[74-430] DR. GEORGE G. GROFF, b Apr. 5, 1851; d Feb. 18, 1910; s John and Susan (Beaver) Groff [74-145]; m Apr. 14, 1880, MARGARET PUSEY MARSHALL, sister of Saul P. Marshall. Widow resides in West Chester, Pa. (1920.)
Children (8):
Dr. George G. Groff was born on the ‘Welsh Tract” in Tredyffrin Twp., Chester Co., Pa., on Apr. 5, 1851. His ancestors, who were among the earliest settlers of the state, were Dutch, German, English, Welsh, and Norman-Irish. With the exception of two cousins of his father all the family have been tillers of the soil.
Dr. Groff received his early education in the public schools and in academies at Phoenixville and Norristown, and later, in the West Chester State Normal School, Michigan University, Long Island College Hospital and the University of Leipzig. He received degrees from Long Island College Hospital (M.D.), Lafayette College (A.M.), Judson College (LL.D.), State College (B.S.), Franklin and Marshall College (Ph.D.), and Susquehanna University (Se.D.). From 1879 to 1910 he served as Professor of Organic Science in Bucknell University at Lewisburg, Pa., which position he held practically to the end of his life. In 1877 and 1878 he was acting president of Bucknell University.
In public life Dr. Groff served at various times as school director, coroner of Union County, Pa., surgeon in the National Guard of Pennsylvania, and member of the State Boards of Agriculture and Health and of the State Medical and Dental Councils. He was the author of many circulars of the State Board of Health, which are said to be the best issued by any state in the union.
In 1889, after the great floods of that year, he had charge of the sanitation at Johnstown, Pa., which he conducted in a most successful manner. In the Spanish-American War he served as brigade surgeon of the National Relief Commission and special relief commissioner for Porto Rico.
Dr. Groff was also Superintendent of Instruction in Porto Rico, sueceeding Dr. Martin G. Brumbaugh. While in Porto Rico as Director of Vaccination, 790,000 persons were vaccinated in three months. This was the greatest record for time in the world’s history. Dr. Groff was a frequent lecturer at teachers’ and farmers’ institutes, and the author of many pamphlets, charts, maps and text-books on physiology, hygiene and mineralogy.
Besides belonging to many medical and scientific societies, Dr. Groff was a member of the Sons of the Revolution, the Welsh Society of Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania-German Society to which he was elected Apr. 12, 1898. [Pa. Ger. Soc.]
The following are some of his publications: “Plant Analysis, 1880; Mineral Analysis, 1882; Charts of American Geological History, 1882; Chart -* Chemical Elements, 1882; Chemical Note Book, 1884; Accidents and Emergencies, 1884; Dairy Hygiene, 1890; Farm and Village Hygiene, 1890; The American Fruit Garden, 1890; Saludad Por de nino, 1900; Editor of Coulter’s Physiologies, 1899, and Sanitary Bulletins of Pa. State Board of Health.”
Parents’ family: [74-145] John Groff and Susan Beaver