Key Facts

Snapshot:	Methodist preacher
Parents:	452Peter Groover His mother's identity is uncertain.
Born:	1800 North Carolina
Died:	3 May 1882 probably Cleburne County, Alabama
Buried:	uncertain

Alleged photograph: Leonore Jeanne Walzer Groover's 1994 book The Groover Family Tree on page 67 shows a photo of a man purported to be 226Philip Groover. Unfortunately, the author doesn't cite a source, or even mention the photo's origins in a more casual way. Therefore, one can't be confident in the identification, or even that the photo isn't an outright forgery. Nevertheless, if you are aware of the shortcomings but still want to see the photo, click here.

226Philip Groover was born in North Carolina1-4 in the year 1800.1-5 His father is 452Peter Groover, as explained in the problem section below.

Problem: Resolved Who is 226Philip's father? I know of no document that explicitly states that 226Philip's father is 452Peter Groover. However, the relationship is strongly insinuated across several documents. Before I present the evidence in more detail, here's a brief overview: In 1840 226Philip lived next door to John Groover, a known (i.e., explicitly documented) son of 452Peter. He also lived just a few houses from Daniel Groover, who had an old man (very likely 452Peter) living with him. An earlier record shows that John and 226Philip had previously lived near each other in a different location (suggesting that they had moved together as a family unit), and that 226Philip previously lived in Franklin County, Georgia, where 452Peter had lived for many years. 226Philip's listing in the 1840 census is below. Notice that he lived immediately next to John Groover, and very near Daniel Groover; both of these men will be mentioned again below.6 226Philip Groover in Cobb County, Georgia in 1840. Full page.6 There's an extant baptism record for John. Translated from German, it reads, "Petrus Gruber and his wife Susanna - their son Johannes born 16th Sept 1800 [...]." 7 John and 226Philip must have been closely related, since they not only lived next door to each other in 1840, but also previously had lived near each other in 1835 in a completely different part of the state.8 Also nearby in 1840, Daniel Groover had a man of age 70-79 living in his household.9 Similarly, the 1830 census also shows an old man in Daniel's household.10 This old man is very likely 452Peter Groover. In 1832 452Peter Groover testified that he was age 70 and lived in Captain Vaughn's district, Franklin County, Georgia,11 and in 1833 Daniel paid tax on property in that same district.12 Although the above evidence is compelling on its own, also notice that John and 226Philip lived for a time in Franklin County, Georgia,8 where 452Peter Groover is known to have lived.11 The NSDAR has accepted numerous applications from those who descend from 452Peter via his son 226Philip. See, for example, the application of M853182.

226Philip's mother may have been 452Peter's wife Susanna (named in the abovementioned baptism records8), but I can't be certain. Nothing else is known about her.

226Philip married 227Mathilda Henry, as proven by the will of her father.13 They seem to have married by 1829 at the latest.

The will of 454Philip Henry proves that 226Philip Groover married 227Matilda Henry. Full page.13

226Philip was a Methodist preacher. He was received on trial in the South Carolina Methodist Conference in 1823,14 fully admitted in 1826,15 and spent some time preaching on a traveling circuit.16

Considering his occupation, it's not surprising that 226Philip moved frequently.

Record Type and Year	Residence Location	Source Citation
1835 tax digest	Franklin County, GA	8
1840 census	Militia district 897 (map), Cobb County, GA	6
1849 tax digest	Militia district 897, Cobb County, GA	17
1850 census	Cobb County, GA	1
1860 census	Cleburne County, AL	2
1867 voter registration oath	Militia district 693 (map), Coweta County, GA	18
1870 census	Militia district 693, Coweta County, GA	3
1880 census	Cleburne County, AL	4

The censuses show the growth of his family.

1840: 226Philip's family in militia district 897 (map), Cobb County, Georgia. The numbers show six children (three boys and three girls) under age 15. Full page.6

1850: 226Philip's family in Cobb County, Georgia. Full page.1

1860: 226Philip's family still in Cobb County. Full page.2

1870: 226Philip lives next door to his daughter 113Ellen in militia district 693 (map), Coweta County, Georgia. The enumerator seems to have overlooked 226Philip's wife 227Matilda. Full page.3

1880: 226Philip and his wife alone in Cleburne County, Alabama. Full page.4

In addition to the censuses shown above, the 1850 census surveyed 226Philip's farm. His listing (pages 1 and 2) shows that he owned various livestock and grew/produced wheat, Indian corn, oats, cotton, peas/beans, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, wool, and butter.19

In 1867 the U.S. Congress passed several Reconstruction Acts. These Acts divided the former Confederacy into several military occupation zones, which were ruled by Union military commanders. The Acts also directed the commanding officers to register Southerners who wanted to vote in upcoming elections. One registration requirement was to swear an oath of loyalty to the United States; the obvious intent was to disfranchise any lingering Confederate resistance. 226Philip signed his oath on 10 April 1867 as a resident of militia district 693 (map), Coweta County, Georgia.18

226Philip's Reconstruction-era voter registration oath.18

226Philip died on 3 May 1882,5 presumably in Cleburne County, Alabama, since he'd been living there the year prior.4 The Methodists published the following obituary.5

Settling 226Philip's estate resulted in some legal disputes—which is fortunate for us, since the lawsuit documents name all his living children and describe some of his property.20

I don't know where 226Philip is buried. Some have suggested that he's buried in the Antioch Cemetery, Cleburne County, Alabama, since some of his other relatives are buried there, but I could find no such tombstone during a visit to that cemetery in 2021.

Sources Cited:

1: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Merritt's district, Cobb County, Georgia. Page 162B, dwelling 972, family 972, Phillip Groover household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 66. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZYK-P8W>, accessed 31 January 2020.

2: 1860 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Township 15 Range 12, Cleburne County, Alabama. Page 22, dwelling 155, family 155, Philip Grouver household. NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 4. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBR-SQJ?i=6&cc=1473181&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMHDH-RN6>, accessed 3 February 2020.

3: 1870 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Militia district 693, Coweta County, Georgia. Page 105, dwelling 725, family 713, Phillip Groover household. NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 145. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DCWF-S5?i=34&cc=1438024&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMCSR-PR7>, accessed 7 February 2021.

4: 1880 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Township 16 Range 12, Cleburne County, Alabama. Enumeration district 44, page 193B, dwelling 115, family 116, Phillip Groover household. NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 8. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYJ-3N5?cc=1417683&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AM4JC-MQ7>, accessed 3 January 2021.

5: Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Volume 19 (1882), page 327.

6: 1840 U.S. Federal Census. Militia district 897, Cobb County, Georgia. Page 250, Philip Groover household. NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 39. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY2-SYX8?i=2&cc=1786457&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHBZ-7Y7>, accessed 4 February 2021.

7: David R. Koontz, ed., Frieden Lutheran Church Book 1800-1853, translated by Henry Reeves. Copied by: Peggy Reece Bruckner, <http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~bruckner/genealogy/koontz.htm>, page 10, accessed 4 February 2021. Two pertinent entries are: (1) "Petrus Gruber and his wife Susanna their daughter 'Milly' born 16th Aug 1803 - sponsors were the parents - baptised 15th July 1804;" and (2) "Petrus Gruber and his wife Susanna - their son Johannes born 16th Sept 1800 - and baptized 26th Aug 1804 - sponsors parents of same."

8: Franklin County, Georgia. 1835 tax digest, n.p., entry for Philip Groover. Ancestry.com (“Georgia Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892” / Franklin / 1835 / image 17 of 85), accessed 4 February 2021. I cropped the image to show only the relevant portion.

9: 1840 U.S. Federal Census. Militia district 897, Cobb County, Georgia. Page 250, Daniel Groover household. NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 39. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY2-SYX8?i=2&cc=1786457&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHBZ-7Y7>, accessed 4 February 2021.

10: 1830 U.S. Federal Census. Franklin County, Georgia. Page 234, Daniel Groover household. NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 17. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTL-9Q1J?i=49&wc=35Y4-WQX%3A1588469703%2C1588469904%2C1588469601&cc=1803958>, accessed 4 February 2021.

11: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications, file S31717 for Peter Groover of North Carolina. NARA microfilm publication M804, roll 1139. <https://catalog.archives.gov/id/54738491>, 4 February 2021. You can see a transcription of the application here. The relevant sentence reads, "On [23 July 1832] personally appeared [...] Peter Groover a resident of Captain Vaughan's district of [Franklin County, Georgia], aged 70 years [...]."

12: Franklin County, Georgia. 1833 tax digest, Vaugn's district, entry for Daniel Groover. The pages aren't numbered, and the entries are poorly organized. However, you can (barely) see the header for Vaughn's district on this page.

13: Anson County, North Carolina. Wills Book B, pages 229-230. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-NH93-GQ?i=447&cc=1867501&cat=309286>, accessed 31 January 2021. The pertinent phrase reads, "my daughter Matilda Groover wife of Philip Groover."

14: Joseph Travis, Autobiography of the Rev. Joseph Travis, A.M., a Member of the Memphis Annual Conference (E. Stevenson and F. A. Owen, 1856), page 255. The relevant passage reads, "In 1823, the brethren received on trial in the South Carolina Conference were [...] Philip Groover [...]."

15: Methodist Episcopal Church, Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the Years 1773-1828, Volume I (T. Mason and G. Lane, New York, 1840), page 488. 226Philip's name is listed under question 3 ("Who are admitted into full connection?").

16: Rev. A. M. Chreitzberg, Early Methodism in the Carolinas (Publishing House of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Nashville, 1897), page 242. The relevant sentence reads, "In 1828 he traveled the Pee Dee Circuit with Philip Groover and William Culverhouse [...]."

17: Cobb County, Georgia. 1849 tax digest, militia district 897, entry for Philip Grover. Ancestry.com ("Georgia, U.S. Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892" / Cobb / 1849 / images 60 and 61 of 157), accessed 4 February 2021.

18: Georgia's 1867-1868 Voter Registration Oath Books. Volume 222 (Supplemental oath book for Meriwether, Coweta, and Campbell counties), page 176, entry 278, Philip Groover. Ancestry.com ("Georgia, Returns of Qualified Voters and Reconstruction Oath Books, 1867-1869" / Oath Book / Coweta / 36 / image 603 of 1364), accessed 4 February 2021.

19: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Agriculture Schedule). Merritt's district, Cobb County, Georgia. Pages 471-472, line 22, Phillip Groover farm. NARA microfilm publication T1137, roll 1. Ancestry.com ("U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880" / Georgia / Agriculture / 1850 / Cobb / Lost / images 2 and 3 of 3), accessed 4 February 2021. I cropped the images. The NARA provides a helpful template.

20: Cleburne County, Alabama. Estate case files, case #256 for Phillip Groover. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C91H-W59D?i=1303&cat=1346039> et seq., accessed 17 January 2021. The most important image is #1315, which names the decedent's children.