John E. Laufer, senior member of the leading grocery concern of Laufer Brothers, at Troy, Ohio, and one of the self-made men of this community who has risen through his own efforts to a substantial position, was born at Piqua, Ohio, January 8, 1877, a son of Fred and Bertha (Eckerle) Laufer, who came to Miami county in 1873. One of a family of five, children, Mr. Laufer attended the public and parochial schools of Troy, after leaving which he was employed in Peters' Tree Nursery for three years, his brother Frederick working there for six months. John E. Laufer was only sixteen years of age when he began his connection with the grocery business, and for a long period of years he worked for others, in the meantime thoroughly familiarizing himself with all details of the industry. Eventually, in 1906, he and his brother, Frederick, formed a partnership and founded the business of Laufer Brothers, which has since developed into one of the leading grocery establishments of Troy, with a large, representative and constantly growing patronage. Mr. Laufer stands justly high in the esteem and confidence of his associates in the business world and in the confidence of his patrons. He has capably discharged the duties of citizenship and during the war period was a generous contributor to the various measures. As a fraternalist he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He married Ella, daughter of William Hennessy, of Troy, and they have six children: Loretta, born in 1909; William, born in 1911; John, born in 1913; Robert, born in 1915; Paul, born in 1916, and Eleanor, born in 1918.