REV. JACOB GROFF, a minister in good standing of the United Brethren Church, is also identified with the farming interests of Stephenson County, and owns a tract of good land on section 10, in Lancaster Township. It embraces 103 acres, finely improved and well stocked, and supplied with suitable and substantial buildings. Mr. Groff has been a resident of this county for over forty years, having been born here Oct. 19, 1845, and has spent most of his life in Lancaster Township. His father, Godfrey Groff, was a native of the Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, where he grew to manhood and received a good education. He learned the trade of a miller early in life, which occupation he followed for some years. He was married to Miss Catherine Gramm, a lady of his own Province, and like himself, of pure German ancestry. After the birth of two children they emigrated to the United States, in 1840, locating first in New York State. There two more little ones were added to the family circle, and then the father decided to seek his fortunes in the more western country. Accordingly, in the spring of 1844 they came to this county, locating in Lancaster Township, where the father purchased eighty acres of land and built up a good homestead, upon which he spent the remainder of his days, his death taking place in March, 1872. The mother is still living and is seventy-five years of age. She makes her home with her son, our subject.

Jacob Groff was placed in school at an early age and completed his education in his native township. Here also he was married, Jan. 27, 1870, to Miss Catherine B. Snively. She was born in Franklin County, Pa., Feb. 11, 1846, and when a child was taken by her parents to Washington County, Md., where she was reared and educated. Subsequently they came to Illinois and settled in Lancaster Township, where the mother died in 1872. The father followed five years later, his death taking place in page County, Iowa, in January, 1877. Of the children of Henry H. and Catherine (Bonebrake) Snively, twelve in number, five are now living. The parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Groff were connected with the Mennonite Church. Our subject and his wife became the parents of nine children, of whom three are deceased, namely, Bertha D., Walter J. and William H. Those surviving are Mary A., Catherine E., Arthur J., Fannie M., Cora E. and Ralph E., all at home with their parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Groff since their marriage have resided most of the time at their present home. Our subject became connected with the United Brethren Church Feb. 1, 1866, and received his license as an exhorter in May, 1875, and as a local minister in 1879. He assumed charge of a circuit by appointment of the Annual Conference, Sept. 19, 1884, and two years later took charge of his present itinerant circuit, consisting of the churches at Winneshiek, Berlin, Union and Bethel, representing Stephenson and Winnebago Counties, and including a membership of eighty-three. He has been successful as a minister and won an enviable reputation as a church worker and pulpit orator. He was formerly a Republican in politics but now labors entirely with the Prohibitionists. He has served as Collector of Lancaster Township, and is closely identified with the various movements having in view the welfare and progress of the community.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888)