“Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County,” published:  
Chicago;  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

J. E. GROVES, a Dallas county farmer, residing near Garland, dates his 
birth in Rutherford county, North Carolina, May 18, 1833.

Jesse Groves, his father, a farmer by occupation, was born and reared in 
North Carolina, in the above named county, his birth occurring February 18, 
1800.  In 1838 he moved his family to Tennessee, where he died on the 14th 
of February, 1857, aged fifty-seven years.  His wife, who before her 
marriage was Miss Margaret Long, was born in 1811 and was a native of the 
same county in which her husband was born.  They reared a family of ten 
children, whose names are as follows: Nancy, Andrew, William, John, J. E., 
Sarah, George, Jane, Daniel and Sophronia.  Nancy married Richard Proctor 
and Sarah became the wife of Samuel Shiply.  Jane is deceased.

J. E. Groves was the fifth-born of the family and was twenty-five years old 
when his father died.  In May, 1857, he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth 
Tennessee Regiment, Confederate States of America, and served until 1865.  
He participated in a number of important engagements and was with the 
forces that followed Sherman on his memorable march, being forty-two days 
constantly under fire, and during that time never had his accouterments off.  
In all his service he was never wounded or captured.  On the 25th of April, 
1865, he was surrendered in North Carolina, after which he returned to his 
home.

December 24, 1868, Mr. Groves was united in marriage to Miss Ruth 
Ballanger, who was born in Tennessee in 1844, February 19.  Her father, 
Elijah Ballanger, was born in 1805 and died in 1872, aged sixty-seven years.  
His first wife was nee Ruth Edwards, and by her he had seven children.  
After her death he wedded Mrs. Nancy (Hedelston) who died at the age of 
sixty years.  By his last companion he had a family of six children, Mrs. 
Groves being one of these.  The names of the others are: J. E. Parlea, Mary 
Ann (who died when small); Thomas, Frances and Sam.  To Mr. and Mrs. 
Groves have been born seven children: John F., Elijah, Sophronia, William, 
Samuel, Nancy and Thomas.  John F. died at the age of eighteen years.

Mr. Groves dates his arrival in Texas in November, 1872, he and his brother, 
William Q., having made the journey from Tennessee in wagons.  When 
they landed here they only had $5 between them.  But they went to work in 
earnest and soon had money enough to buy the farm they had rented.  They 
purchased 155 acres at $20 per acre.  They still farm together.  By making 
improvements of various kinds they have greatly enhanced the value of their 
land, it now being worth twice the price they paid for it.

Mr. and Mrs. Groves are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Submitted by: Justina Cook