Henry A. Roff

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

He whose name forms the caption of this sketch is a resident of Butler, and was born in Washington Valley, near Morristown, December 29, 1838, being a representative of one of the old colonial families. The name was originally spelled ROLFE, but in recent generations has been modified to the present form, ROFF. His grandfather was a country tailor, and followed his trade in Washington Valley before the war of the Revolution. He obtained the title to his land from the British crown. Charles ROFF, the father of our subject, was born in Washington Valley, in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and aided in the defense of his country in the war of 1812. In his early life he followed the profession of teaching and later devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits. His political support was unswervingly given to the Democracy, and at one time he was elected justice of the peace, but refused to qualify for the office. He married Phoebe AXTELL, whose father, Silas AXTELL, was a colonel in the New Jersey militia, and to Mr. and Mrs. ROFF were born eleven children, but the one whose name introduces this review is now the only survivor.

Henry Augustus ROFF spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm and to prepare himself for his life's work learned the machinist trade with the Newark Machine Company. He afterward worked for several years as a journeyman in Jersey City and Newark, and at the close of the Civil war he went west, spending three years in St. Louis, Missouri, where he occupied a position as a machinist. Upon his return to New Jersey he abandoned that occupation and through the eight succeeding years devoted his energies to following the plow, gathering the crops and the other labors incident to farm life. When he once more left the farm he accepted the position of millwright with the Bloomingdale Soft Rubber Company, of Butler, and with the exception of three years spent in the service of the Smith Electric Company, of Pompton, he has since occupied the position which he today fills, being one of the most capable and trusted employes of the house. He owns and occupies a farm near the Kackout mountains, the same being operated by the members of his family.

Mr. ROFF was married in 1861 to Miss Elizabeth WALKER, a daughter of Mark R. WALKER, and they now have five sons:

Sidney M.,
Joseph W.,
George M.,
Herbert A. and
Edward.

They have also lost two sons and a daughter. Mr. ROFF in his political preferences is a Republican, but though he manifests a deep interests in politics, as every true American citizen should do, he is content to leave office holding to others, while his attention is given without interruption to his business interests.

This biography was scanned and contributed by Catherine Smith DeMayo.

This page was last modified on: 01 January, 2014