Mary Ann Matilda "Tillie" Groff

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42230074
• Name: Mary Ann Matilda "Tillie" Merner
• Name: Matilda Groff
• Name: Tillie Groff
• Eby ID Number: 00044-3363.3
• Residence: 1911, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Notes:

Mrs. Fred Merner

Following an illness of three weeks, Mrs. Fred Merner, 63, of 60 Church St., died yesterday at the K-W Hospital. Born Feb. 5, 1889, in New Hamburg, she was the former Matilda Groff, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Groff. Her marriage to Fred Merner, who survives, took place Feb. 2, 1910, in New Hamburg. Also surviving are three sons, Vernon of Kitchener, Wallace of Vancouver and Kingsley (Sonny) of Chicago; one daughter, Mrs. Gilbert (Dorothy) Patterson of Sarnia; one sister, Mrs. Oscar Lobsinger of Hamilton and 11 grandchildren. One brother predeceased her..

The Kitchener-Waterloo Record 29 Jan 1953

Mary married Frederick Henry Merner 2 Feb 1910, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Frederick (son of Oscar Erastus Merner and Agnes Elizabeth Brodrecht) was born 11 Jun 1892, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States; died 14 Dec 1961, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Wallace Paul Merner was born 5 Mar 1913, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 2 Jul 1982, , British Columbia, Canada; was buried , Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia.
2. Kingsley Merner
3. Dorothy Merner
4. Vernon Merner was born Oct 1910, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40652000
• Eby ID Number: 00044-3363
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, , Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1910, Wilmot St., New Hamburg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Benjamin Groff, "is married to Caroline Schmidt. He resides in Cavalier County, North Dakota, where he is engaged in farming. Their family consists of two children".

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

________________________

The death took place on Nov. 7th of Mr. Benjamin Groff at the age of 58 years. The deceased who had been in failing health for several weeks left a short time ago to visit his brother, Mr. Andrew Groff, near Philipsburg, where he passed away.

The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon last form the family residence on Wilmot Street to Trinity Methodist Church and then to Riverside Cemetery - Rev. Mr. Wilson officiated. A widow and three children survive.

Chronicle-Telegraph Nov 17 1910 pg 7

Benjamin married Caroline Schmidt 31 Mar 1885, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Caroline (daughter of Giligan Schmidt and Mary Ringler) was born 20 Sep 1865, Hay Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada; died 29 Aug 1942, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46451650
• Name: Caroline Groff
• Eby ID Number: 00044-3363.1
• Residence: 1911, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1942, 30 Gruhn St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00044-3361
• Residence: 1850, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Retired: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

John Groff, "was born September 29th, 1827. On November 12th, 1850, he was married to Susannah Bowman who was born September 26th, 1826. They resided near Conestogo, on the farm now possessed by Jacob S. Cressman for a number of years. He now has his home in Berlin. To them was born a family of eleven children"


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

John married Susannah Bowman 12 Nov 1850, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Susannah (daughter of Benjamin H. Bauman and Susannah Bechtel) was born 26 Sep 1826, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 24 Jul 1910, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Nith Valley Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Susannah Groff
• Eby ID Number: 00002-126
• Residence: 1850, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Susannah Bowman, "the second daughter of Benjamin and Susannah (Bechtel) Baumann, was born September 26th, 1826. She is married to John Groff, son of Andrew and Anna (Huber) Groff. He was born September 29th, 1827."


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

______________________


Mr. Jacob Graff attended the funeral of his sister-in-law, the late Mrs. (Rev.) Graff, which took place at Hanover on Wednesday afternoon last.


Chronicle-Telegraph Aug 4 1910 pg 7

Other Events:

• Name: Giligan Schmidt
• Eby ID Number: 00093-5321.1
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer

Giligan married Mary Ringler 14 Mar 1858, , Huron Co., Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of John Ringler and Elizabeth Wildfong) was born 1836, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Schmidt
• Eby ID Number: 00093-5321

Notes:

Mary Ringler "is married to Kilian Schmidt, a wage-earner. They reside in New Hamburg, Ontario."


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Other Events:

• Name: Andreas Groff
• Eby ID Number: 00044-3340
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 007, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: Bef 1865, Lititz, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region: Bef 2012, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Andrew Groff, "son of John and Anna (Moyer) Graff, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, April 18th, 1793. His boyhood days were spent in acquiring a business education which proved of great benefit to him in later years. At the age of seventeen he made choice of the milling business as the most pleasing to his taste. His first years of apprenticeship were served in Earl Township where he remained until 1822 when he was induced by others to seek his fortune either in the West or in Canada. Being persuaded by one Joseph Mosser and others who were on the point of leaving for Canada, to join in with their company, he came to Waterloo in the fall of 1822 and found everything most satisfactory. As he was a miller by trade, old Abraham Erb wanted him to take charge of his grist mills which he intended to do after moving to Canada. After being here a short time and making arrangements to move to Canada he started again for Pennsylvania. Arriving at home in safety and spending a few weeks in visiting friends, he then set out for his new home. He left Pennsylvania with his wife and family of four children and made the trip to Canada in seventeen days. On his arrival at Waterloo in November, 1822, he was engaged by Abraham Erb to work on the saw mill where he remained three weeks, after which he entered the employ of Mr. Shade of Galt where he remained for nearly two years, and acquired a considerable amount of cash. He then purchased 200 acres of land half way between Preston and Galt and in a few years he was the proprietor of a store, tavern, grist mill, saw mill, and distillery, from all of which he soon realized quite a fortune, becoming one of the wealthiest men in the county. In 1848 he sold this property and purchased the farm of the late David Erb, north of the town of Waterloo, now in possession of his son Jacob. During the close of his life he lived on the place now possessed by Mr. F. Scheifle, a little to the north of the town of Waterloo. Here he died May 11th, 1877. He was married in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1815, to Annie, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Reist) Huber. She was born October 15th, 1795, and died in Waterloo County, Ontario, September 19th, 1865. They had a family of twelve children."

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

_________________________________-


SAMUEL GROFF. PRESIDENT NORTH WEST BUTTON CO.

Mr. Samuel Groff, though not a native born Berliner, still is a son of the fine old County of which Berlin is the chief town. He comes of Pennsylvania German stock. His grand father was Andrew Groff who learned the trade of Miller in his home state-Pennsylvania. In 1822 he came to Waterloo and after a few years spent there and at Galt, he acquired a large tract of land near Preston, where he carried on farming, saw-milling, a grist mill, store, hotel and distillery and became one of the wealthiest men in the county. His eldest son, Isaac, was the father of the subject of this sketch, who was born near Freeport in 1847. He early entered mercantile life in the late J. Hoffman's store and was one of the earlier merchants in Berlin. He was head of the firm Groff and Hymmen for many years, a house that was among the largest in the county. Several years ago, he went to Winnipeg and at present he is president of the North West Button Co.2^a


Berlin Today 1806-1906 official souvenir
_______________________________________________________

From the Region of Waterloo Hall of Fame website.

The name of Groff in Waterloo in the nineteenth century was associated with the raising of Shorthorn cattle.

Andrew Groff of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, settled in 1822 on 170 acres at the location of the Galt Country Club. He later owned a grist mill, general store, tavern and a distillery. In the 1840s the family moved to Waterloo where his sons and grandsons, with outstanding success, bred and raised Shorthorn cattle.

A Knight of Warlaby, imported from Scotland, proved to be an outstanding sire. A son, A Baron of Waterloo," in 1882 was Grand Champion at the leading Canadian show at Kingston. In 1886 he was champion at Guelph. He was then sold to the Hon. George Brown. This bull sired what was probably the best show herd in Canada, winning awards on the American and Canadian show circuits. The Groffs were justifiably proud of their reputation as Shorthorn breeders.

Andrew married Annie Huber 1815, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. Annie (daughter of Samuel Huber and Elizabeth Reist) was born 15 Oct 1795, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 19 Sep 1865, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Annie Groff
• Eby ID Number: 00044-3340.1
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00002-100
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 054, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Benjamin Baumann, "born February 15th, 1787 and died December 7th, 1874. He was married to Susannah Bechtel, who was born June 16th, 1797, died September 19th 1870. They lived and died in Canada. They had a family of nine children".

Benjamin Baumann, "eldest son of Wendel and Maria (Huber) Baumann, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, February 15th, 1787. He was married to Susannah, daughter of Joseph and Magdalena (Allenbach) Bechtel. She was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, June 16th, 1797 and died September 19th, 1870. In spring of 1815 he came to Canada, prospecting the country. He found Waterloo to be a favorable county for the forming of settlements. In fall of the same year, he in company with Jonathan B. Baumann and John Brubacher (Deacon Johney), returned to Pennsylvania. In 1818 he, in company with Christian Burkholder and family, John Good and family, old Betty Baumann (wife of Peter Baumann), old Esther Cressman, Samuel Bechtel and others, came from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to Waterloo County, Ontario Canada, making the journey in 28 days. On arriving here he settled on lot No. 54, German Company's Tract, township of Waterloo, about two miles south-east of Berlin, where he resided until his death. The farm is now owned by his son, Rev. Samuel Baumann. They had a family of nine children."

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Benjamin married Susannah Bechtel 1818. Susannah (daughter of Rev. Joseph Bechtel and Magdalena Allebach) was born 16 Jun 1797, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 19 Dec 1870, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Susannah Bauman
• Residence: 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0674
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Susannah Bechtel "was born June 16th, 1797, and died September 19th, 1870. She was married to Benjamin Baumann who was born February 15th, 1787, and died December 7th, 1874. They resided about two miles south-east of Berlin where they both died. Their family consisted of nine children".


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-12796

Other Events:

• Name: Johann Ringler
• Eby ID Number: 00093-5311
• Residence: 1839, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; labourer
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

John Ringler "was born March 13th, 1800. He was married to Elizabeth Wildfong, sister to old Joseph Wildfong. She was born in 1803 and died April 26th, 1891. They resided on the old farm near Mannheim where he died July 12th, 1867. To them was born a family of ten children"

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

John — Elizabeth Wildfong. Elizabeth (daughter of Jacob Wildfong and Susan Ruth) was born 22 Apr 1803, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 28 May 1891; was buried , Mannheim Mennonite Cemetery, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Ringler
• Eby ID Number: 000131-8124
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Elizabeth Wildfong, "the youngest in family, was married to John Ringler, a farmer. They resided near Petersburg, Ontario."

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].