Edwin H. Groven

Edwin H. Groven, a pioneer merchant of Hannaford, is one of the leading business men of Griggs county. He has built up an extensive patronage and is regarded as a man of practical nature and business capacity. His general merchandise store is fully stocked and he occupies a modern structure of good design and finish.

Our subject was born on a farm in Norway, February 7, 1858. His parents, Halvor and Isabelle (Bjorn) Groven, were natives of Norway, and his father was a farmer by occupation and was a man of more than ordinary prominence in his native land.

Our subject was the eldest in a family of six children and resided in his native land until 1871, when he came to America and located at Stoughton, Dane county. Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm near Koshkonong Lake about eighteen months. He went from there to Dakota county, Minnesota, where he worked on a farm one year and then went to Minneapolis, where he attended school one term, and after completing the course went to St. Paul, and was engaged by C. E. Thomas, dealer in general merchandise, as collector. He acted in that capacity about eighteen months and in 1880 went to Griggs county, North Dakota. He shipped horses there for sale and continued in the horse business for a number of years. He purchased the general stock of R. C. Brophy, in Hannaford, in the latter part of the 1880s, since which time he has conducted the business with eminent success.

Our subject was married, in Dakota county, Minnesota, in 1887, to Alice Starley, a native of Norway, who came to America when a child. Mr. and Mrs. Groven are the parents of two children, Isabelle and Oscar. Mr. Groven is regarded as one of the most enterprising and successful men of Griggs county, and is widely known as an old settler of that region. He is a Republican in political faith and stands staunchly for the principles of his party, but does not take an active part in public affairs. His strict attention to his business and judicious management have made for him a fortune and a deservedly high standing among the people.

Source:  Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota 1900 Page 1235