon which there were then no improvements. He put up a log cabin which he and his wife occupied about four years, and then this was abandoned for the frame residence. Mr. Groesbeck proceeded with the improvement of his property, cultivating the soil, building fences of board and wire, setting out forest and fruit trees, and erecting the barn and other out-buildings necessary for the shelter of stock and the storage of grain. He breeds cattle, horses and swine; and of the equine race, especially has some good specimens.

Miss Mary A. Lock became the wife of our subject in 1828, the wedding taking place in Montgomery County, N. Y. This lady was a native of that county, and died in 1844, after their removal to Jefferson County. On the 27th of July, 1862, Mr. Groesbeck contracted a second marriage at Ward’s Grove, with Mrs. Eliza Plankerton, daughter of Michael Hileman. The parents’ history will be found in the biography of John Hileman, her brother, elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Groesbeck was born at Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., Pa., Nov. 5, 1812; received careful home-training, and a good education in the subscription schools. She was first married in 1830, to Mr. Paul Fraser, a native of her own county, and a farmer by occupation. After his death she returned to her father’s house, where she lived until her marriage with Mr. John Plankerton, in 1837. This gentleman was a pilot on the Ohio River, and died in Allegheny County, Pa.

In the fall of 1853, Mrs. Plankerton came to this county and purchased 400 acres of land in Stockton Township, which she improved and lived upon until her third marriage. Of her first union there was born one child, a daughter, Jennie, who is now the wife of Henry Bowen, a well-to-do farmer of Cass County, Iowa. Of her second marriage there was born one child also, a son, Harrison, who married, Miss Katie Keener, and is farming on 200 acres of land in Stockton Township.

Mr. Groesbeck by his first marriage became the father of two children, sons: The eldest, Herman, is a resident of Kansas; David K. married Miss Sarah Burke, and is an overseer of railroad work in Dawes County, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Groesbeck have only an adopted child, Elva, who is the wife of Mr. O. Wilson, who operates a farm in Ward’s Grove Township.

Mr. Groesbeck is an ardent supporter of Democratic principles. He served as Commissioner of Highways a period of nine years; was Road Supervisor a number of years, and a member of the first School Board of his district, on which he served also several years. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being identified with the lodge at Plum River. Mrs. Groesbeck for a period of forty years has been a devout member of the Lutheran Church at Kent.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)