WI BIO - Dane Co - KROGH, Peter G.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 328-330

Peter G. KROGH, a hardware merchant of Mount Horeb, Dane County, WI, is a son 
of Casper KROGH, a native of Christiania [now Oslo], Norway. Casper KROGH 
was an expert mechanic, having been [p 329] engaged in intricate work from 
making a surgeon's needle to a sword. His skill induced some of his friends 
to assist him with sufficient funds to commence business for himself, and 
with their aid he located in Drammen [Buskerud fylke], employing six workmen. 
His reputation soon brought work long distances, and during five years there 
he received several difficult but valuable jobs from England. Wishing to 
still better his condition, at the age of twenty-one years, in 1843, Casper 
KROGH came by sailing vessel to America, spending thirteen weeks on the 
voyage, and during that time they suffered greatly for the want of fresh 
water. He landed in NY. Having been well educated in both German and 
English, he acted as interpreter on his way to Milwaukee [Milwaukee County], 
WI. He remained in that city a short time, then worked at his trade in 
Waterford, Racine County, WI, five years, at which time he contracted the 
ague. After his recovery Mr. KROGH bought the saw mill at Cloburn's Mills, 
Jefferson County, WI, for which he went in debt about $2,500. He continued 
this mill successfully twelve years, then erected a grist mill and purchased 
a farm of 200 acres. Casper KROGH remained on that place until his death, in 
1883.

Casper KROGH was married in Norway to Katrina NELSON, whose father came three 
years later to America, where he afterward died. To this union were born 
eleven children: (1) Katrina Andrea, now Mrs. Anton NELSON, of Kimbrae, 
Nobles County, MN; (2) Barnard J., of Cambridge [Dane County], WI; (3) 
Peterene, deceased in infancy; (4) Peter G., our subject; (5) Albert H., 
who died in Cambridge, WI; (6) Cornelius, of Hancock County, IA; (7) 
Charlotte, of Blair [Washington County], NE; (8) Carl O., of Newman's Grove 
[Newman Grove, Madison County], NE; (9) Herman, deceased in infancy; (10) 
Caspara J., of MN; and (11) Henrietta, now Mrs. Simon CHRISTIANSON, of Bode, 
Humboldt County, IA. The mother died in 1887.

Peter G. KROUGH, our subject, was born in Drammen [Buskerud fylke], Norway, 
06 Mar 1843, and came to America with his parents when eleven weeks old. 
During his early life he worked with his father and attended the common 
schools, supplemented by three terms at the high school at Waterloo 
[Jefferson County, WI]. At the age of twenty-one years he entered the army, 
joining Company H, 42nd WI Volunteer Infantry, having been the third of his 
family to enlist. He was first ordered to IN, then to MO, thence to KY, 
engaged principally in guard duty. He took part in various guerilla warfare, 
but participated in no noted battles, and during the latter part of the war 
suffered greatly from sickness. After returning home Peter G. KROGH opened a 
plow shop at Kroghville [Jefferson County, WI], which place was named in 
honor of his father, and continued that business successfully for sixteen 
years. In that year he came to Mt. Horeb [Dane County, WI] and engaged in 
the hardware business, and also served as Postmaster until Cleveland's 
administration [inferred here is that Peter G. KROGH was a Republican]. In 
1889 he was unanimously elected as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of 
Blue Mounds [Dane County, WI], was re-elected in 1890, and the following year 
refused to be a candidate for the office on account of wishing to not neglect 
his business. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R., and for the past five 
years has served as Post Commander of Rev. Dixon Post.

Peter G. KROGH was married in the Western Church at Koskonong [Jefferson 
County], WI, in 1871, to Christine ANDERSON, a native of Pleasant Spring 
Township, Dane County, WI. Her father, a native of Sweden, is now deceased, 
and the mother, a native of Norway, resides on the old homestead in Pleasant 
Springs Township. [p 330] Our subject and his wife have one child, 
Clarence Alfred, aged seventeen years, who is now attending school at Black 
Earth [Dane County, WI]. Peter G. KROGH is a pleasant gentleman, and a 
respected citizen.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly