dʒˈɑːn sˈiː. ɡɹˈaʊb dˈaɪd ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˈeɪt, pˈæsɪŋ ðə mˈænɪdʒmənt ʌvðə kˈʌmpəni tə hɪz sˈʌn θˈiːədˌoːɹ ænd hɪz sˈʌnɪnlˈɔː wˈɪljəm mˈæstɚz, ɐn ɛkspˈiəɹɪənst ɡɹˈoʊsɚ.
John C. Groub died in 1888, passing the management of the company to his son Theodore and his son-in-law William Masters, an experienced grocer.