Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - GROVES, Family, The

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Pioneer - The GROVES Family

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906

GROVES, Family, The . The late Abraham Groves was b. near Dublin, in the county of Wicklow, Ire., in 1811. In 1826 he came to Canada with his mother and the rest of the family, and took up land near Peterborough, Emily Tp., Victoria Co. In 1856, Abraham came to West Garafraxa Tp., and bought 200 acres of bush land, lot 14, con. 1, paying $9 per acre. With the help of his sons he cleared this land, and lived upon it until his death in 1892. At the time of the Mackenzie Rebellion, Mr. Groves saw service under the late Col. Alex. McDonnell. He took an active interest in educational and church matters, being for years Trustee of his school section, and Warden of St. James' Church, Fergus. He m. Margaret, dau. of the late Gideon Gibson, a Lundy's Lane veteran, and Otonabee Tp. pioneer. The following family survive them: William J., near Carrol, Man.; Dr. Abraham, Gideon C., Mrs. John Nesbit, on the Garafraxa homestead; Mrs. Thomas Nesbit, Peel Tp.; Gibson, Supt. electric light plant, Parry Sound; Mrs. Robt. Bright, Wiarton; Mary, Anglican missionary, Hay River House, N.W.T.; Dr. Oliver, at Rochester, N.Y.

Dr. Abraham Groves was b. in Peterborough, Sept 8, 1847. He came with his parents to West Garafraxa in 1856. After attending the rural Public School, and Fergus High School, he decided upon medicine as his profession, and took his decree as M.D. from Toronto University in 1871. He at once started to practice in Fergus, and none since that time have done more to bring the town into prominence. He has at different times had as partners, doctors who have also become prominent, such as the late Dr. Munro, Dr. John Wishart, lecturer in chemical surgery in Western University, London; Dr. Thos. Chisholm, now M.P. for E. Huron, and Dr. T. F. McMahon, now professor medicine Women's Med. College of Toronto. In 1878 Dr. Groves was appointed physician and surgeon for G.T.R. at Fergus, and in 1882 for the House of Industry of Wellington County, and still retains the latter position. Almost from the beginning of his practice, his ability and skill as a surgeon began to be recognized, and the demands for his professional services grew rapidly, and by 1901, they had become so numerous that it was impossible to continue in private practice, so he opened at Fergus, the Royal Alexandra Hospital, (so named by special permission of Queen Alexandra). The undertaking was a success from the start, and despite the fact that he has an institution with a capacity of 75 beds, and with a staff of 16 nurses, and 3 resident physicians, Dr. Groves is kept very busy meeting the calls upon his professional time, as is shown by a record of a yearly average of over 300 operations. When we remember that Dr. Groves, so far as is known, was the first surgeon in Canada to successfully perform the operations of Supra Pubic Lithotomey, and for Appendicitis, we can readily understand his high ranking among the surgeons, not only of Canada, but of the world. Notwithstanding his busy professional life, Dr. Groves has always found time for the consideration of affairs pertaining to the welfare of his town. He served in the Fergus Council for the years 1882-3-4, and in 1885 was elected to the Reeveship, but as the position then made him a member of the County Council, he could not retain it as he was already Surgeon to the County House of Industry. He has been largely interested in real estate, owning some of the best properties, and was builder and proprietor of the "Groves Mills," which later were converted into the Electric Light Station. He has always taken an active interest in church matters, and has been Warden of St. James' Church for 12 years. In 1874 he m. Jennie dau. of the late Wm. Gibbon, of Elora. His family consists of Dr. Wm. .A., Fergus, and Laura, who m. Rev. R. A. Hiltz of Halifax.

Gideon C. b. 1850, came to West Garafraxa at 6 years of age. He followed farming until 1886, when he came to Fergus and was associated with his brother, Dr. Abraham Groves, in the "Groves Mills." In 1901, he opened a general farm implement agency in Fergus, and has, since that time, devoted his attention to that business. Mr. Groves has taken his share of the burden of municipal government, as he was for six years, Councillor, and two years Reeve of Fergus, and was, in Jan., 1905, elected to the County Council. He m. Elizabeth, dau. of the late Francis Cassidy, pioneer of W. Garafraxa. They have the following issue: Louisa (d.); Francis A., Florence (d.); Bella, Mary, and Oliver.

Dr. Wm. A. Groves, son of Dr. Abraham Groves, b. in Fergus, educated in Fergus Public School and High School, and graduated B. A., in 1899, and 1903, M. B. He was house surgeon, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Fergus, for one year, then took post graduate work in London Hospitals, for one year. In July, 1905, started practice in his native town. He is Surgeon Lieut. of the 30th Wellington Rifles, having been connected with the company for five years starting as Provisional Lieut.

From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906