BIOS: Frederick GROFF, Berlin, Somerset County, PA 

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History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. 
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis 
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 195-197

Frederick GROFF.

Frederick Groff, one of the leading merchants and representative citizens of 
Berlin, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, is a native of that town, and is of 
German descent.
(I) Frederick Groff, grandfather of Frederick Groff, and the founder of the 
family in America, was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 9, 1811.  He married 
Christiana Slager, born in Bavaria, Germany, February 18, 1812, and they 
emigrated to this country about 1835, and settled in Pennsylvania.
(II) John A. Groff, son of Frederick (I) and Christiana (Slager) Groff, was 
born in Berlin, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, February 1, 1841.  He received 
a good education in the public schools of his native town.  He enlisted, 
August 20, 1862, in the Union army as a private in Company F, One Hundred and 
Forty-second Infantry Regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers.  He was severely 
wounded in the thigh by a minie ball in the battle of Fredericksburg, and was 
sent to the hospital.  After his recovery he was transferred by general order 
No. 202, adjutant-general's office, to the Veteran Reserve Corps, Twelfth 
Regiment, Company A, Captain James Cromies, from which he was honorably 
discharged June 27, 1865.  After the war he turned his attention to farming.  
He was a Republican for many years, but later in life became an adherent of 
the Prohibition party.  He was a member and regular attendant at Trinity 
Lutheran church, and died November 13, 1902.  John A. Groff married, February 
9, 1868, Elnora Swope, born September 13, 1847, in Berlin, daughter of 
Frederick Swope, born in Germany, August 12, 1791, and his wife, Barbara, 
born in Germany, April 13, 1809.  Mr. and Mrs. Swope came to America when they 
were both very young.  Mrs. Groff is a member of the Reformed church and 
resides in Berlin.  The children of Mr. and Mrs. Groff were: Frederick Groff, 
of whom later; Augusta, now Mrs. C. C. Eskens, of Berlin; John, married Lucy 
Ream.  His a clerk in Berlin; Sophia, married W. P. Walker, now living in 
Cedar Falls, Iowa; Edwin, died in childhood; Edna, wife of H. W. Musser, of 
Cedar Falls, Iowa; Harry, married Lizzie Feigley, and lives in Pittsburg; 
Frank, a clerk in Berlin; and Robert, a cigarmaker of Berlin.
(III) Frederick Groff, son of John A. (2) and Elnora (Swope) Groff, was born 
in Berlin, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, January 19, 1869.  He was educated 
in the public schools of Berlin and was an earnest, studious pupil during his 
attendance there.  He commenced his business career as clerk in some of the 
stores of the town, and was thus occupied for about three years.  During 1889-
90 he taught school in Allegheny and Northampton townships.  During the spring 
of 1891 he took a commercial course in the Iron City Business college in 
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in order to fit himself for a mercantile life.  In 
the same year he opened a grocery store in Berlin, and this venture proved so 
successful that other departments were added from time to time until now Mr. 
Groff is the proprietor of a finely equipped modern department store, which 
has succeeded the little grocery store, its progenitor.  A large force of 
clerks is employed, exclusive lines of well known manufactures are handled, 
and the good are displayed in an elegant and attractive manner.  This result 
has been achieved by close application to business, good practical methods, 
and a liberal use of modern advertising methods, in which Mr. Groff is a firm 
believer.  When the First National Bank was organized, Mr. Groff was chosen 
one of the directors and elected its first vice-president, an office he still 
fills; he is also treasurer of the Co-operative Mutual Fire Insurance Company 
of Somerset County, holding this office since the organization of the company 
in 1898.  Since casting his first vote Mr. Groff has been an ardent member of 
the Third Party Prohibitionists.  For two years he was chairman of the county 
committee of that party, and a liberal contributor to its funds and success.  
He has been burgess of Berlin, and a councilman elected on the Prohibition 
ticket.  He is a political enthusiast and fearlessly expresses his opinions, 
firmly believing that Prohibition is the true solution of the liquor 
question.  He is a member and steward of the Methodist Episcopal church, of 
which his wife is also a member.  He is also a member of Lodge No. 461, 
Indpendent Order of Odd Fellows, and of W. E. Conrad Camp, No.118, Sons of 
Veterans.  Mr. Groff married, November 8, 1890, Elizabeth J. Musser, born 
November 17, 1869, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Musser, of Brothers Valley 
township, Pennsylvania. Mr. Musser was a farmer, a member of the Reformed 
church, and a Democrat.  He died October 19, 1889. The children of Frederick and 
Elizabeth Groff are: Margaret Edna, born May 21, 1892; Eleanor Grace, May 19, 
1894; Marion Elizabeth, June 9, 1898; Ena Gertrude, March 26, 1900.  The 
children were all born in Berlin and are attending the public schools in that 
town.