Norfolk loses distinguished man 
in death of H. H. Groff

Death on Saturday claimed one of Simcoe's foremost citizens for more than half a century in the person of Henry Harris Groff, world authority on horticultural matters and nearly a lifelong resident of this town.

Mr. Groff succumbed on Saturday afternoon following a short illness. He was in his 81st year and is survived by a sister, Mrs. Thomas Gilroy of Santiago, California, also one niece, Mrs. Leigh Farncomb of London. and one nephew, John Trafford of Simcoe.

Born in Simcoe in 1853 he was the son of Henry Groff. He was educated at the old Simcoe Grammar School and served an apprenticeship with Dr. Wilson, the druggist who was Simcoe's first mayor.

For a time he was a resident of Tonawanda, N.Y., being engaged with a lumber firm there, but returned to Simcoe, to enter the Federal Bank.

After several years he became assistant manager and after the bank closed he entered upon a private banking business which he conducted until the establishment of the Molsons Bank of which he was the first manager. He served with the Molsons Bank for many years both actively and later in an advisory capacity.

It was through his work as a horticulturist that he attained a fame which was world-wide and brought him recognition from all points of the globe.

As a young man he took a keen interest in the breeding of livestock, poultry, pigeons and rabbits and this was succeeded by a quest for knowledge concerning cross-pollination of flowers. Several species were tried before he came upon the possibilities afforded by the gladiolas.

In 1880 he made his first gladiolas  cross-pollination and during the years which followed immediately he added to his fund of information by consulting all the recognized authorities on the subject.

For 10 years he labored quietly at his chosen work, until in 1901 as a complete "unknown," he exhibited some of his gladioli at Buffalo. Completing against the best that American and foreign gardens had to offer, he captured no less than 16 first prizes, including the Pan-American Exposition Gold Medal for the finest display in the entire show. Personal congratulations were offered by Luther Burbank.

At the Buffalo Exhibition he established connections with a Troy, N.Y. man who later became his American agent and to whom he supplied two million gladiola cormels within two years and whose farms became the mecca for gladiolus enthusiasts the world over.

Mr. Groff continued in his cultivation of the gladiolus for years, adding new varieties and improving on those already in existence. He built up an enormous foreign market and cormlets produced here found their way to gardens in all parts of the world.

Inspired by his first success he continued his exhibits at leading flower shows in Canada and the United States and achieved a record which will probably never be equalled, winning the Grand Prize Gold Medals at all the principal Expositions.

As early as 1902 he was accorded a signal honor in being selected to act upon a committee named by the International Plant Breeders Conference to confer with the United States government. One of his confreres later became Assistant Secretary of Agriculture in the administration.

He reached the peak of his career in 1914 when his hobby had helped make him independently wealthy and had firmly established his name among horticulturalists everywhere.

He had reached the point with the gladiolas where there was little left to do. Consequently, he disposed of his entire stock of cormels and returned to the banking business which occupied his attention until the mid-1920s.

Reaching his 70th year he again took up his hobby with vigor and almost the first accomplishment on his return was the successful development of a new type of sweet corn known commercially [text awry in the source document] world he turned to the iris and his success virtually paralleled that of the gladiolus.

Last year his gardens was selected by the American Iris Society as an official display plot and attracted visitors from all parts of Canada and the United States.

His work with the iris added to a reputation which at one time seemed impossible to add to.

His was a busy career. Like all men who achieve prominence in some particular line, he had many other irons in the fire, [yet] found time to devote himself whole-heartedly to all efforts for the betterment of his home community.
-- He served as president of the Norfolk Agricultural Society and helped guide the destinies of the Norfolk Fair for a number of years. 
-- He was active also in the poultry world and held the presidency of the Norfolk Poultry Association.
-- Ten years ago when the Reunion of Norfolk Old Boys and Girls was being held he acted as vice president and was one of its moving spirits.

Behind him Henry Groff leaves a life which was lived to the fullest extent. He had the satisfaction which so few men achieve of attaining the top in virtually everything he attempted. Failure was unknown to him, yet he modestly strove to do better those things which other men felt could not be bettered.

In his death Simcoe loses one of her outstanding sons, a man who has watched this town grow over an 80-year period, and who played no small part in its evolution. He outlived most of his contemporaries, yet to the last he retained a youthfulness of viewpoint and action which bespoke the value of his active career.

Scores of friends gathered on Monday afternoon at the late residence on Norfolk street south to pay final tribute to the late Mr. Groff. Members of the Norfolk Fair Board attended in a body.

Rev. Canon Ryerson was in charge of the service, interment being in Oakwood Cemetery. 

The bearers were His Honor Judge Boles, D. Robb Tisdale, Monroe Landon, Ralph G. Bowlby, Watson Dow, and Kenneth Wilson.

Tribute to H. H. Groff
(Brantford Expositor)

Simcoe parts with another distinguished citizen in the person of Henry H. Groff, one of Canada's best known horticulturalists, whose work in connection with the development of gladioli and iris was outstanding. Full of years, he had indeed rendered most valuable and lasting service.
  

Copyright 2012-2015 John Cardiff