WI BIO - Dane Co - GROVE, H.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 249-250

H. GROVE, one of the leading German citizens of Madison, Dane County, WI, a 
wholesale dealer in wines and liquors, also vinegar and a manufacturer of 
cigars, was born in the city of Hanover, Germany, 13 Oct 1822, and grew up 
and was educated in Germany. He received a good education, and was made 
clerk in a Government Collector's office. Later he engaged in farming, and 
then bought a restaurant in Hanover for $5,000, and conducted this for five 
years. At the end of that time he sold his business for $7,200, and in May 
1857 left Germany for the U. S., taking passage on a steamer, the "Indiana," 
out from Bremer-Haven, and in 21 days landed in NY City, then came to 
Chicago, IL, and then to Freeport, Stephenson County, IL, and there, with Mr. 
Fred BUES, established a vinegar factory and were wholesale liquor dealers. 
In this venture our subject put the most of his capital, but in two years the 
firm was overtaken with misfortune, and Mr. GROVE lost his capital and had 
but $190 and six vinegar generators when he came to Madison, Dane County, WI, 
in Mar 1859, to take a new start.

With but small capital Mr. GROVE opened up first as a manufacturer of 
vinegar, and after some years so enlarged his business as to include [p 250] 
trade in wines and liquors. In 1875 our subject bought out the cigar 
manufactory of Lantz & Keyser and increased the business from the employment 
of 8 men to that of 30, which he needs a part of the time now. The firm now 
does business under the firm name of H. Grove & Sons, and the cigar factory 
has a capacity of about 100,000 cigars per month. The goods are represented 
upon the road by one of the sons generally. The firm occupies Nos. 109 to 
113 South Webster Street [Madison, WI].

Few Germans who came here poor have done as well as Mr. GROVE. He is now 
feeling the advance of years, and is not very actively engaged any more in 
the business, and has given the care over to his sons, who are capable and 
energetic young men, and are able to carry on the business as their father 
began it. Mr. GROVE has been interested in everything which has served to 
build up the city, and has been recognized as one of the reliable German 
citizens. He has gone through the many experiences of those men who have 
crossed the ocean to make a home in this country. He came of German parents, 
who died when he was in childhood, and was educated by an uncle with whom he 
lived for some years, his uncle being a successful teacher. Mr. GROVE was 
the only son of the family to come to the U. S., and he had two sisters who 
died in Germany, who were married to prominent men there.

H. GROVE was first married in his native province to a lady of his own town, 
and she died in the prime of life after the birth of two children, William 
and Louis, the former a liquor dealer in Sacramento [Sacramento County], CA. 
H. GROVE was a second time married, at his old home, to Miss Augusta SOEHLE, 
who was reared at the same place and has since been a true wife and mother. 
She has become the mother of seven children, one of whom, Dora, died in 
childhood, and Theodore, who was connected with his father in business, died 
in 1886, at age 28 years. Theodore married Miss Emma RULLMAN, and they had 
two children, William and Helen. Mathilda, who was married to John W. 
VEERHUSEN, who has died, now lives with her parents and has a family of one 
son and two daughters. Henry is also connected with his father in business; 
he married Miss Sarah McSTAY, and they live in Madison, WI. Fred is also 
with his father and married Miss Laura MENHARDT, and they are residents of 
Madison, WI. Walter is connected with the clerical work in the State bank 
and is at home. Edward, as all of the family, possesses business 
qualifications and is connected with his father. Theodore was a very 
prominent man in Madison, WI, and a member of the Council. The family 
attends the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. GROVE and his sons are independent 
in politics.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly