OBIT: Susan Elizabeth (Kraft) Grove, 1916, Hanover, York County, PA

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MRS. LEWIS GROVE MEETS DEATH IN TRAGIC MANNER

CLOTHING CAUGHT FIRE FROM BLAZING LARD, WHICH BECAME OVERHEATED ON THE STOVE – 
DRIVEN FRANTIC BY BURNS, SHE CRIED PITIFULLY FOR HELP – WAS ALONE IN HOUSE AT 
THE TIME – STRANGER PASSING THE HOUSE WAS FIRST TO GIVE ALARM AND CARRIED 
HELPLESS WOMAN TO SNOW BANK – DEATH ENSUED SIX HOURS AFTER DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.

The community was given another shock Tuesday morning when it was learned that 
Mrs. Susan Elizabeth Grove, who was burned in a frightful manner, in her home on 
West Chestnut street at 8:15 o’clock Monday evening, had passed to the Great 
Beyond, after suffering intense agony.

The tragic manner in which Mrs. Grove met death was one of the most distressing 
occurrences which took place here for many years.

Mrs. Grove was alone in the house Monday evening, her daughter, Miss Carrie, 
being employed in the store of Wentz Bros. & Frey.  It is presumed she was 
heating some lard which she intended putting on a piece of flannel and then 
place on her chest to break up a cold as the piece of flannel was found in front 
of the stove.  The lard became overheated and ignited and it is probable that as 
the aged lady attempted to remove the skillet from the stove, she tilted it and 
the burning fluid caught her skirt, soon enveloping her in flames.

She went to the sink and attempted to pour water on the flames, but finding that 
impossible, she ran to the front door to call for help.  There was no one in 
sight.  But just as she closed the door, Hubert Nickson, a theatrical man, who 
had left Hotel Hanover, only a short while before, observed the strange 
spectacle as he was on the pavement in front of the residence of Clarence M. 
Schaeffer.  He hurried across the street, and in a flash was in the vestibule.  
However, the latch on the inside door had sprung, and he was unable to effect an 
entrance, though he tried to force the door.  By that time Wm. Panebaker, who 
lives next door appeared on the scene and the two men ran in the side yard 
hoping to get in the house by the back door.  As they reached there they were 
horrified to behold the aged woman, still aflame, standing in the doorway, 
portions of the charred body appearing through the burned clothing.  Mr. Nickson 
picked her up and carried her to a snow bank in the yard.

In the meantime Mr. Panebaker, with the assistance of several neighbors, had 
extinguished the kitchen, which had been started by the falling bits of 
clothing.  An alarm was turned in to the Hanover fire company, but their 
services were not required.

The side door and frame of the house were scorched by the flames, as Mrs. Grove 
stood in the doorway.  The table-cloth and carpet in the sitting room also 
caught fire as she passed through to the front door and back again.

The screams of the old lady were most pitiful and a crowd of several hundred 
people soon gathered at the home.

The body of Mrs. Grove was then tenderly carried in the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. 
R. McCosh, next door, where her injuries were given attention, Drs. Charles 
Wagner, R. N. Meisenhelder and H. M. Alleman having been summoned by phone.

The physicians realized that little could be done for the afflicted woman, and 
after administering a strong narcotic, she was removed to her home.  Death 
relieved her sufferings at 2:15 o’clock Tuesday morning.

The hands of several of the parties were badly burned in attempting to 
extinguish the blaze.

The deceased was a daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Kraft and was born in 
Baltimore, January 5, 1842, her age at the time of death being 74 years, 1 month 
and 9 days.

At the age of seven years she moved with her parents to Hanover, where the 
remainder of her life was spent.  She was married May 12, 1863, to the late 
Lewis Grove, who for many years, was a member of the firm of Grove & Carver, 
conducting a dry good and clothing store on Center Square, on the site of Hotel 
O’Bold.  Mr. Grove died Nov. 13, 1899.

Mrs. Grove was a member of the local Methodist Episcopal church, and always took 
an active interest in the church and its auxiliaries.

She leaves five children:  Prof. Charles C. Grove, instructor of mathematics in 
Columbia University, New York city; Harry K. Grove, of Philadelphia; Robert 
Grove, Portsmouth, Va.; Miss Ella V. Grove, of Washington, D. C., and Miss 
Carrie Grove, at home.

The Hanover Herald – Saturday, February 19, 1916