Drexel: The First 100 Years 1890-1900, pg. 182:

Joseph Groves, the son of Joseph and Catherine Staley Groves, was born in Brown County, Illinois, August 7, 1831, and married Dicia Nishwonger in Illinois on September 26, 1852.

They came to Missouri in 1882 and settled near the GROVES brothers who lived on farms in West Boone Township in 1868. They raised a family of 11 children on the farm that has been in the GROVES family over 100 years.

Dicia Nishwonger was born May 18, 1834, and died June 21, 1903. Joseph died March 27, 1915, at the age of 83. At the time of his death he had 30 grandchildren. When Joseph Groves was 76 years old, he still took an active hand at farming and cattle feeding. When he left Illinois, he believed that the high priced lands of that state would not produce any more than the Missouri farms, so he sold out and invested in cheaper land in Bates county. In an interview for the Kansas City Drovers telegram, he said, "During the past summer I visited my former home in Illinois. While there, I saw a farm sell for $150 an acre, and the strangest part of the deal was that the buyer thought he had secured a big bargain. Now after a trial of 25 years, I have found that my Missouri farm located 55 miles out from Kansas City, the best livestock farm there is, will produce as much grain and as good crops generally as the Illinois farm that sold so high. For several years my corn has averaged over 60 bushels to the acre. We can raise anything down there that can be raised in Illinois and have better winters which is favorable to stock."

Obituary: Drexel 4-1-1915 (Source Cass County Historical Society, Inc.)
Joseph Groves Dead.
"Uncle" Joe Groves died at his home southeast of town Saturday night, March 27, 1918, aged 83 years, 7 months, and 20 days.
Mr. Groves was born in Brown County, Illinois, August 7, 1831. September 25, 1859, he married LaDiata Nishwonger. To this union were born eleven children, ten of whom survive him. One son, Delbert Groves, with the wife being dead, the latter dying about eleven years ago. His six sons acted as pall bearers The children are:
Alonzo Groves, Drexel, Mo; George D. Groves, Whittier, Calif.; Alice Van Deventer, Ottawa, Kansas; Robert J. Groves, Kansas City, Mo.; Mary C. Gentry, Drexel, Mo.; Newt. J. Groves, Warrensburg, Mo.; Ida E. Barnes, Kansas City, Kansas City, Kansas; Jos. H. Groves, Springfield, Mo; Fanny Carter, Drexel, Mo.; Wm. W. Groves, Nampa, Idaho.
Besides the children, he had 30 grandchildren and 4 great grand children.
Mr. Groves lived on the same farm thirty years and was one of the most widely known men in the country. He was a good citizen and an honest and upright man in all his dealings.
The funeral was conducted at Sharon on Wednesday, by Rev. Weir, of Warsaw, Mo. The burial was in the Sharon Cemetery.