Grover Family Papers, 1836-1946

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Summary

Creators:
Grover, Elija, 1795-1874, Grover, Elijah Whitney, 1828-1889, Grover, George W. Lafayette, 1836-1854, Grover, Hadassah Bean, 1795-1848, Grover, Hannah Margaret, 1835-1847, Grover, Harriet Atwood, 1818-1847, Grover, James Lyman, 1820-1888, Grover, Jarvis Hilliard, 1833-1865, Grover, Lucinda Hadassah, 1839-1916, Grover, Mary Elvira, 1826-1847, Grover, Sarah Ann Steward, 1836-1927, Grover, Stephen Frealon, 1830-1907, Grover, Susannah, 1821-1847, and Grover, Sylvia, 1824-1847
Abstract:
Five folders of handwritten letters and documents between the Grover family members, dating over time, from 1836-1946. The family came from Bethel, Maine and the letters are often correspondence between there and various locations in early California.
Extent:
5 folders Folders contain handwritten letters.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Folder 1: Letters dating from 1839-1849 between the members of the Grover family. Includes a small index typed by donor. Folder 2: Letters dating from 1853-1859, includes a typed index. Folder 3: Letters dating from 1869-1896, includes a typed index. Folder 4: A variety of deeds and documents, dating from 1841-1869. Folder 5: Deeds and couments dating from 1870-1946.

Biographical / historical:

Elijah Grover, born April 7, 1795 in Bethel, Maine, had thirteen children with wife Hadassah Bean Grover. From 1846 through 1848, Hadassah and four of her six daughters died from Typhoid Fever (there are no letters written between those dates). Elijah's sons - James Lyman, Elijah Whitney, Stephen Frealon and Jarvis Hilliard - all traveled West in 1849. Elijah by sailing around the Horn, and the other three brothers by ship to the Eastern shore of Panama and then on foot scross the Isthmus of Panama and then by ship up the coast to California. Originally, the latter three brothers settled in Stockton, Califoria as farmers, and Stephen rode for Wells Fargo. James and Stephen eventually moved to Santa Cruz, where they began their own lumber business. Stephen went on to build the historic Brookdale Lodge in Ben Lomond, California - which still stands today.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Leona Nixon and Revae E. Leppanen, February 18th, 2014.

Revae Leppanen received the letters from her cousin, Leona Nixon. They were delivered to The Society of California Pioneers by Revaie Leppanen, but the donation citation should include both names.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no restrictions on access.

Location of this collection:
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA 94107, US
Contact:
(415) 957-1849 ext. 160
mmdevine@californiapioneers.org
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