Otto Groch was christened Gustav Robert Otto Groch in Forst, Brandenburg, Germany (then Prussia). He was one of five children born to Robert Groch and Johanna Juliane "Julia" Rontke Groch. In 1848 he sailed to America with his mother and two siblings. Within the decade the Groch family settled in Aurora, Illinois, a booming railroad and manufacturing town. His father Robert Groch worked in Aurora as a conductor on the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy (C B & Q) railroad.
Many German-Americans from Aurora had volunteered for the Union Army, and at the age of 19 Otto, together with younger brother Fred, enlisted in 132nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry. Following their service, the brothers returned to Aurora. Otto and Fred next traveled out West before deciding to raise families. Otto married Caroline "Carrie" Schwarzhans in spring 1872 at Aurora. Otto and Carrie made their new home in Sandusky, Ohio, and Otto and Fred joined together in Groch Bros. Coal Distributors.
On 28 Jan 1873 young Otto Frank Groch was born. Their joy was short lived. On
May 26 Otto engaged in extinguishing a fire at the William & Ferry ice house in Sandusky. The blaze grew out of control, and Otto was crushed by falling timbers. The newspaper reported that his body was going back to Aurora, the home of his parents.
Many German-Americans from Aurora had volunteered for the Union Army, and at the age of 19 Otto, together with younger brother Fred, enlisted in 132nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry. Following their service, the brothers returned to Aurora. Otto and Fred next traveled out West before deciding to raise families. Otto married Caroline "Carrie" Schwarzhans in spring 1872 at Aurora. Otto and Carrie made their new home in Sandusky, Ohio, and Otto and Fred joined together in Groch Bros. Coal Distributors.
On 28 Jan 1873 young Otto Frank Groch was born. Their joy was short lived. On
May 26 Otto engaged in extinguishing a fire at the William & Ferry ice house in Sandusky. The blaze grew out of control, and Otto was crushed by falling timbers. The newspaper reported that his body was going back to Aurora, the home of his parents.
Otto Groch was christened Gustav Robert Otto Groch in Forst, Brandenburg, Germany (then Prussia). He was one of five children born to Robert Groch and Johanna Juliane "Julia" Rontke Groch. In 1848 he sailed to America with his mother and two siblings. Within the decade the Groch family settled in Aurora, Illinois, a booming railroad and manufacturing town. His father Robert Groch worked in Aurora as a conductor on the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy (C B & Q) railroad.
Many German-Americans from Aurora had volunteered for the Union Army, and at the age of 19 Otto, together with younger brother Fred, enlisted in 132nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry. Following their service, the brothers returned to Aurora. Otto and Fred next traveled out West before deciding to raise families. Otto married Caroline "Carrie" Schwarzhans in spring 1872 at Aurora. Otto and Carrie made their new home in Sandusky, Ohio, and Otto and Fred joined together in Groch Bros. Coal Distributors.
On 28 Jan 1873 young Otto Frank Groch was born. Their joy was short lived. On
May 26 Otto engaged in extinguishing a fire at the William & Ferry ice house in Sandusky. The blaze grew out of control, and Otto was crushed by falling timbers. The newspaper reported that his body was going back to Aurora, the home of his parents.
Many German-Americans from Aurora had volunteered for the Union Army, and at the age of 19 Otto, together with younger brother Fred, enlisted in 132nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry. Following their service, the brothers returned to Aurora. Otto and Fred next traveled out West before deciding to raise families. Otto married Caroline "Carrie" Schwarzhans in spring 1872 at Aurora. Otto and Carrie made their new home in Sandusky, Ohio, and Otto and Fred joined together in Groch Bros. Coal Distributors.
On 28 Jan 1873 young Otto Frank Groch was born. Their joy was short lived. On
May 26 Otto engaged in extinguishing a fire at the William & Ferry ice house in Sandusky. The blaze grew out of control, and Otto was crushed by falling timbers. The newspaper reported that his body was going back to Aurora, the home of his parents.
