The 1850 United States census showed John W. Grigg (age 24, born in New York, brick maker) living with his father George H. (age 48, born in New Hampshire, farmer) in Grand Chute, Wisconsin. His other siblings were Amanda B. (age 28, born in Ohio), Lyman M. (age 18, born in New York, farmer), Caroline (age 15, born in New York), Llewellyn (age 12, born in New York), George H. (age 9, born in Wisconsin), and Helen (age 9 months, born in Wisconsin).
The 1857 Minnesota census showed John W. Grigg (age 30, born in New York, brick maker) married to Jane (age 23, born in Vermont) and living in Shakopee, Minnesota. Children Carrie (age 3, born in Wisconsin) and Ida (age 4 months, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1860 United States census showed John W. Gregg (age 33, born in New York, brick maker) married to Jane (age 25, born in Vermont) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Carry (age 5, born in Wisconsin) and Caroline (age 1, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
John W. Gregg (age 36, born in New York, brick maker) registered for the Civil War draft in June and July 1863.
The 1870 United States census showed John W. Grigg (age 41, born in New York, brick maker) married to Jane (age 37, born in Canada) and living in Mankato (Ward 3), Minnesota. Children Carrie J. (age 17, born in Wisconsin), Celia (age 11, born in Minnesota), Frank (age 4, born in Minnesota), William B. (age 2, born in Minnesota), and Emma (age 15, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1875 Minnesota census showed J. W. Gregg (age 48, born in New York) married to Jennie (age 41, born in Vermont) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Karry C. (age 21, born in Wisconsin), Caroline (age 16, born in Minnesota), Frank (age 9, born in Minnesota), and Wil (age 6, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1880 United States census showed John W. Gregg (age 53, born in New York, brick maker) married to Jane N. (age 46, born in Vermont) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Frank (age 14, born in Minnesota), William (age 12, born in Minnesota), and Harry (age 2, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
John W. Gregg, one of the pioneer brick makers of Carver county, was born in Madison county, New York, in 1827. In 1838 moved to Wisconsin with his parents. His father, George Gregg, owned a large brick yard, and with him John became acquainted with the business in all its details. Remained with his father until 1848, then engaged in various pursuits until coming to Minnesota, in 1854. Located in Shakopee and was employed at brick making for two years, then removed to Chaska. In 1864 he took as a partner in the business, C. W. Griggs, and three years later Mr. Gregg removed to Mankato, Blue Earth county. In 1874 returned to Chaska and started his present brick yard with W. B. Griswold as partner. They now employ fifty men and make about forty thousand brick per day. In 1853 he married Miss Egliston, of Wisconsin, who has borne him five children; Carrie, Caroline, Frank, William and Harry. (History of the Minnesota Valley, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Rev. Edward D. Neill, North Star Publishing Company, Minneapolis, MN, 1882, Page 362)
While Mr. J. W. Gregg was busy near the mud machine on his brickyard, at Chaska, a few days ago his clothes were caught by the so-called thumbling rod, and in an instant Gregg was whirled round and round, twenty or thirty times, each time striking the ground, receiving probably fatal injuries. (Freeborn County Standard, Thursday, May 10, 1883, Volume 26, Number 19, Page 7)
J. W. Cregg (Gregg) working in a brickyard at Chaska, was caught in the tumbling rod of the mill, and whirled around 20 or 30 times before he was liberated. He received fatal injuries. (New Ulm Weekly Review, Wednesday, May 16, 1883, Volume VI, Number 29, Page 2)
The 1885 Minnesota census showed J. W. Gregg (age 57, born in New York) married to Jane (age 51, born in Vermont) and living in St. Paul Ward 4, Minnesota. Children Frank (age 19, born in Minnesota) and William (age 16, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
Fraud Is Alleged. C. H. Benedict, as receiver of the property of John W. Gregg, sues John W. Gregg, L. H. Gregg, George F. Gregg, William B. Griswold, and Merchants’ National Bank. The complaint alleges the usual fraud on the part of defendants. On the 12th of January, 1889, Burton Taft secured a judgment in the district court against John W. Gregg for $820. Afterwards an execution on the judgment was duly issued to the sheriff, who returned the same wholly unsatisfied. Gregg owns a brick yard in Chaska, Minn., worth $16,000, of which it is alleged he made a pretended sale to his son, George F. Gregg and others, thereby intending to defraud his creditors and conceal his property. The brick yard property was conveyed and reconveyed in order to so complicate matters that it would appear to the receiver who brings this action, that John W. Gregg owned no interest whatever in the same. It is now learned, however, according to the complaint that these tactics were practiced for the purpose of fraud, and the court is asked to declare John W. Gregg the owner of the property, turn the same into the hands of the receiver, and after an accounting, distribute the proceeds of a sale of the same among Gregg’s creditors. (The Saint Paul Daily Globe, Tuesday Morning, April 16, 1889, Volume XI, Number 106, Page 8)
The 1895 Minnesota census showed John W. Gregg (age 67, born in New York, hotel clerk) living in Faribault, Minnesota. John lived with his brother Lyman M. (age 62, born in New York, hotel keeper of Arlington Hotel) at Faribault.
The 1900 United States census showed John W. Greggs (age 71, born in February 1828 in New York, widowed, boarding house) living in Cass Lake, Minnesota. His son, Willam B. (age 31, born in April 1868 in Minnesota, bartender), also lived with John.
The 1910 United States census showed J. W. Gregg (age 82, born in New York, mail carrier) living in Cass Lake, Minnesota.
John Gregg died May 28, 1913, in Cass County, Minnesota.