The Groves Line
Martha Ellen Groves, wife of George Irving Brown, came to Texas in 1883 with her parents, Gabriel Thomas Groves and Annie Elizabeth Keplinger, from Grant County, WV. Her grandparents were James W. Groves and Catherine (Unknown).
James W. Groves
According to the 1850 Census for Hardy Co., VA (later WV), James Groves was born in VA about 1824. His wife, Catherine (??), was also born in VA about 1819. Listed in the household are six children, all born in VA:
William H., age 6 (b. ca 1844);
Samuel A., age 4 (b. ca 1846);
Mary C., age 3 (b. ca 1847);
Ann R., age 1 (b. ca 1848); and
Gabriel T., age 11 mos. (b. 1849).
Apparently James and Catherine had 2 more children before James died before 1870, since the 1870 Census for Grant Co., WV, lists Catherine Groves, age 50; William, age 26; Mary C., age 22; Ann R., age 21; Gabriel T., age 20; and
Franklin P., age 17 (b. ca 1853); and
John Elsby, age 16 (b. ca 1854).
A death certificate obtained for James W. Groves, indicates that he was a farmer and died June 1, 1869 of consumption at age 48; James was born in Rockingham Co., VA; James's wife was Catherine Groves; and his father was Thomas Groves. Information was furnished by his son, S. A. Groves.
A William H Groves, b. August 19, 1844 in VA, married Margaret Lee, and d. July 16, 1925 in Preston Co., WV. This may be the first child of James & Catherine Groves, but no proof yet.
Our information is that Samuel A. Groves married Mary E. Duckworth, and had three children:
Hiram, born about 1876;
Lottie, born about 1878; and
Franklin, born about 1879.
The 1880 Census for Grant County, WV, lists the following: Samuel Groves, age 35, farmer, born in VA and parents born in VA; Mary E. Duckworth, wife, age 36, born in MD, father born in VA and mother born in MD; Hiram, age 4, born in WV; Lottie, age 2, born in WV; and Franklin, age 1, born in WV. Also listed in the same household is Julia A., age 56, aunt, born in VA; and William, brother, age 36, farm laborer. Based on this source and others, it is believed that James W. had a brother named William, who married Julia Ann Keplinger.
Mary Catherine Groves, b. October 1846 in VA, married Theodore Dickinson on December 24, 1871.Ann R. Groves married Dryden Perry Streets, and had two children: Francis, born about 1878 in Grant Co., WV, and Newton, born September 1879 in Grant Co., WV.
Any information from other researchers as to any of our Groves ancestors would be greatly appreciated!
Gabriel Thomas Groves was the sixth child of James & Catherine Groves. He was born March 9, 1849 in VA. On July 4, 1875, Gabriel Thomas was married to Annie Elizabeth Keplinger in Grant County, WV [Marriage Records of Grant Co., WV, p. 19; his parents are listed as James W. and Catherine Groves]. Gabriel and Annie had the following children, all born in Grant Co., WV, before they moved to Montague County, Texas about 1883:
James Markwood Groves, b. May 28, 1876, m. 1901 in Montague Co., TX, to Bell Zora Hadley, d. January 6, 1945 in Montague Co., TX;
Sarah Catherine Groves, b. September 24, 1878, m. (1) Lee Shivers, and (2) W.D. Jones, d. March 5, 1920 in Montague Co., TX;
Martha Ellen Groves, b. March 1, 1880, m. George Irving Brown September 22, 1895 in Montague Co., and d. April 11, 1970 in Montague Co, TX;
Mary Francilla Groves, b. March 27, 1882, married January 25, 1900 in Montague Co., to Olloway W. Keck, and d. March 21, 1961 in Healdton, Carter Co., OK.
Gabriel T. Groves died December 21, 1905 in Montague Co., TX, and is buried at the Keck Cemetery. Annie Elizabeth remarried after Gabriel's death to Alton King, and died March 30, 1929 in Montague Co., TX; she is buried as Annie E. Groves in the Keck (Packer) Cemetery in Montague Co., TX.