Felix S. Groff, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Felix S. Groff
FELIX S. GROFF was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on June 20, 1896, the son of George and Josephine Groff, both of whom were natives of Germany and who came to American soil in their early youth. They were united in marriage at Duluth, Minnesota, in 1886, and there George Groff for a number of years was employed by the Great Northern Railroad shops, later operating a hotel in that city. To their marriage were born five children: Josephine, deceased; John; William; Felix, and Raymond. His beloved wife passed away in 1910 at the age of forty-five and rests in Calvary Cemetery of Duluth, Minnesota. Felix S. Groff attended St. Joseph's School and the high school and business college at Superior, Wisconsin. On the completion of these studies he entered railroad service as a stenographer to the division road master of the Great Northern Railroad Company. He was later transferred to Whitefish, Montana, as clerk to the chief dispatcher of the same company. In 1915, having removed to Chesterton, he opened a furniture and undertaking establishment in association with Edward F. Bird. An unfortunate occurrence was the fire which destroyed the entire business, but, nothing daunted, Mr. Groff resumed operation shortly thereafter and has since enjoyed a fine success commensurate with his splendid efforts. He purchased Mr. Bird's interests in 1924 and is now the sole proprietor of this flourishing business. This concern handles a complete line of household furniture and furnishings. The undertaking department possesses a completely motorized funeral service, and is favored with patronage from the surrounding territory. Mr. Groff's war service was as a member of Company C, Twenty-first Engineers, in which he enlisted in August, 1918, at Camp Taylor, Kentucky. There he was promoted to first class sergeant and was later transferred to Fort Benjamin Harrison at Indianapolis, where he was mustered out in December, 1918. His marriage was with Phyllis, the daughter of John and Rebecca Wiseman, of Chesterton, the former of whom was a well-known carpenter contractor. To Mr. and Mrs. Groff were born Robert, Richard, Maxine and Eugene. Mr. Groff is a member of the American Legion, Chamber of Commerce, Elks and the K. of C.
Source: Cannon, Thomas H., H. H. Loring, and Charles J. Robb. 1927. History of the Lake and Calumet Region of Indiana Embracing the Counties of Lake, Porter and Laporte. Volume II. Indianapolis, Indiana: Historians' Association. 827 p.
Page(s) in Source: 507-508
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook