Richard P Groat  - Sheriff 1873 through 1875
	Born March 28, 1822 Richard P. Groat's family moved to Newark shortly after his birth, from Columbia County,  Groat started from humble beginnings, his father was a blacksmith, but according to historical documents, he became quite active in public service and died fairly well off.  Groat was appointed as keeper of the Wayne County Alms House (poor house) in 1861 where he served for 9 years.   In 1873, Groat was elected Wayne County Sheriff.  After only one term of office Groat became "Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue" (tax collector) for 9 years. Goat continued on in public service and was representative to the New York State Assembly from 1889 through 1891. Groat was also the Newark Postmaster until 12/31/1906. Groats home life is indicative of how hard the times were.  Groat's daughter Emma was a success story.   Emma married James W Dunwell a local trial lawyer who was very active in politics.  Dunwell represented Wayne County at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis in 1892 and at NYS Convention at Saratoga in 1894.   Dunwell was appointed NYS Supreme Court Judge in 1896 and served until 1907.   The rest of the children did not fair so well.  Groat's son married the family maid, a German immigrant, and fell into disfavor with his parents.  The parents expressed their displeasure with the marriage by disinheriting their son.  He moved to New Jersey had nothing more to do with the family. Groats daughter Rosabell was only 4 months old when she died from Cholera. Son Jessie was only 4 years old when he died from a "sore throat." Daughter Elizabeth died at age 7 from diphtheria. Groats obituary was in the Newark Union Gazette on July 30, 1910, he is buried in the North Main St cemetery in the Village of Newark.
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