Abraham B. Groff

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00044-3369

Notes:

Abraham B. Groff, "is a farmer and resides in Cavalier County, North Dakota. He is not married."


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

__________________________

Heart Attack Is Fatal"

Abraham B. Groff, who was living with his wife at the home of Mrs. Hedden, died suddenly Thursday following a heart attack. He was born at Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and was aged 75 years 2 months and 16 days. He came to this country in 1889 and to Minnesota about nine years ago. He had lived at Elk River for the past seven years. He is survived by his wife and several adult children. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at the home, conducted by Rev. Richardson, and the burial was at Orono cemetery.

Sherburne County Star News, p. 1, 08 July 1937.

Family Photograph:
Back L-R: Lillian Groff Aman, Susan Groff Dunford.
Front L-R: Abraham Groff, Angeline Myers Huber Groff.
Taken in about 1917 near Hannah, ND.
Image from Find A Grave submitted by Dennis Aman

Abraham — Angeline Shantz Myers. Angeline (daughter of Samuel Myers and Sarah "Sally" Shantz) was born 17 Jul 1862, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 22 Oct 1957, Elk River, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States; was buried , Orono Cemetery, Elk River, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States. [Group Sheet]

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: 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: 00044-3337

Notes:

John Graff, "one of the youngest children of John Graff, was born in Earl Township where he was married to Annie Moyer and resided in the same neighborhood where he was born. Here he was engaged in farming. His family consisted of several children, all of whom resided in Lancaster County with the exception of three"


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 Annie Moyer Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. Annie was born Abt 1740, Of, Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Annie Graff
• Eby ID Number: 00044-3337.1

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00044-3340.2

Samuel — Elizabeth Reist. Elizabeth was born Abt 1765, Of, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Huber
• Eby ID Number: 00044-3340.3

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00002-25

Notes:

Wendel Baumann, "the third son of Christian Baumann, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, February 25th, 1758. He resided in the house built by his father in 1749. Here he died November 20th, 1842. He was married to Maria Huber, who was born May 20th, 1760, and died April 20th, 1816. They had a family of eight 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.].

Wendel — Maria Huber. Maria was born 20 May 1760, Of, Alleghany Valley, Berks Co., Pennsylvania; died 20 Apr 1816. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Bauman
• Eby ID Number: 00002-25.1

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19546720
• Residence: 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Location of his log house.
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 04S, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Joseph Bechtel "son of Martin Bechtel, a minister of the Mennonites, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1761. He was married March 5th, 1786, to Magdalena Allebach who was born September 21st, 1761, and died September 21st, 1837. They moved to Canada in 1802 and settled on the farm situated at the mouth of the Speed River where it meets with the Grand River. Here they resided many years. In 1804 he was ordained as a minister of the Mennonite body which position he held until his death which took place April 11th, 1838. They had a family of seven 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.].

________________________

Preston (Bechtel or Hagey) Mennonite Church

The second meeting house in Waterloo County was built, probably in 1814, by John Erb, a wealthy miller of Preston. This brick meeting house served as a community church and was located "near Jacob Hagey's", which was on the road running from the top of the Kress Hill west and "adjoining the Kitchener Highway" (Witmer 1967: 26). Another meeting house, known as the Union Meeting House, was built in the area around 1824. A meeting was held in the Union church on November 20, 1824 to commence recording the accounts of the congregation in Hagey's Deacon Book. The deed of land for the Union Meeting House and burial ground, which was for one acre of part Lot 22, Beasley's Broken Front, was transacted in 1835.

Hagey Meeting House was buiilt of red brick in 1842 on part Lot 23, just north of Preston on the west side of the Breslau Road, and slightly north of the Union Meeting House site. The deed, dated February 2, 1842, recorded the purchase of the land from John Hilborn and stressed that the property was to be for "the purpose of public worship by the Mennonist Society" (Witmer 1967: 28). Joseph Bechtel was the first minister in the area, from 1804-1837; he was followed by David Sherk (1838-1843). Next came Joseph Hagey (1844-1877), who was ordained bishop in 1851, and then Jacob B. Gingrich from 1878 to 1901. Services were held every four weeks until 1890 when bi-weekly services were begun. A Sunday School was established in 1842 with the congregation of Wanner Meeting House near Hespeler, but it was discontinued because of a difference of opinion regarding the need for Sunday Schools. On April 26, 1891 a Sunday School was organized at Hagey's, with deacon Abraham Oberholtzer as superintendent. Five years later, on June 10, 1896, a Sunday School was organized at the Wanner church.

Major changes were made to the church building in 1927-1928 when the basement was excavated, new windows were installed and the roof was raised two feet. Fire on January 15, 1950 caused extensive damage to the interior and furnishings of the church. The building was completely renovated and also enlarged at the same time; dedication was on July 2, 1950. Another fire, on Feburary 19, 1953, completely destroyed the church. A congregational decision was made to build a new church, on Concession Road in Preston, and the cornerstone was laid on Thanksgiving Day, October 12, 1953. Official dedication services in the new Preston Mennonite Church were held on May 16, 1954. The building was enlarged in the summer of 1989.

Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

Residence:
The current building contains some original logs from the home.

Joseph married Magdalena Allebach 5 Mar 1786. Magdalena was born 21 Sep 1765, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 21 Sep 1837, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19546759
• Name: Magdalena Bechtel
• Residence: 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645.2