Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 414] Conspicuous among the leading business men of Ellwood City, who have done much toward its development, and who are closely identified with all of the leading interests, is the subject of this biography, who is the senior member of the firm of A. C. Grove & Co., dealers in hardware, agricultural implements, paints, oils, etc. He began his life in New Lebanon, Mercer Co., and is a scion of a family, the members of which for three generations back are Pennsylvanians.
Jacob Grove, our subject's great-grandfather, came from a place near Philadelphia, and settled in Montgomery County, where his son Abraham was born. Abraham moved to Center County, where he farmed several years, and then removed to Mercer County, where he became the owner of 100 acres of land that was entirely in its natural state, unspoiled by the hand of man. The spot he cleared is now a part of New Lebanon borough. He passed his life in agricultural pursuits, and also served in the War of 1812 at Fort Erie, receiving an honorable discharge at the end of the struggle. He married a Miss Mook, and they became the parents of these children: Elizabeth, Barbara, Jacob, Catherine, Mary, David, Hannah, and Rachel. Jacob Grove, the father of the Captain, was a strong youth of eighteen years when the family settled in Mercer County, and so he aided his father in clearing the land, and putting it under the plow. He bought an adjacent tract of 100 acres, and spent his life in its culture. His wife was Catherine Van Voorhees, daughter of Ryneer Van Voorhees, and of the nine children she bore him seven are living: Jay C., Mary E., Capt. Abraham C., Elizabeth, Sarah J., Jacob T., Jonas B., Jeremiah M., and Zilphia C. Mrs. Grove met her death in a distressing railroad accident at Polk, Venango Co., Pa., when in her sixty-second year.
Captain Grove had the usual educational advantages, and after a course in New Lebanon Academy entered into mercantile life in 1867, by purchasing the store of McHenry & Son. He was successful in this venture, and kept that store until 1891, when he sold it to M. E. Dean, and came to Ellwood City. In company with H. S. Blatt, who has been referred to in another sketch as a hardware dealer of Ellwood City, Capt. Grove began business along the lines of hardware and lumber. After the fire, Capt. Grove built a two-story building, 100x44 feet, the first floor of which is divided into two stores, one of which he rents to a clothing firm, and the other is used by his own stock of hardware, agricultural implements, paints, oils, glass, etc., the business being carried on under the name of Grove & Co. Capt. Grove is interested in the Ellwood Lumber County, and in the Gas Company, and has ever been included among the first of those who labor to promote the interests of the city.
Our subject selected for a helpmeet Mary Elizabeth Leach, daughter of James Leach of New Lebanon, Pa. They have been blessed with the births of six children, of whom Leon V. is a physician in Anandale, Butler Co.; Nettie became the wife of S. M. Matheny of Ellwood City; Clarence M. is associated with his father in business; Darwin C. has settled near Spokane, Wash.; Victor H. is also in his father's employ; and Leach A., who is a student in the Law Department of the Michigan State University.
Capt. Grove is a Republican, and has served on the school board of Ellwood City. He has an honorable and worthy career as a soldier of the Union, as he enlisted in the fall of '61 for three years in Co. B, 83rd Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf.; he received a discharge in the spring of 1862 on account of disabilities. In the same autumn he re-enlisted in Co. B, 140th Reg. as second lieutenant, and when the company was re-organized he was promoted to the first lieutenantcy, where he served until June 5, 1864, when he was commissioned captain. His resignation, March 1, 1865, was necessitated by a wound in the thigh, from the effects of which he has never recovered. It is a great and glorious thing to fight for one's country, to face death for the dear old flag, and if youths of to-day need lessons in patriotism let them listen to such soldier boys as Capt. Grove, who can tell them of want and woe, of war and final victory. Capt. Grove is a member of the Union Veteran Legion of New Castle, and has held offices in the Post, No. 251, G. A. R. of New Lebanon. He is a charter member of Ellwood Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 559, and was formerly a member of Lake Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 434. He is also a member of Mt. Calvary Lodge, No. 67, Knights Templar.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 25 Jun 2001