Henry Groby, the well-known contractor and builder of Miamisburg, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in Stouchsburg, Berks county, Pa., February 13, 1853, a son of Samuel and Lydia (Rabold) Groby, both also natives of Berks county. His paternal grandparents were Henry and Catherine (Beck) Groby, the former of whom was a native of Germany and came to America when a boy, being 100 days on the passage. He was reared to manhood in Berks county, Pa., came to Miamisburg in 1854, and here died in 1858.
Samuel and Lydia Groby, parents of Henry Groby, came to Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1859, and for four years Samuel Groby was engaged in the manufacture of cigars in Miamisburg, and then engaged in farming in Miami township--his present occupation. His children are three in number and are named Henry, Jacob, and Mary--the daughter being the wife of Martin Apple.
Henry Groby grew to manhood in Montgomery county from the age of six years, attended the public schools, and when of sufficient age served an apprenticeship of two years at the carpenter's trade with his uncle, David Groby, by whom he was afterward employed for eighteen years as a journeyman. In 1892 he embarked, on his own account, in the lumber, door, sash and blind business, and also in contracting and building, and has been so steadily successful that he now stands at the head of that line of industry in this city.
The marriage of Mr. Groby took place in 1876 with Miss Lena, daughter of Joseph and Magdalena (Krout) Yordy, of West Carrollton, the union resulting in the birth of two children--Bessie (Mrs. David Dunn), and C. Howard.
Mr. Groby is a member of the Reformed church and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; is a charter member of and a director in the Miamisburg Building & Loan association, and in politics is a republican. He has won a well-established reputation as a master of his calling, his integrity and ability being widely recognized, and he and his family occupy a prominent place in the social circles of Miamisburg.
Source: Centennial Portrait and Biographical Record of the City of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens Together with the Biographies and Portraits of the Presidents of the United States and Biographies of the Governors of Ohio, ed. by Frank Conover, A.W. Bowen & Co., 1897, p. 977.