Paul Grove collection of Grove family records

Classification scheme:

Hist.Mss.1.262

Title: Paul H. Grove collection of Grove family records

Dates of creation: 1774-1915

Physical description: 36 cm of textual records; 2 objects

Biographical sketch: Abraham Grove or "Groff" (1770-1836) was a Pennsylvania Mennonite minister who moved to York County with his wife Elisabeth (Lehman) in 1808. He was ordained as the first bishop for the area that same year. His son Jacob (1804-1863) was ordained as minister three weeks after his father's death, and later as bishop. His was married to Elizabeth Barkey. Their son, Jacob B. Grove (1835-1916), married Mary Lehman (1844-1880). The Groves all farmed in the Markham area.

Custodial history: Donated to the Archives by Paul H. Grove (grandson of Jacob B. Grove) of Drayton, Ontario in 2009, except for Lorne Grove's notes which were donated by Lorne Grove in 2017 and Paul Grove's memorial book donated by Joseph H. Grove in 2021.

Scope and content: Contains records collected by Paul Grove and created predominantly by Jacob Grove and Jacob B. Grove. Records document farming and business activities, family transactions, correspondence with relatives, ministerial correspondence and duties, and Jacob Grove's brauche healing practices. The original order and series titles imposed on the collection by Paul Grove have largely been retained. See the file list below for further descriptions at the series, file and item levels.

Notes: See also John D. Grove and Joseph H. Grove fonds
Original archival description created 2012 by Laureen Harder-Gissing.

File list:

Series 1: Debts

  1. Joseph Stouffer to Jacob Lehman, 11 Feb 1862, 22 March 1862, 11 May 1862, 26 June 1862. - requesting a loan
  2. Joseph Stouffer and Abraham Stouffer to Jacob Lehman, 25 Jul 1863. - requesting a loan
  3. Correspondence
    Robert Parker to Jacob B. Grove, 21 Feb 1898. - regarding the estate of Philip Bartholomew. Also includes correspondence re the late Benjamin Bartholomew, 1898.
    Mrs. N.B. Munro to Jacob B. Grove, 13 Feb 1900. - requesting a loan
    P.D Burkholder to Jacob B. Grove, 27 Apr 1914 - regarding payment of a loan
    P.D. Burkholder to Jacob B. Grove, 24 Apr 1915 - regarding payment of a loan
  4. Promissory notes, 1836, 1856, 1865
    Discharge of mortgage fee notice, 1901

Series 2: Diaries and account books

  1. Account book of Jacob B. Grove, predominantly 1874-1875. - includes minutes of a meeting to assist brethren now in Manitoba asking for a loan, 24 Sept 1874, listing subscribers and the amounts of their pledges; also includes notes on a meeting at Abraham Hoover's re the erection of sheds at the Almira meeting house, 17 Mar 1875. - 19 x 12 cm, brown cover
  2. Diaries/account books of Jacob B. Grove, 1875, 1881-1888, 1890-1899
    Note: 1875 and 1892 books are oversize, and located in separate folders.
  3. Cash books of Jacob B. Grove,  1910, 1913-1914
  4. Account book of Jacob Lehman, 1838-1864

Series 3: Jacob Grove correspondence

Note: Additional Jacob Grove correspondence is located in "Group G" of the Lewis. J. Burkholder collection. When Burkholder gathered items for his history of Mennonites in Ontario in the late 1920s and early 1930s, he returned some of the originals to the Grove family after making copies. The originals, donated to the Archives by Paul Grove in 2009, have subsequently been interfiled in the Burkholder collection with the copies. The items listed below were donated by Paul Grove in 2009 but not originally listed in the Burkholder collection.

  1. Johannes Bar (Baer) to Jacob Grove, 13 Aug 1859
  2. Benjamin Eby to Jacob Grove, 13 Oct 1851
  3. John Reesor to Jacob Grove, 5 May 1858. - an invitation to Grove to serve communion.

Series 4: Legal documents

  1. Wills, etc.
    1.Will of Abraham Groff, 1830. - original and translation
    Will of Daniel Huver (Hoover), 1836. - translation from the original found in the Hoover Bible
    Will of Jacob Berkey, 1844. - holograph copy. Jacob Berkey is the father-in-law of Jacob Grove.
    2. Jacob Grove estate sale records, 1863
  2. Property
    1.Grant, to Christian Long, 200 acres in Lot 32 in the 7th Concession, Township of Markham, County of York, Province of Upper Canada, 1801. - parchment (37 x 47 cm) and seal (11 cm diameter)

    2. Deed, to James Lee, Township of Whitechurch, York County, from the Canada Company, 100 acres in the west half of Lot 27 in the 8th Concession, 1853; Letter regarding surveyor's visit, [18--]

    3. Mortgage between Jacob B. Grove and Sara Grove (mortgagor) and Christian Wideman (mortgagee) for the east half of Lot 34 in the 4th Concession of the Township of Markham, 1893
     

Series 5: Jacob Grove correspondence with Dilman Moyer

Note: Additional Jacob Grove correspondence with Dilman Moyer is located in "Group M" of the Lewis. J. Burkholder collection. When Burkholder gathered items for his history of Mennonites in Ontario in the late 1920s and early 1930s, he returned some of the originals to the Grove family after making copies. The originals, donated to the Archives by Paul Grove in 2009, have subsequently been interfiled in the Burkholder collection with the copies. The items listed below were donated by Paul Grove in 2009 but not originally listed in the Burkholder collection. Most letters in the list below are accompanied with a translation by Paul Grove.

  1. Dilman Moyer to Jacob Grove, 29 Sept, 1851. -  re: announcement in church that Manassa Fretz of Louth Township and Maria Risser of Markham, desire to be married
  2. Dilman Moyer to Jacob Grove, 15 Sept 1852. - re plans of Grove to visit Moyer later in the fall; Moyer reports on his visit to Benjamin Eby in Waterloo Township, and taking communion there.
  3. Dilman Moyer to Jacob Grove, 31 Aug 1854. -  re Abraham Wismer's visit, and arranging for Grove to come for communion in the fall
  4. Dilman Moyer to Jacob Grove, 26 Mar 1855. - re spiritual encouragement and a letter from Martin Burkholder of Virginia
  5. Dilman Moyer to Jacob Grove and Adam Wideman, 13 Aug 1857. - re reflections and spiritual admonitions on the many who are dying of cholera
  6. Dilman Moyer to Jacob Grove, Sept 1858. -  re the death of James McDowell, and the announcement of a new book to be printed in Pennsylvania. The book is probably Jacob Denners Christliche und erbauliche Betrachtungen [...] / Jacob Denner. - Philadelphia : King und Baird, 1860.
  7. Dilman Moyer to Jacob Grove, 19 Feb 1861. -  re the arrival of the Denner books for distribution
  8. Dilman Moyer to Jacob Grove, 1 Mar 1861. - re death of Adam Wideman, arrangement for sale of the Denner books
  9. Dilman Moyer to Jacob Grove, 15 Mar 1861. - re sale of Denner books
  10. Dilman Moyer to Jacob Grove, 6 May 1861. - re sales of Denner books
  11. Dilman Moyer and Maria Moyer to Jacob Grove, 29 Nov 1861. - re spiritual encouragement and sales of Denner books
  12. Undated notes re sale of Denner books. - includes list of purchasers

Series 6: Publications

  1. Jacob Grove
    Ig. Kohler's Verlags-Katalog, [18--]
    Receipts for books and newspaper subscriptions purchased by Jacob Grove, [1845?]
    List of subscribers to "Die Heils und Gnaden Ordnung" in the York County area, [1844?]
  2. Jacob B. Grove
    List of hymns to be sung on Good Friday, [18-?]
    Receipt for subscription to the Weekly Globe and Sentinel, 1901

Series 7: Church records

Note: Items in this series are similar to, but do not duplicate, items in "Group R" of the Lewis J. Burkholder collection.

  1. Questions for baptismal service, Abraham Groff, [1811?]. - original and partial translation by Paul Grove
  2. Baptismal candidates, [18--]. - original and partial translation by Paul Grove
  3. Burial formula, [18--]
  4. Fee receipts for exemption from military duty, 1835 (holograph copy), 1838, 1848, 1851, 1856-1857 (holograph copy)
  5. Marriage vows, [18--]. - with translation by Paul Grove
  6. Lots for preacher and deacon, [18--]. - with translation by Paul Grove
  7. An Act to make valid certain marriages heretofore contracted, and to provide for the future solemnization of matrimony in this province, 2 Mar 1831
    Marriages performed by Abraham Grove (1831-1832) and Jacob Grove (1839,1841,1843,1844,1845,1851). - file includes excerpts by Paul Grove
  8. Untranslated German script

Series 8: Township


Scope and content: Correspondence, tax assessments, tax receipts and school tax receipts for Jacob Lehman, Jacob Grove and Jacob B. Grove; notices to Jacob B. Grove from Markham Township re his appointment as fence viewer.

Series 9: Pennsylvania Letters

Note: Letters in this series are accompanied by translations by Paul Grove.

  1. Peter and Elizabeth Lehman to Jacob Grove, 23 Mar 1837
  2.  Elizabeth Lehman to Elizabeth Grove, 24 May 1837. - telling of Peter Lehman's death
  3. Jacob Lehman to Jacob and Elizabeth Grove, 1 Jan 1839
  4. Jacob Lehman to Jacob and Elizabeth Grove, 27 Apr 1842
  5. Jacob Blough Jr. to Jacob Grove, 16 Feb 1845
  6. Jacob Blough Jr. to Jacob Grove, 18 Nov 1849. - telling of the death of Jacob Blough Sr.
  7. Jacob Blough Jr. to Jacob Grove, 5 Jun 1863
  8. Esther Peifer to Jacob [B. Grove?], 9 Jul 1873. - telling of the death of sister Catherine Lehman

Series 10: Letters

  1. Samuel W. Lehman (1837-1902) correspondence
    Samuel W. Lehman to his father Jacob Lehman (1812-1878), [20 Sept 1871?]. - re life in Victoria, British Columbia where he has recently arrived and is working in a machine shop
    Samuel W. Lehman to Jacob Lehman, 27 Jul 1875. - re life in Matsqui, British Columbia as a farmer. His wife Catherine (Macklen) has joined him.
    Samuel W. Lehman to his sister Mrs. Grove, 14 Apr 1876. - re life in Matsqui
    Samuel W. Lehman to Jacob Lehman, 14 Apr 1876. - re life in Matsqui
    Susan Chapman to Samuel W. Lehman, 30 May 1875. -  re the death of her son William Chapman
     
  2. Miscellaneous correspondence from Niagara and Michigan
    Benjamin Oberholser to Jacob Grove, Nov 1844
    Samuel L. Moyer to unknown, 2 Jun 1850. - Reports of sickness in the Clinton Township, Ontario community. Translation by Paul Grove included.
    John F. Rittenhouse to Jacob B. Grove, 1857
    John F. Rittenhouse to Jacob B. Grove, 8 Feb 1857
    Saloma Albright to Jacob B. Grove, 1885
    Henry Lehman to cousin Joseph Grove, 2 Nov 1914
    Henry Lehman to cousin Jacob B. Grove, 21 Jan 1915
     

Series 11: Cures

  1. Correspondence
    "B" to Jacob Grove, 28 Oct [1835?]
    David Bricker to Peter Ramer, 20 Jun 1862. -  sending a list of names of those affected by consumption to give to Jacob Grove
    Henry Kolb to Jacob Grove, 7 July 1862 and 19 Aug 1862. - seeking a cure for consumption for himself and others
    Johan Jacob [?] to Jacob Grove, 12 Aug 1862. - seeking a cure for his wife Elizabeth
  2. Cures andrecipes
  3. Notes listing ages of patients, [18--]
    Cloth bag (16 x 9 cm) containing the notes listed above
    Note: These items together possibly form an amulet used in brauche (charming).

Series 12: Miscellaneous

  1. Valentine poem, [18-?]
    Handwritten song lyrics, "I am gypsy Davy," [18-?]
    4 indented bills of Maryland currency, issued 1774
    Poem in memory of Bishop Jakob Groff (1804-1863) by D.H. (Daniel Hoover)
  2. Notice of payment from Catharina Groff to Johannes Krehbiel, her uncle, 27 March 1840, Altleiningen, Bavaria. - holograph copy, with translation by Paul Grove
  3. Veronica Groff, 1851. - list of items received at marriage to Abraham Huber, with partial translation by Paul Grove
  4. Notes by Paul Grove; Historical notes on the Markham area by Lorne Grove (brother to Paul)
  5. Memorial book for Paul H. Grove (1929-2016)