Charlie GROFF was born August 30, 1885, Lenora Township, Griggs County on his parents farm. North East corner of Section 23.
One time in his youth when about 14, Charlie and another youth, Chester Myer staying at Beldens. They decided to escape and tied a twine from where they started and then walked as far as the twine brought them. It was no problem to locate them.
Eventually Charlie built his own little house a short distance from his parents, and bought land around there. The first house burned, then he built four rooms around a garage on land he had purchased on Section 27 East half.
He worked for John Sletten, met and married Gladys Richardson, employed at Slettens. She came from Michigan State with one small child Merle. After his first wife's death in October 1933, he was remarried on September 16, 1936 to Hannah Zacharison from Kulm. Hannah was born July 16, 1885 in Sweden and came to the United States when she was 4 years old. She was a Home Economics teacher.
Charlie was active in Township affairs. He also owned a steam-thrashing rig and at one time blew it up. Charlie received very severe burns. His face, black, and his hair singed. He was very lucky to be alive.
In 1949 Hannah and Charlie moved to Cooperstown
North Dakota where he worked as a bookkeeper for the Griggs County Highway Department. After Hannah's death in 1960, he sold the house and came to live with his cousin and wife Ludvig Stokkelands. He presented his cousin with a Humanflygiekiste (large trunk), which had belonged to his dad's first wife, Berget Röteim. The inscription bares her name, date 1877, which she used on her journey across the Atlantic.
Charlie continued to live at his cousin's until he became ill, was taken to the Griggs County Hospital. Cooperstown, North Dakota and died there Sunday morning, October 18, 1964. Buried by his wife at Silent Hill Cemetery near Aneta, North Dakota
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 339