Of Slatington
Walter Jedediah Weiss, a son of William and Mary Margaret (Weiss) Groves, was born in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1873. He acquired a sound practical education in the Moravian Parochial School of the same place, and attended there until he had reached the age of sixteen years. He then determined to enter at once upon a business career, and commenced this as bookkeeper for the Bethlehem Foundry & Machine Company, retaining this position for a period of six years. Removing to Allentown, Pa., in 1895, he became associated as secretary with the Midvale Foundry Company, manufacturers of soil pipe and plumbers' supplies. This business was successful, and later was absorbed by the Central Foundry Company, a combination of a number of manufacturers in that line of business. He then became secretary of the Weaver Hersh Company, who built the large plant now occupied by the Traylor Engineering Company, and the machine shops of the Mack Brothers Motor Car Company. This business proved unsuccessful, and he then became actively interested in the manufacture of hardware specialties at Slatington, Pennsylvania, and continued in this business for four years.

In May, 1906, he accepted the position of auditor of the Mack Brothers Motor Car Company, manufacturers of commercial motor cars, and then at the beginning of its remarkably successful career. Shortly thereafter he was made secretary and a director in the company, and acted as their financial man until the company was absorbed by the International Motor Company in 1911.

Remaining with the International Motor Company for a period of a year, he retired to devote his time to his own interests. Among these are the Germania Security Company and the Daeufer Brewing Company, in both of which companies he is secretary and director, and takes an active interest. He is also a director in the Penn Counties Trust Company.

Mr. Groves was married in I900, to Mabel R. Kline, a daughter of the late Henry A. Kline, whose history appears in this volume.