WHO WAS - Peter Haslet Grove in Plum Township Venango County, Pennsylvania By H. W. Strawbridge Monday, August 16, 1999
By: H. W. Strawbridge
Peter Haslet Grove, who was always know as "Hays" Grove was born 5/30/1832 a distance southwest of Diamond. He was the eighth of a total of ten children of Jacob and Mary Bault Grove, pioneer settlers of Plum Township.
When Hays was 19, his father died, and by his will left Hays 100 acres of his estate. Hays' land was on the west side of the Jacob Grove land holdings. Record states a cucumber tree stood on the soutwest corner of Hays' property. Hays built a frame house and barn on the three corners.
On July 4, 1856, he was married to Miss Amanda Archer, who was born near Breedtown on January 31, 1839. Her parents were Robert and Betsy Criste Archer. Amanda, when young, was thin, tall and a very pretty girl. She and Hays lived their married life on a section of the land that he received by the will.
Hays was one of the earliest men to share an oil lease. On November 28, 1859 - just three months after the Drake Well was brought in - Hays, his brother, Mitchell Grove, and one David Shaffer had a lease with a Mr. and Mrs. George Shaffer on two acres and 145 perches of land on the west bank of Oil Creek. However, they had a lease only little over three months. On March 7, 1860, David Shaffer sold his share to the Grove brothers for $65 and on the same date the brothers sold out to George H. White of New York City for $375. No record can be found whether there was drilling at this time or not. But, record does exist that George Shaffer's fifty acres became the famous Shaffer Farm in 1864 and 65 with a population of about 3000 people. One wonders what alterations might have been made in the lives of Hays and Mitch Grove, had they continued leases on that farm for another four years.
Hauled Oil from Pithole
During the oil excitement in the mid and latter 1860's, Hays teamed and hauled oil in Pithole and the Rouseville area.
In January, 1859, Hays and Mitchell bought 21 acres from their cousin and neighbor, William H. Grove, for $262.50. Twenty-one years later Mitch gave a quit-claim deed to Hays for his share.
Hays and Amanda were the parents of eight children, who were: Nelson Grove, George W. Grove, Mary Grove, Lusetta Grove, General Sherman Grove, Jesse Robert Grove, Guy Grove and Ethel May Grove.
Nelson, who was born in 1857, was married to Miss Nettie Sterling of Troy Center and they resided near that village. They reared Mrs. Daisy Fox, who presently lives on the Townville Road. Nelson married a second time to Miss Martha Beeler. By this union there was Mrs. Bertha Havey who lives in Florida. Nelson had a sawmill which he operated for years. He lived his last two or three years at Black Ash and died in 1939.
George, born in 1859, was married to Miss Laura B. Johnston of Tionesta on March 8, 1886. They lived a few years on the portion of land that Hays had bought from William H. Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wig presently live on this place. Then they moved to Titusville. George was mainly in the oil business and worked in several states. They had the following children: Ray Grove of California, little Miss Pearl Grove, Walter T. Grove of Erie, Mitchell Grove of Texas, Joseph Grove of Titusville, and little Leroy Grove. All are deceased except Ray. George died May 27, 1921, and his widow on June 5, 1954. They are buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
Mary was married to Ed Owens of Shermanville. They lived a while at diamond, but spent most of their lives at Enterprise. Mr. Owens worked at Shank's sawmill where he mainly hammered saws. They had one daughter, Mrs. Jesta Spencer, who is still living. Mary died on February 25, 1919 at the home of her daughter at Port Stanley, Washington where she is buried.
Lusetta was married to Mark Luce of East Troy about 1886. They lived at East Troy for several years where he engaged in farming. They lived their last at Townville. They had two children, Mrs. Maggie Myer who lives at Pleastville, and Hays Luce of Florida. Lusetta died on August 31, 1903 and her husband in 1908. They are buried at Townville.
In Oil Business in California
Sherman, born September 5, 1867 never married. He left home when quite young and went to the California oil fields where he was quite successful. He was in the oil business in other states too. He was a Spanish American War vetran, having served in Company K of the Sixteenth Regiment. After his retirement he lived the remainder of his years at Black Ash with the family o his brother Jesse. Sherman died March 21, 1950, having been the last survivor of the Hays Grove family.
Jesse, born January 11, 1870 was married to Miss Effie S. Teed of Black Ash on May 21, 1889 at Jamestown NY. They engaged in farming and lived their entire married life at Black Ash. Mrs. Grove, 87, is still living with her daughter and has good health. Their three children are Clyde Grove, Forrest Grove, and Mrs. Edith Smith all living at Black Ash. Jesse died June 8, 1932.
Guy, born in 1874 was married to Miss Blanche Stockwell of Chapmanville on April 24, 1893 at Franklin. They lived on the old homestead which Hays willed to Guy. After Hays' death they moved to Meadville. They had the following children: Floyd Grove of Meadville, Fuller Grove of New York Statte, Mrs Mildred Groover of Meadville, Sharon Grove of near Cambridge Springs, and Mrs. Lucille Bolsnuf of Akron Ohio. All are living. Guy died in 1938 and his widow in 1953. They and three of his brothers, Nelson, Sherman, and Jesse, are burried in the Black Ash Cemetery.
Ethel died of pneumonia on May 8, 1895 at the age of 15. She was a beautiful girl. She had ben working at the home of her brother-in-law and sister, Mark and Lusetta Luce, when she took ill. She was sick about two weeks. Her death occurred in apple blossom time, and that time of year always brought back sad memories to the members of the family.
Hays Grove was at least six feet tall and probably weighed 180 or 185 pounds. He generally wore a big black, broad rimmed hat, and was quite a visitor. He was a type of person that didn't worry over things. When Ethel died, he took it better than the other family members. He was a dutiful person who would go miles to attend funerals of friends.
Liked to Play Tricks
He was a witty individual and liked to play humorous tricks on people. One time he was standing against ono of three or four pine trees that used to be in the front yard. He was whittling with his jacknife. Several of his children were roundabout picking, throwing apples back and forth. Hays told them that if any one of them hit him with an apple, he would cut that childs ear off. It wasn't but a short time later that Clyde (of Black Ash) made a wild throw and hit the old fellow. Hays took out after him and Clyde ran as fast as he could taking the ear-cuting business seriously!
One day the area mene were working at David Grove's place. He was a nephew of Hays. R ___ was cutting the bands and the sheaves of grain then putting them away. Lee R. who lives near Sunvile, was a little fellow then and he amused himself by rolling this sheaves into a ball. Hays came along, picked up the ball of twine and hit it just to tease Lee.
In June 1895, Hays sold a fifteen acre strip of land to his neighbor, Ensign Ford, for $300. In December 1897, he sold an additional 10 acres to Ford for $180. At the time of his death, Hays had 70 or 71 acres on his farm. He and Guy once cut the timber off.
A shallow water well was located in front of the house and it was very good water. There may have been a weak spring between the buildings and orchard.
Hays always kept a good team of horses. He had a team of bays at the last. He kep his wagons and rigs in the carriage shed which stood across the road from the house. He and Guy kept six or eight cows and they churned considerable butter, besides having their own meat and raising gardens which was a "must" in those days.
For about a year, perhaps in 1907 or 1908, the family lived on the adjoining Audley Grove place (now James Brenner place) while Audley went away. The place was stocked and equipped when they temporarily took over.
Family Loved Music
The Hays Grove family loved music. The men played in what was call "the Sheepskin Band." They played often at the big harvest home picnics held at Chapmanville. Dempseytown, and Cooperstown. Hays played the snare drums and could play the fiddle some too. All the boys could play thte fife. Jesse could also play the drums, cornet and mouth organ. George was also good on the drums.
JW Bears of Gaithersburg MD recalls a coupld of anecdotes about Hays Grove and music. While living in Chapmanville, Mr. Beers once had a large Zonophone which had a tremendous voice, and crowds often gathered to hear it. One evening Hays stopped and listened. Wishing to see what made the music, he stuck his head in the mouth of the big horn (about three feet long). After seeing nothing, he withdrew his head and asked "Gosh Almighty, where is the wheels?"
The other story concerns a Chapmanville Sunday School picnic held in a grove just east of the community about the mid 1890's. Chapmanville had a band which was to lead the Sunday School march from the M.E. Chuch to the grove. The regular drummer failed to appear, so there was no one to beat the time. Hays happend along in his everday clothes and was asked to beat the drums. He accepted, and marched with the dressed Sunday School, enjoying every minute of it.
Mrs. Hays Grove was in poor health her last ten or fifteen years. She was afflicted with tuberculosis. She died in the morning hours of January 26, 1908. It seems that she had called out in the night - "Oh Hays, I'm dying!" A short time later she died.
The day of November 16, 1908, dawned the same as any other day. There was a lot of snow on the ground and in some places people took to the fields to drive. There was no forwarning whatever that it was to be Hay's Grove's last day on earth. He was a man who never doctored and felt good except that he was short-breathed his last few years.
Falls Dead in Field
On this day Hays decided to lead his horse, a lop-eared brown mare, to the Chapmanville blacksmith to haver her shoed. Hays, 76, took his cane along to help him through the snow. After the mare was shoed he started back home with her. He was practically to the Y in the road above Simeon Proper's buildings when he fell dead in the corner of Proper's field of a heart attack. He had just had time to stick his cane in the ground.
A short time later Pemberton G. Proper, late father of Floyd Proper who lives near the old Hay's Grove place, came by and noticed "something in the field". He investigated and was shocked to find Hays Grove's body. Pem was returning home from a call to the Frank Arters place nearby. Then in just a few minutes, Guy Grove came along too. The mare had walked on home. When Guy saw that his father was not along, he knew something was wrong and walked back towards Chapmanville.
Hays was buried in the Wallaceville Cemetery after a service in the Methodist Church of that place.
Strangely, the cane that Hays stuck in the ground remained there for months before it was removed. It undoubtedly reminded all passersby of Hays Grove when they looked at it.
The Hays Grove farm is owned today by Albert M. Brenner who lives with his family on another property of his beside Route 27. Mr. Brenner's late parents, Mr. & Mrs Jospeh Brenner, bought the Hays Grove farm in 1919. Albert tore down the old house and built another one. Even the latter house is gone today. Albert has 71 acres plus some acreage of the former Ford farm. Albert says his family drilled a water well and had tried to locate the spring but was unsuccessful. Even Guy came over from Meadville and
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