John Grove was born in 1845 in Petersville, MD, to Daniel and Julia Ann (Willard) Grove, farmers. In the 1860 census, John, age 14, was living in Burkittsville with his parents and three siblings. His father was, at that time, a merchant in addition to farming. In the 1870 census, John (24 yo) was still living in the Petersville district with his parents and 4 siblings. His father was again listed as a farmer.
In 1873, 28-year old John married 22-year old Laura Rudy, daughter of Jacob and Eliza C. (Routzahn) Rudy of Middletown. John and Laura eventually had 7 children, but only three of them survived to adulthood.
In 1880, John and Laura were living in the Petersville district (which included Burkittsville and the village of Berlin). They had two children, Edna (6) and Luella (1). He was a merchant, selling dry goods and groceries. Living next door was his widowed mother and her three daughters.
In 1900, John and Laura were living in Burkittsville in the same home with his sisters Helen and Georgetta. They had two children living with them: Luella (22) and Olive (14). By this time, he had retired as a merchant.
By 1910, John and Laura were living on Potomac Avenue in Brunswick, no occupation listed. Their daughter Olive V, age 23 and single, was living with them. Olive never married. She was in the retail millinery business (making or selling women’s hats).
John died in 1916, age 71, and was buried in Christ Reformed Cemetery in Middletown. Laura went to live with her daughter Louella and her husband, Hanson O. Orrison on High Street (now Potomac St.) in Brunswick. Laura’s unmarried daughter Olive (33) was also living with them, still working as a milliner. Laura died in 1920, age 69, and was is buried beside her husband. Olive died in 1929, age 41, and is also buried in the Christ Reformed Cemetery.
Descendants: The oldest child, Edna Grove (born 1874) “got a job in Greencastle, PA in Nov 1894.” There is not subsequent record of her. 4 children died at birth or in early infancy. Olive, the youngest child, remained single until she died in 1928. Only one daughter, Louella E., was married. Husband: Hanson Marlow Orrison (nephew of Charles C. Orrison), a brakeman on the B&O Railroad. They have no children listed in the 1920 or 1930 census (living in Brunswick).
Thus, we have no record of any living descendants of John and Laura Grove.
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