Friedrich Wilhelm Carl Groos was born on September 18,1827 in Strass-Ebersbach to Carl Wilhelm Apollo and Sophie Wilhelmine Luise (Martin) Groos. Friedrich attended school in his native town of Strass-Ebersbach and at the Gymnasiums of Wetzlar and Weilburg, graduating from the latter in 1846. He passed the examination of the engineers' school with first honors.

In 1848 Friedrich moved to Texas with his father, three brothers, and four sisters. He moved to San Antonio in 1850 to take a position with the mercantile firm of Guilbeau and Callaghan. Groos represented that firm in Eagle Pass until 1854, when he formed his own merchandising and freighting company, F. Groos and Company. His partners were his brothers Gustav and Carl Wilhelm August Groos. The company’s main offices were in Eagle Pass, but there were branches in San Antonio, New Braunfels, and Matamoros. He married Gertrude Rodriguez and had 9 children.

Groos moved his family to Monterrey after the outbreak of the Civil War. He made two trips to Europe during the war, staying with his family in Wetzlar, Germany, during 1864-66. In 1866 he moved the headquarters of F. Groos and Company to San Antonio. That is where he made his home for the rest of his life.

He started the Groos National Bank with his brothers in 1912, the first mercantile business in San Antonio. Groos served two terms on the San Antonio school board and three terms as San Antonio alderman. He was elected president of the gas company in 1879. Groos also served as president of the Casino Club and as president of the German-English School for twenty years. He was also an honorary member of the Beethoven Musical Association. Gertrude Groos had died on February 7, 1873, and on December 12, 1874, Groos married Anna Siemering. He and his second wife were the parents of eight children. He died on January 27, 1912 in San Antonio. He was buried in the San Antonio Cemetery Number One.

Bibliography
Steinfeldt, Cecilia, San Antonio Was (1979)
The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library Files