Biography of John Grogan Pedigo [#136-131]

JOHN GROGAN PEDIGO was born November 9, 1815, in Cumberland county, Ky. In the year 1819, while in infancy, he was brought by his parents to Howard County, Mo., but returned in about three years to Barren County, Ky. In 1831, he, with his parents, moved to Sangamon County, Ill., and after the flint Hill purchase moved to what is now Des Moines County, in the State of Iowa; there he lived until 1843, when he removed to the vicinity of New Randolph, Ky., and in 1846 removed again to a farm, where he has since resided, in Metcalfe County (then Barren), Ky. His father, James Pedigo, was born March 18, 1789, in Patrick County, Va., and came with his father in the year 1805, to Barren County, Ky. James was a son of Joseph Pedigo, who was born about the year 1760, and who was also of Virginia. Joseph was a son of Edward Pedigo, who was born in Maryland about the year 1732, and died in the year 1835, at the advanced age of one hundred and three years, in Barren county, Ky. Edward was a son of Henry Pedigo, who was of French descent. James was married, in Overton County, Penn., February 3, 1815, to Polly, daughter of John and Nancy (Edwards) Grogan. She was born in North Carollina July 8, 1792. To them were born John G., Joseph E., William T., Nancy E. (Murray) and Urban E. John G. married, in Barren County, Ky., July 15, 1841, Mahala Ann, daughter of Jesse B. and Polly (Tanner) Pedigo, who was also as well as her husband, a descendant of Edward Pedigo. Mr. J. G. Pedigo's educational advantages were very poor, for at the age of fifteen he was only able to read and write; his parents having removed to Iowa, just about the time he was preparing to commence school, where there were neither schools, churches nor courts of justice; he was, therefore, compelled to do a large portion of his studying and reading by the light of a brush fire at night; still he acquired a fair English education. He had no help in starting in life for himself the care and support of the family; he also assumed the obligations incurred by his father. With all these difficulties to contend against he has, nevertheless, became the owner of about 147 acres of well improved and productive land. He has been a magistrate for about eight years, and a member of the court of claims, both of Barren County and, later, of Metcalfe County. He was also, in 1856, deputy assessor of Barren County. He is a member of the Church of Christ and an elder in the congregation to which he belongs, and in politics is a Republican.