Jesse Grove, a well-known and influential citizen of Rutland township, LaSalle county, Illinois, is a son of Joseph Grove, deceased, one of the early settlers of that township. Joseph Grove was born in Licking county, Ohio, December 28, 1806, a son of John and Barbara (Lineberger) Grove, the former a native of Virginia. The Linebergers were of German origin. In 1829, when a young man of twenty-three years, with a spirit for adventure and a desire to see something of the world, Joseph Grove made the journey on horseback from Ohio to Fort Dearborn (Chicago) and also visited other points in Illinois, and in 1835 he located on the farm in Rutland township where our subject now lives. Here, on the 28th of June, 1838, he married Miss Elma N. Jackson, who was born January 23, 1815, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Jesse Jackson, one of the pioneers of LaSalle county, locating here in 1836. With the passing years sons and daughters to the number of ten came to bless the home of Joseph and Elma N. Grove. Of this number six are still living, as follows: Jesse, the direct subject of this sketch; Lucien J., of Miller township, LaSalle county; Elmira, wife of George Pitzer, of Rutland township, this county; Samantha, wife of Wakefield Apling, of Wichita, Kansas; Mary, wife of H. L. Loring, of Miller township; and Clara E., also of Miller township. The four children deceased were: Minerva, who died in childhood; Jeremiah, a Union soldier, who died during the civil war; David L., who died in South America; and John, who died in Nevada, Boone county, Iowa, leaving a widow and two children. Joseph Grove, the father, died December 28, 1858, at the age of fifty-two years. In the very prime of life his health was broken by exposure and the hardships incident to pioneering. The mother died January 21, 1873, at the age of fifty-eight years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church from her girlhood till the time of her death and her life was of an exemplary Christian character.
Jesse Grove was born on his father's farm in LaSalle county, January 29, 1841. His boyhood was passed in attending the district school and the Ottawa high school, and his adult years have been devoted to agricultural pursuits. The farm on which he resides is located near Wedron Station, six miles northeast of Ottawa, and comprises a valuable tract of three hundred and sixty-eight acres, where he carries on general agriculture, considerable attention being given to a high grade of Durham and Holstein cattle.
February 15, 1877, Mr. Grove was married to Miss Louise Parr, a native of Manlius township, LaSalle county. She was born May 6, 1850, a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Parr, early settlers of the county, both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Grove were born two children: Joseph Roy, born May 27, 1878; and Everett, who died at the age of three months. The wife and mother died April 20, 1880, at the age of thirty years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, was a most estimable woman in every respect, and her early death was a source of sorrow not only to her immediate family but also to a large circle of friends.
Politically Mr. Grove is a Democrat.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 311-312.
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