Samuel Groff^{[1, 2, 3]}

1847 - 1930  (82 years)

• Photos		Samuel Groff 1906 From Berlin Today 1806-1906 official souvenir located at the Kitchener Public Library
  		Samuel Groff 1906 From Berlin Today 1806-1906 official souvenir located at the Kitchener Public Library

  
  

• Name	Samuel Groff
  Born	14 Sep 1847	Near, Galt, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	business, story
  Residence	1852	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Mennonite
  Occupation	1875	Harriston, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	merchant
  Residence	1875	Harriston, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Occupation	1891	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Merchant
  Residence	1891	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Methodist
  Occupation	1901	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Merchant
  Eby ID Number	00044-3346
  Died	14 Mar 1930	Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada   [9]
  Person ID	I4042	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2024

  
  

  Father	Isaac Groff,   b. 2 Mar 1818, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 2 Jun 1850, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 32 years)
  Mother	Leah Bricker,   b. 24 Jul 1822, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 11 Mar 1869  (Age 46 years)
  Married	4 Feb 1840	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 4, 10]
  Family ID	F1294	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Martha Marian Robertson,   b. 28 Dec 1855, Hollen, Maryborough Township, Wellington Co., Ontario ,   d. 2 Dec 1926, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada  (Age 70 years)
  Married	27 Oct 1875	Harriston, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada   [3, 4, 6, 8]
  Children	1. Fred Graff,   b. 1876, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Samuel Frederick Groff,   b. 16 Sep 1876, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 30 Apr 1949, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada  (Age 72 years)   3. Clara Louisa Groff,   b. 23 Oct 1877, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   4. Emilie Jane Groff,   b. 3 Sep 1879, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   5. Addie Henderson Groff,   b. 13 Sep 1881, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   6. Franklin Bricker Groff,   b. 5 Sep 1883, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   7. Alberta Robertson "Bertie" Groff,   b. 24 Dec 1885, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   8. Charles Isaac Groff,   b. 23 Dec 1887, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 23 Sep 1888, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 0 years)   9. Henry Carl Groff,   b. 11 Sep 1889, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   10. Eleanor May Groff,   b. 2 Mar 1892, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   11. Alexander Lesley Groff,   b. 19 Sep 1893, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   12. Empey Groff,   b. 29 Sep 1896, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	13 May 2024
  Family ID	F1298	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Samuel Groff, "was born near Galt, Ontario, September 14th, 1847. On October 27th, 1875, he was married to Martha M. Robertson. They reside in the town of Berlin where he, in partnership with Mr. O. Hymmen, carries on one of the largest dry goods businesses in the county. Their family consists 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.]. __________________________________ Trim Services Ltd. Trim Services Ltd., as it is currently known, was established in 1901 under the name of S. Groff & Son. It operated as a manufacturers agent, servicing the garment industry in Western Canada. In its early years, the company was the Western Canada representative for Canadian Buttons Ltd., one of the largest button producers in the British Empire. They also represented many other companies in the needle trade, selling zippers, cotton trimming, pant bindings, buckles and, of interest, ivory and wooden buttons. The company opened an office in Vancouver in 1948 . Bob Groff, the current owner, noted in 2001 that as impressive as it might be to survive 100 years in business, his family has roots in the garment industry dating back to the late 1600s. Hans Groff, one of his first ancestors to come to North America, landed in Grofftown, Pennsylvania and ran a successful business as a middleman handling furs between the aboriginal and expatriate European populations. When Samuel Groff stepped off the train at Winnipeg on a spring day in 1901, he brought with him two things from his home in Waterloo County: a sample grip of buttons, and a deep desire to start a successful business in the West. In an article written in the mid-1950s, the company was described as having progressed from one man's pioneering effort to the combined services of 20 employees. It has always been a family business with as many as four nephews involved at one time. The present business of Trim Services Ltd. was started by Allan B. Groff in 1972 as an outgrowth of Groff Agencies, continuing to provide services in the trimming needs of the needle trade. The company was purchased by the current owner, Bob Groff, in 1980 from his father. Bob, following in the long tradition of his family, had started out as a 19-year-old button cleaner in 1978. He continues to run a family-based business, supplying buttons, zippers, fabric, thread, and hangers to the garment manufacturers. Their business was conducted in the Exchange District of downtown Winnipeg, once inhabited by more than 100 garment-industry firms. The business moved out of its downtown location in 2001 and today, Bob and his wife Lisa continue to operate Trim Services out of their home as a team with no employees. They continue to service some of the heavyweights in Winnipeg's garment industry, including Nygaard International, Standard Knitting, and Western Glove, generating over one million dollars in sales annually for the companies that they represent. Award presented to Bob Groff by Ken Zealand, January 2003. The Manitoba Historical Society, centennial business award https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/business/trimservices.shtml _____________________________ 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. Berlin Today 1806-1906 official souvenir

  
  

• Sources

  [S3] Book - Vol I 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..., 332. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 28 Sep 1893. 19 Sep 1893 The wife of Samuel Groff, in Berlin, a son. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 11 Nov 1875. 27 Oct 1875 By Rev. Scott in Harriston, Samuel Groff was married to Martha Marian Robertson, both of Harriston. [S3] Book - Vol I 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..., 722. [S137] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1901, Berlin (Town/Ville) A-4 Page 18. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 9882-75. Samuel GROFF, 28, merchant, Ontario, Harriston, s/o Isaac GROFF & Lea BRICKER, married Martha M. ROBERTSON, 19, Hollen - Peel twp., Harriston, d/o Samuel ROBINSON & Margaret HENDERSON, witn: Samuel & Margaret ROBERTSON of Harriston, 27 Oct. 1875 at Harriston [S233] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1852, Div. 3 Page 7. [S1592] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1891, Section 3 Page 5. [S2707] Manitoba, Death Index, 1871-1947, 1930,014200. [S9] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Canada Museum und Allgemeine Zeitung (1835-1840), 29 Feb 1840:48. 4 Feb 1840 In Galt, Rev Bayne m. Isaak Graff, Dumfries, to Miss Lea Bruecker, daughter of Samuel Bruecker, senior, of Waterloo Twp.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 14 Sep 1847 - Near, Galt, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1852 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - merchant - 1875 - Harriston, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Residence - 1875 - Harriston, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Married - 27 Oct 1875 - Harriston, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Occupation - Merchant - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Merchant - 1901 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 14 Mar 1930 - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada  = Link to Google Earth