DeGroff, Edward, 1860-1910. Edward DeGroff was born in 1860 at Staten Island, New York. He first came to Sitka in 1880, and later managed the Northwest Trading Company post at Killisnoo, Alaska. By 1881, DeGroff was transferred to Harrisburg (now Juneau) to manage the company store there. He was later appointed the first postmaster of Harrisburg and deputy recorder of the Harris Mining District. In 1882, he returned to Killisnoo, and by January of 1886 had purchased the Northwest Trading Company store in Sitka.

Edward DeGroff began taking photographs of Sitka in 1886. His hobby turned into a profitable venture as he sold the photographs at the Northwest Trading Company store in Sitka until 1890.

In addition to being a prominent Sitka merchant and photographer, DeGroff also served as Commissioner for 1893 Alaska to the Chicago Columbian Exposition, U.S. Commissioner to Sitka, and was president of the Chichagoff Gold Mining Company. [Source of information: Alaska-Yukon Magazine, October 1907, pages 139-140.]