Nicholas County, West Virginia Biography of Alexander GROVES This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 286 Nicholas County ALEXANDER GROVES. Long and varied experience with the mercantile business has contributed to the equipment of Alexander Groves and has fitted him particularly for the position which he holds as manager and part owner of the Standard & Company store at Gassaway. Like many who have made a success in business life, he entered upon his career as a teacher, but the greater part of his life has been passed behind the counter and in the office, in which locations the people of Gassaway have seen him for the past sixteen years. Mr. Groves is a native of Nicholas County, West Vir- ginia, and was born July 2, 1873, a son of Harrison and Sallie (Davis) Groves, the former a native of Nicholas County, West Virginia, and the latter of Virginia. Harri- son Groves was reared in the county of his birth and was a son of John Groves, a pioneer of Nicholas County, who came to that part of West Virginia at a very early day and was engaged in farming. Harrison Groves was reared on a farm and received a country school education, the same as acquired by his wife, and after their marriage they started housekeeping on a farm in Nicholas County, which they cultivated as long as they remained active. In the evening of life they retired and lived quietly in their com- fortable home. They were the parents of three children: Alexander, of this review; Harrison, of Summersville, West Virginia; and Alfred, also of Summersville, West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Groves were members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and Mr. Groves was a democrat in his po- litical affiliation. The father of Mrs. Groves, David N. Davis, was a Confederate soldier in a Virginia infantry regiment during the war between the states, and was pres- ent at the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House. Alexander Groves, or Alex Groves as he is better known to his many friends, was given his primary education in the country schools of Nicholas County, and this was sup- plemented by a course at the county normal school. When he left the latter he engaged in teaching, and for eight years had classes in the country districts, where he gained a reputation as an efficient and popular educator. His first experience in the dry goods business was acquired in Nicholas County, where he was engaged until 1906, in the latter year coming to Gassaway, where he became identified with the business of Standard & Company in the capacity of manager, and since that time has also become part owner. This business is now incorporated and has the fol- lowing officials: Oscar I. Standard, president; C. W. King, vice president; and Alex Groves, secretary-treasurer and manager. Under his direction this has been built into a very successful enterprise and does a flourishing business over a wide expanse of territory. Mr. Groves has other interests, and is vice president and a director of the Bank of Gassaway. His reputation is that of a thoroughly ca- pable and reliable business man. In 1906 Mr, Groves was united in marriage with Miss Cora Criss, a native of Braxton County, and to this union there have been born two children: Forest H., born July 5, 1907, who is attending high school; and Alex, Jr., born December 23, 1920. Mrs. Groves is a member of the Chris- tian Church. Mr. Groves is a democrat in his political affiliation, but has not cared for public office, although never neglecting the responsibilities of good citizenship. As a fraternalist he is affiliated with Gassaway Lodge No. 133, A. F. and A. M.; Sutton Chapter, R. A. M.; Sutton Commandery, K. T.; and Beni-Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Charleston.