Grubb was born in 1852 at Newnham Hall, Janefield in the West Tamar region of Van Diemen's Land in 1852.
[2] At this time he also married Marianne (née Beaumont; d. June 1905, aged 89), a native of Huddersfield, Yorkshire.
[3] He was educated at Horton College, Mona Vale, Ross, Tasmania and after school, took up farming, including Merino sheep and North Devon cattle.
[1] In 1882 Grubb was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly, representing the seat of Selby.
[6] Grubb died on 20 May 1930, aged 80, in Launceston,[7] caused by a heavy fall after thrown from a trap due to the horse slipping.