The (1885) Groves Family Reunion.
At the Groves family reunion held at the residence of A. I. Morrison on Tuesday of last week, the number present was eighty-six, representing two families, that of Jonas Groves - numbering, including himself and wife, eleven - and the family of Frederick Groves, which numbers seventy-five; these include the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The oldest representative of the two families present, was Mr. Jonas Groves, aged 81 years, and the youngest, the infant child of Mr. Thomas Deaver. There were present nine brothers and sisters - sons and daughters of Mr. Frederick Groves, deceased, the oldest of whom Mr. Wm. C. Groves, is 66, and the youngest, Mrs. Stanley Stout, 43. Of these nine children, eight of them, Mr. Wm. C., John S., and Isaac N. Groves, and Mrs. Julia Cook, Mrs. David Thompson, Mrs. Mattie Morrison, Mrs. G. W. Nuzum and Mrs. Stanley Stout, are residents, or have been most of the time for thirty years, of Vernon county, and one, Dr. L. S. Groves, is a resident of Afton, Iowa. At the marriage of Rev. and Mrs. G. W. Nuzum, thirty-three years ago, these brothers and sisters were present, which was the last time they had all met together until Tuesday last. The reunion, which was gotten up in honor of Dr. Groves and daughter, was a very pleasant gathering, and one which will long be cherished in the hearts of those present, as one of the most social and enjoyable meetings in the history of the family. Before the large party departed for their homes, they procured a group picture, including all present, and also a picture of the nine brothers and sisters. There were about 45 of the family who were not present, who, had they been there, would have swelled the company to 131.--Viroqua Censor, late August, 1885, reprinted in part in the Republican Observer, 3 Sept. 1885.

Contributor: Tom Brocher

History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, 1884, p. 594

I.M. Groves became a resident of Vernon county in the fall of 1856, residing at Liberty town until 1869, since which time he has lived in Jefferson town. He was born in Perry Co., Ohio, Sept. 20, 1839, where he resided until coming to Wisconsin. He enlisted Sept. 6, 1861, in company F, 8th Wisconsin Volunteers, serving until Sept. 16, 1864. He participated in the battles of Frederickstown, Mo.; siege of Madrid, Island No. 10 and siege of Corinth, when he was taken sick, remaining in the hospital eleven months. He was also on the Red river expedition. In 1865 he married Rachel Maxwell, daughter of James Maxwell. They had six children, five of whom are living—James F., Ottosia A., Le Roy M., Mary E., and Hattie I. He is a greenbacker in politics, but was formerly a republican. His religious connections are with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Groves is a member of the G.A.R.

LA CROSSE TRIBUNE, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Friday, February 18, 1916, Page 1: Aged Couple Drown When Bridge Falls Beneath Bob Sleigh -- Veteran and His Aged Wife Dies in Swollen Creek -- Daughter and Her Baby Rescued at Point of Death from Icy Waters -- Attempted to Cross Span -- Water Covered Flooring and Bridge Fell When the Sleigh Reached the Center
Isaac Groves, 80, prominent farmer near Viroqua, Wis., and a veteran of the civil war, and his wife, aged 79, were drowned in Spring Creek late yesterday afternoon when the bob sleigh with which they were driving home from an aid society meeting capsized in the swollen stream.
Two Are Saved
A daughter, Mrs. Hattie Mills, and her four-year-old daughter were saved. When the sleigh turned over in the rushing water, Mrs. Mills was holding her infant daughter in her arms. The baby was fast asleep. Mrs. Mills caught a half submerged fence in the water and called for help. A farmer in an adjacent field who was bringing his cows from pasture heard her frantic calls and went to her aid. Mrs. Mills' aged father and mother had disappeared, and it was 11 o'clock last night before either of the bodies were recovered.
The body of Mrs. Groves was found about eighty rods downstream. It had lodged against a small bridge. Mr. Groves' body was not found until 8 o'clock this morning His body was seen floating against an uprooted tree trunk.
With two daughters and their granddaughter, Mr. and Mrs. Groves had been attending a meeting of an aid society of which they were members, three miles near their farm home near Viroqua. They debated the question as to whether the weak bridge over Spring Creek was safe to cross. A stranger with a rig who had crossed a half hour before was consulted, and he said the small structure was safe.
Attempt Crossing
When Mr. Groves, who was driving reached the bridge, he found the water even higher than he had expected, and covering the flooring. The party waited a few minutes and then decided to attempt the crossing. As the sleigh reached the main part of the sunken bridge the planks gave away.
Mrs. Mills can relate little of the story of the fatal plunge into the icy stream. She tried to talk this morning, but her physicians would not allow much conversation.
Her father occuped the front of the sleigh. Mrs. Mills and her mother were in the rear with Mrs. Mills' child. Suddenly, according to Mrs. Mills, the sleigh lurched forward and sideways simultaneously, and the four persons were thrown into the stream. The water was about fourteen feet deep.
Mrs. Mills could only look after her baby. It was sleeping peacefully in her arms. She can remember little aside from catching hold of a sunken fence and calling for help. She had nearly lost consciousness when farmers lifted her and the baby from the water. The baby was nearly dead from the effects of the icy water, but it is said it will live.
Search All Night
Word was rushed to relatives at Viroqua and a score of persons began a search for the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Groves which lasted all night. Lanterns were brought and the stream searched for two miles.
Mr. and Mrs. Groves celebrated their fiftied wedding anniversary on September 5. They have been residents of the vicinity of Viroqua for more than fifty years. They were members of the Viroqua Methodist church, and had scores of friends and relatives in the city.
But for the fact that Mrs. Fred Wise, a daughter, of Alberta, Canada, decided to stop off and visit a friend, she would probably have met the fate of her father and mother. She had also attended the aid society meeting and was returning to Viroqua with her parents and sister. She left the party a mile before the accident happened.
Five Daughters Survive
Mr. and Mrs. Groves are survived by four daughters and a son. They are: Mrs. Louis Thompson, Springville; Lee Groves, who had returned recently to his home in Canada; Mrs. Mamie Smith, Alberta, Canada; Mrs. Wise, and Mrs. Mills. Mrs. Smith was on a train bringing her to Viroqua when the accident occurred.. A telegram reached her at Winnipeg, Canada.