Johnny Gruelle

Writer, illustrator, and cartoonist, born in Arcola, Illinois, USA. His family moved to Indianapolis, and he worked as a cartoonist for newspapers in Indianapolis and Cleveland before moving to New York City to join the New York Herald (1913–21). He became famous for the Raggedy Ann and Andy series he began in 1918, and for Beloved Belindy (1926), among other books for young readers. In 1931 he settled in Miami Springs, FL.

Johnny Gruelle (December 24, 1880 - January 8, 1938) was an artist, political cartoonist, and writer of children's books. His first well known cartooning work was Mr. Twee Deedle which Gruelle created after he beat out 1,500 other entrants in a cartooning contest sponsored in 1911 by The New York Herald.

One day, Johnny gave his daughter Marcella a dusty, faceless rag doll found in the attic. Johnny drew a face on the doll and named her Raggedy Ann. Marcella played with the doll so much, Raggedy Ann became like a sister to her. Gruelle's Raggedy Ann doll Patent # 47789 was dated September 7, 1915. Gruelle then created a following series of popular Raggedy Ann books and dolls.

Gruelle lived in the Silvermine section of Norwalk, Connecticut, where the dolls were first mass produced, and later moved his home and company to neighboring Wilton, Connecticut.