Flora Viola Groff was a 19th Century farmer's wife born 4 March 1872 in the Lick Prairie area of Wabash County, Illinois the last child of Judge John Groff (1826-1905) and his wife Harriet Gard (1829-1905). The Groff homestead had 700 acres. John Groff was a German immigrant who rose to prominence as a good farmer and a good citizen. Harriett was the grand-daughter of Seth Gard one of the signers of the Illinois state constitution. Flora grew up on a large farm with a ten driven older siblings who carved out their own place in the community as adults. Wabash County farmers grew long haired corn and other crops between February to November. The winter time the children were educated. She was educated in the district schools until 8th grade. She married her former school master, James Russell Brines (1870-1949) 4 May 1892. He was a college graduate. JR was a big talker but very knowledgable, personable and engaging. Flora and JR raised a successful farm they called "Plain View" located in Bellmont Precinct. They helped build Maud Christian Church where he taught Sunday School. Together they had six children; Mabel Ora Brines 1893 - 1968, Gilbert McKinley Brines 1895 - 1982, Nella Pearl Brines 1896 - 1985, Everett Groff Brines 1900 - 1995,
Carroll Reinscovle Brines 1906 - 1971, and Virgil Leroy Brines 1908 - 1983. Flo was a strong woman but reportedly afraid of thunder storms and "varmints" as she called them. When her husband was away she would have her son go out to the front porch and fire a shotgun off to scare away any critters who might want to come in. After they lost the farm during the great depression they moved to a small house in Mount Carmel at 811 Mulberry St. and lived there happily for several years. Her husband became an insurance agent in town. After dinner one night she cleaned-up the food, washed the dishes and then sat in her wood rocking chair had a stroke and died. Flora Viola died 11 March 1934 at the age of 62. She is buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Wabash County, Illinois.

Sources: US Census Records, Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash Counties, Illinois published by J.L. McDonough & Co. 1883, Illinois Death Record, Mt. Carmel City Directory, Burial Record, Ancestry.com, Interview with grandson James Richard Brines.