My Genealogy Hound

HENRY A. GROFF, elected register of wills of Montgomery county in 1902, was born in Lower Salford township, December 16, 1860. He is the son of Jacob S. and Anna (Alderfer) Groff, of Lower Salford.

Jacob S. Groff (father) was born November 5, 1836. He was reared on a farm until he was sixteen years of age. His father was Abraham Groff. Jacob attended the schools of the vicinity and learned the trade of a miller with William Godshalk, of New Britain, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, who afterwards represented the district in Congress for two terms. Having completed his apprenticeship, he accepted a position in the mill of Benjamin S. Alderfer, in Lower Salford, and married his oldest daughter, purchasing the mill in 1878. He married Anna Alderfer, daughter of Benjamin S. and Lena (Nyce) Alderfer, October 4, 1856. She was born October 6, 1834. The children of Jacob S. and Anna Groff: Abraham A., born March 4, 1858; Henry A., subject of this sketch; Benjamin A., born April 30, 1866; Ellwood A., born October 30, 1870. Abraham A. Goff, the eldest child of Jacob Groff, married Kate K., daughter of Abraham Moyer, of Franconia. Benjamin A. Groff married Annie M., daughter of Rev. Jacob B. Booz, of Upper Salford township; Ellwood A. Groff married Minerva R., daughter of Jacob Ruckstool, also of Upper Salford.

The children of Abraham A. and Kate K. Groff, who were married December 8, 1883: Anna M., born June 6, 1885; Alice, born September 2, 1887; Lizzie, born June 27, 1891; Jacob, born September 15, 1893; Clayton, born June 26, 1899. Abraham A. resides in Lower Salford, near Lederachsville.

The children of Benjamin A. and Annie M. Groff, who were married October 2, 1886: Vincent; Eva, born June 27, 1891; Ellwood, born November 28, 1892; Martha, born May 17, 1894; Lydia, born October 2, 1896; William Irvin, born April 29, 1902. Benjamin A. Groff is the engineer at the Montgomery County Home. He resides in a tenement house belonging to the Home.

The children of Ellwood A. and Minerva R. Groff, who were married July 29, 1893: Jacob R., born November 27, 1894; Reinhart R., born September 16, 1897; Benjamin, born December 17, 1901. Ellwood A. Groff resides on the home-stead in Lower Salford.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob S. Groff are both living. They are Mennonites in religious faith. Mr. Groff takes an active interest in politics, being an earnest Republican. He never missed an election since his maturity.

Abraham Groff (grandfather) had six children, as follows:

David, married Maria Fluck and resides in Sellersville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. They have the following children: Henry F., married Kate Wagner; Abraham F., married Emma Deatz; Anna, married Harry Schlosser; Hetty (deceased); Hannah, married Irvin F. Baringer.

Hetty, married Levi Bleam, of Milford Square, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, who is deceased. He left a son Henry, who married Tilly, daughter of Daniel Reiff.

Mary, married Jacob Rosenberger, of Bridgetown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, who is now deceased, leaving two daughters; Amanda, married Ephraim Leister; and Mary.

Betsy, married Ezra Moore, of Bridgetown, now South Perkasie, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. She is deceased, leaving two daughters, Harriet, married John A. Freed, of Perkasie, and Hetty, married Milton Shelley, of Quakertown.

Jacob S. (father).

Isaac S., married Sarah Eisenberg, who died several years ago leaving one son, Harvey, who resides in Philadelphia.

The Groffs are descended from Jacob Groff, who emigrated from Holland about 1758 and came to Pennsylvania, settling in Bucks county, near where is now Sellersville. He brought with him four children: John, Peter, Mary, Henry, born on the ship coming to this country.

Henry Groff, last mentioned, is the ancestor of Register of Wills Henry A. Groff. His children: Jacob, Abraham (grandfather), Elizabeth, Polly, Susan, Hester. All of these lived in Bucks county.

Henry A. Groff, subject of this sketch, attended the public schools of the vicinity of his home in Lower Salford, being occupied at intervals on the farm and in the mill of his father. Later he became the proprietor of the coal, lumber and feed business of Salford Station, in which he is still engaged. He was postmaster for a number of years, beginning with Cleveland’s first term, in 1885. In politics he is an active Republican, always laboring actively for the success of the principles and candidates of the party. His popularity was attested by the large vote he received on the Republican ticket in 1902. He has performed the duties of the office very successfully. He married, in 1881, Emma K., daughter of Henry B. and Hannah (Kooker) Allebach, of an old family in Hilltown, Bucks county. Their children: Jacob A., born December 29, 1881; Ella A., born July 10, 1883; Allen A., born January 21, 1885; Hannah A., born January 6, 1887; Harvey A., born June 17, 1891; Anna A., born April 8, 1899; Lillie A., born November 12, 1901.

Mr. Groff is a typical representative of the Pennsylvania German race who form so large an element in the population of Montgomery county. In religious faith he is a Mennonite, as are all his family, attending the Lower Salford Mennonite meeting house. He is courteous and affable, giving strict attention to business and performing every duty with fidelity and care.