Groninger Family Record

Descendants of Leonard & Elizabeth Deishman Groninger, early settlers of Central Pennsylvania. An informal exchange of past & present Groninger/Greninger/Croninger/Chroninger/Kroninger information submitted by readers

Volume 1, Number 2: Summer 1995

Primary Research in Germany Reveals Solid Family Information

Richard D Chroninger of Missouri (820 W First St. Maryville. MO 64468-2021) has uncovered original information through the assistance of a German genealogical researcher Dick heard Mr. Fredrick R. Wollmershauser give a lecture in 1993 and he. with the backing of a dozen or so 'cousins.' contacted Wollmershauser about researching contradictory information regarding Groninger / Groeninger origins There is much information (undocumented) that states Leonard Groninger emigrated from the Palatinate Others from Switzerland and still others suggest Holland (There are towns named Groningen located in Holland and Germany). They all may very well be the origins of various Groninger / Groeninger / Chroninger families

There is agreement about our Leonhard /Leonard Groninger/Groeninger who came to Philadelphia from Rotterdam on the ship, "Lydia" arriving on October 19, 1749 He and his wife Elizabeth Deishman (various spellings of her maiden name may be found) are listed in baptism recordings in the Lutheran Church of Lehigh County. Pennsylvania. His death in 1786 is documented by a will probated and available today at the Northumberland County Courthouse. Sunbury, Pennsylvania

Most researchers have mistakenly connected this Leonard as a son of Johann Daniel Kroninger /Groeninger/ Groninger who came to Philadelphia from Rotterdam on the ship 'Marlboro," arriving on September 23, 1741 Richard Chroninger had not found anyone with documentation tying the two together, and no identification of any of his family other than the name Agatha Stifelmeyer (various spellings of this name also) as his wife Researcher Wollmershauser was asked to investigate this information and discovered that Leonard was born on Friday, March 29. 1726, a son to Johannes Groninger. baker, and Agatha Stifelmeyer (Editor's note Both names spelled as found in the German records ) There is a margin note beside this birth entry indicating that Leonard went to Pennsylvania ("ist nach Pensylvanien gezogen"), which assures that the right Leonard Groninger's birth record was found

The birth and marriage records were provided to Dick Chroninger as photocopies of the handwritten originals. The location of the marriage of Johannes and Agatha and the birth of their son Leonard is Kuchen, Wurttemberg. Germany, located between Geislingen and Goppingen in Southern Germany (Stuttgart is northwest of Kuchen). The birth record is from Auszuq aus den Kirchenbuchem der evanq Ptarrei Kuchen Taufreqister 1726. (English summary: Leonard was born on Friday, March 29, 1726 between 10 and 11 o'clock PM in Kuchen as a son of Johannes Groninger. baker, and of his wife Agatha Stifelmeyer.)

The marriage record is from Auszug aus den Kirchenbuchen der evanq Pfarrei Kuchen Ehereqister 1720. (English summary: The marriage between Johannes Groninger. baker, and Agatha Stifelmeyer (unmarried daughter of Ulrich Stifelmeyer. weaver, and of Maria Stahl), both of Kuchen. was performed on Feb 13. 1720 in Kuchen.)

The birth date for Leonard, the margin notation and his parent’s marriage date appear to nullify any connection to the Johann Daniel who arrived in 1741 at the age of 30 on the ship 'Marlboro." Leonard's father was Johannes Groninger, not Johann Daniel.

Mr. Wollmershauser enclosed abstracts from the proceedings of the Herrschaftspflegamt (HPA) of Ulm. The HPA was the authority to administer the rural territory of the Free Imperial City (Freie Reichsstadt) of Ulm. These proceeding records show the background of the emigration of our ancestors, although Leonard is not named directly. A half-brother, Georg is mentioned, but he stayed behind after requesting departure permission Records indicate that Georg stayed in Altenstadt and tried raising a family He died in 1766. Dick suspects that Leonard took Georg s place, without taking care for a discharge from citizenship (or paying the emigration taxes).

Page 111R State archive Ludwigsburg B 209a Volume 101, April 2, 1749:

(English translation "The highly esteemed council has found reluctance, after hearings of the Altenstatt written report, for the intended emigration of local families to Pennsylvania, America, to give these families permission (in spite of the unpleasant circumstances here) and wants to especially appeal to Georg Groninger. Pipe maker here, who is by the looks of it. the leading driver in this, to have him look within himself and realize the dangers he is placing himself and his comrades into by taking part in this dangerous undertaking, where the innocent wives and children would possibly come to be reduced to poverty And should see to it to make a go of it here and stay here and earn an honest living in their fatherland, and forgo such plans.")

Page 121V. April 14. 1749

(English translation "The highly esteemed council has, since several families are not to be convinced otherwise, decided to give permission for them to move out of the country and to move there (America) They should however after the sale of their belongings, be asked foremost to (translator assumes words 'Praestanda' and 'Praestier' pertain to settling their dues to the state) and one wishes them well in their undertaking.")

Page 132 R, April 23. 1749

(English translation: "Altenstatt presents the subjects who are in mind to go to Pennsylvania, with the report of what their
belongings consist of. wherefrom taxes for themselves and their wives are to be paid Namely Johann Georg Groninger. Pipe maker, Leonard Mayer, Weaver, Hans Michael Sitzen, Laborer, and the single Michael Weiler. Who is asking for the reservation of his citizen rights Council denies the right for Weiler to reserve his citizen rights. who is however still msistend (sic).. (The translator notes that the remainder has to do with taxes to be paid, due to the rules and laws of the land then, and is not familiar with it. Further it states the amount they are to pay in Kronen, Florents. etc which were the names of currency of the financial system then. Then it mentions another who wishes to emigrate, Hans Schemed He received permission to emigrate and his financial obligation (See abstract.)

Abstracts for the proceedings of the Ulmer HPA: Session of April 2, 1749:

The city council has refused to allow various families of Altenstadt to emigrate to Pennsylvania in America, upon the odd conditions there. Georg Groninger pipe maker of Altenstadt, who is reported to propagate the emigration most, is to be summoned before the HPA and objected his inciting behavior and the dangerous enterprise which will make him and his fellows and their families beggars. He is demanded to refrain from such actions. Session of April 14, 1749"

Upon a report of the HPA, the council has allowed the emigration of several families of Altenstadt, because they could not be persuaded to remain there. One is to watch that they fulfill their duties after selling their property.

Session of April 23, 1749:

Altenstadt sends a list of those who want to emigrate to Pennsylvania: Georg Groninger, pipe maker, Leonard Mayer, weaver, Hans Michael Seitz, day-worker and unmarried Michael Weiler, who asks to reserve his citizenship (denied). Groninger is to pay 14 florins emigration tax (of 140 fl. exported property), 5 1/2 florins manumission (Ed- "emancipation") fee and 1 floren fine for verbal injuries.

(Editors note: Leonardt Meyer, Hans Michael Seitz and Michael Weiler are on the "Lydia" passenger list along with Leonard.)

Richard D. Chroninger is a descendent of Leonard 1's son Joseph Groninger who moved west. Joseph's line adopted the "C" spelling as they moved to Ohio in the early 1800's, although the "C" spelling is sometimes found in Derrstown (present Lewisburg, PA) records of Joseph. The "h" was added later as the family moved farther west, ending up in Missouri. Dick started his ancestral research in 1987 and found the files of a Russell Warner (died in 1975) filmed by the Mormon Church (reel #987306) to be of great help and interest. He plans to complete a book to be titled, The Chroningers of Missouri and their descendants (from 1868). With a brief description of the antecedents in Pennsylvania and Ohio; Groninger and Croninger (from 1747). And some of the family lines they married into, Clemow, Cockrell, Gooding and May.

Dick writes, "I've often wondered why there isn't any documentation or descendants for the other listed immigrants, i.e. Johann Daniel, Paulus, John Michael and Lawrence. (Editor's note: Dick is referring to Johan Daniel Kroninger, who arrived on the "Marlborough" September 23, 1741, Paulus Groninger, who arrived on the "Neptune" October 19, 1751, Jacob Kreninger who arrived on the "Peggy" September 24, 1753 and John Michael & Lawrence Gronninger, who arrived on the "Polly" September 26, 1765. This information researched from Filby's Index and Strassburger's "Pennsylvania German Pioneers.") Only Jacob and Leonard seem to have had descendants. I didn't run across any 'missing' men in the Kuchen records with those names."

Henry L. Groninger of Houston, TX writes regarding this information uncovered in Germany "I suppose by now you received the info from Dick Chroninger. What do you think about it? It seems as though he has the real "goods." I have been by Kuchen in Germany several long years ago, but of course had no idea this was the place. Soon the word will spread among the Groningers & the fact that Groningen doesn't enter into the picture will dismay some & they will say, 'How can this be?' but you can't deny the proof. Perhaps there is more to the story I can see why it was so hard to get info on Johan Daniel G. - He went back to Germany at some time & died in Kuchen - Don't know how many years he stayed in U.S."

In future editions of GFR, we'll provide the information gleaned by Dick from Kuchen church microfilm records. He has identified Leonard's family back to a 1590 marriage of Paulus Groninger and Anna Vetter (April 27, 1590).~GFR

***

Henry Lee Groninger

Leonard Groninger 1 m. Elizabeth Deishman

Leonard Groninger 2 m. Barbara May

Jacob Groninger m. Nancy Hench

Leonard S. Groninger m. Margaret Reynolds

John Enoch Groninger m. Annie Beale

Elmer Leonard Groninger m. Jennie Hunt Lee

Henry Lee Groninger m. Annie Lind Wise

Lyndell R. Groninger

Randolph L Groninger

Leonard Lee Groninger (Deceased)

***

H. L. Groninger Passes Away

Old Pioneer Dies After Long Illness

At six o'clock Friday evening Henry L. Groninger,* better known as "Uncle Hen Lou," passed quietly away after an illness that had lasted nearly a year. With his death Wabash County loses one of its oldest pioneers, the community of one of its progressive and contentious men, the country a good citizen and the Republican Party an earnest advocate. He had been seriously ill for many months, and his death had been almost daily expected. A few months ago at one time it was considered only a matter of hours at best but his strong constitution came to his rescue and he again was able to get on his feet and on a few occasions was able to get so far from his home as to come to town, where he was gladly greeted by hundreds of his friends. But his recovery was only temporary., and it was not long until he was again confined to his home, where he gradually grew weaker until the end came peacefully on Friday evening just before sunset.

The funeral services were conducted at the South Pleasant church near his home, Sunday afternoon at one o'clock. Rev. E. E. Wright, of Silver Lake officiated, and the funeral was under the direction of the Deming Masonic lodge, of which the deceased was a time honored member, having belonged to the order for 53 years. The casket was followed to the grave by hundreds of sorrowing friends and neighbors who gathered on this occasion to pay tributes of respect to a man who in life had been the friend of all, and who was known on all sides as a square man.

Henry L. Groninger was born in Ross County, Ohio, April 27, 1832, and he died in Pleasant Township, Wabash County, Indiana in 1906, age 74 years, 4 months and four days. With his parents, he came to Indiana in 1841, and his father died on the old Groninger homestead at the age of 62, while his mother passed away there at the age of 87

In his early life Mr. Groninger worked at the tailoring trade, but soon devoted his time to agriculture having a long and successful career in that vocation. June 10, 1856, he was married to Rebecca Bussard, a daughter of Samuel and Mary Bussard. To them were born ten children, four daughters and six sons. One of the daughters died a few years ago, but all the other children were at the bedside of the aged father The sons are Horace G., Arthur D., Otto L, Thomas L, Samuel L, and Charles L, all living in this locality The living daughters are Mrs. W H. Tryon, of Kansas, Mrs. J. H. Kreamer and Mrs. J C. Butterbaugh. Mr. Groninger was a devoted member of the Methodist Church, was an enthusiastic Mason, and was a leader in many of the movements that have made the country what it is today He was always an earnest Republican, ever watchful for the interest of the principles of that party, and a tireless worker in its behalf. He served the township ably in many capacities, and will be greatly missed from the ranks of his associates.

***

Source: The Journal & Tribune, North Manchester, IN, April 1906. Submitted by Richard D. Groninger of Bethel Park, PA.

Leonard Groninger 1 m. Elizabeth Deishman

Leonard Groninger 2 m. Barbara May

Leonard Groninger 3 m. Winnie Piper

Henry Lewis Groninger m. Rebecca Bussard

Charles L Groninger m. Myrtle Mae Oldfather

Galen Groninger m. Geneva Burch

Richard D. Groninger m. Jayne Davis

Family Update

Kelly Groninger, an actress living in New York City, appears briefly as a dancer in Woody Allen's "Bullets Over Broadway" Her name appears in the credits. She is originally from Mifflin County, Pennsylvania.

Lyndell R. Groninger is a secretary for a physician at St. Luke’s Hospital, Houston, TX. She graduated from the University of Texas as a piano major, is taking courses at Rice Institute and writing a book.

Randy L. Groninger expects to become Director of the Houston, TX, Grand Opera.

Allison Wren, granddaughter of Henry L. Groninger, finished her medical internship and is a practicing gynecologist in Vancouver, WA.

Michelle Wren, granddaughter of Henry L Groninger. graduated from Northwestern University at Chicago having majored in speech. She has returned to Texas to teach this September

Rachel Beth Ranck, daughter of Gerri Andrews, recently received her master's degree in speech pathology from Eastern Michigan University She is a speech pathologist at St. Joseph Hospital in Ann Arbor, Ml.

We regret that Happy Smith, husband of Dorothy Groninger Smith, Mifflintown, PA, passed away in July, 1995, of a heart attack. Those who knew him say he always had a smile on his face. He will be missed.

Groningen Museum of the Netherlands

by Christine Temin

You might expect that a municipal museum in a provincial Dutch city 2 1/2 hours north of Amsterdam would be quaint-housed, perhaps, in a mellow brick building with stepped gables and shutters, beside a calm canal whose waters reflect the historic architecture.

The Groningen Museum is indeed reflected in a calm canal, but what the water mirrors is architecture deliberately designed to halt you in your tracks. On one end is a huge silver circle that looks like a giant cake pan or spaceship. On the other is a structure that looks as if it's recently exploded, with windows, roofs and walls jutting out in crazed angles. In the middle is a windowless golden tower The buildings aren't beside the canal, but in it: Connecting them to the shore is a bridge whose beginning is marked by a large bright blue horseshoe-shaped arch you walk under When the bridge rises to let boats through, passersby tend to stare and then smile the underside is adorned with a blue and white Delft tile motif, highly traditional except for its exaggerated scale and playful positioning.

In the flat landscape, the new museum is as startling to behold as Mount Everest would be. The museum has, not surprisingly, aroused both skepticism and pride in the local citizenry. That citizenry may live far from the bustle of Amsterdam, but Groningen is a sophisticated place nonetheless, home to the only university in the north of Holland. The city's population is around 160,000. Almost that many people visited the museum in its first three months of operation.

Groningen is also a prosperous place-and always was, thanks to its membership in the medieval Hanseatic League, a union that promoted trade and protected merchants. More recently, Groningen grew even richer, thanks to the discovery of natural gas there in the late 1960's. That find led directly to the new museum, which was paid for in large part by Dutch Gas. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the company gave the city 25 million guilders (about $15 million) toward the building.

The interior is as wild as the outside, starting with the neon meandering across the lobby ceiling, the lozenge-shaped leather couches, and the checkerboard pattern on the information desk. In most museums, you go up to the galleries, here, you descend, via a spiral staircase with a dizzying mosaic pattern. At the bottom is an oval room, currently hung with a series of contemporary masks based on ancient ones. Straight ahead is a stunner - a mirror by the outrageous American artist Jeff Koons, he of the stainless steel bunnies, hung over a cabinet by the equally outrageous Italian Ettore Sottsass.

The Groningen Museum will have a full schedule of changing shows, traveling exhibitions as well as those taken from its own collections, which include not only fine art but period costumes, decorative arts and archeology More than most, this museum seems to realize that it can't be all things to all people, and so its programming will focus on several specific, and sometimes unusual, areas, including staged photography, work by young Dutch artists, and the relationship between art and business, a fitting topic given Dutch Gas' funding.

No, this museum's collections do not rival the Rembrandts in the Rijksmuseum. In Groningen, it's the building itself that is the star attraction.

Source The Boston Globe, Boston, MA, March 26, 1995. (Abridged) Submitted by Kathryn A. Rowsick, Sun City, AZ, widow of J. Glenn Groninger, Pittsburgh, PA.

Leonard Groninger 1 m. Elizabeth Deishman

Leonard Groninger 2 m. Barbara May

Jacob Groninger m. Nancy Hench

Orrin S. Groninger m. Malinda Jacobs

James W Groninger m. Mary Gingrich

J. Glenn Groninger m. Kathryn

Letters

May 10, 1995

Dear Thomas,

You have inspired me to write down all my memories of my father, Robert Roy Groninger I was born two months prematurely, 4.5 ids., during the great depression. I might have gotten off to a slow start but I was dearly loved by Robert and Lillian. Dad claimed he had weighed barely over 4 Ibs. When he was born March 17, 1890. He grew to be over 6 foot 4 inches tall weighing over 200 Ibs. Brown eyes, like his mother's, dark hair that dwindled in his 20's. He was an outdoorsman and sports enthusiast. He and mother loved to dance. It was a crushing blow when a burglar stole his jeweled shirt studs, dancing shoes and gold football charm. I used to help mother decorate for dances at the Mt. Baker Club House, about 5 blocks from our house.

I would watch as Papa "plucked" the pheasants, as he threw handfuls of pretty feathers into the large tub placed in the middle of our kitchen floor I would retrieve as many as I could to use in crafts and such. When I was about 12 Papa went hunting in Yakima, WA with my sister & her husband (She liked to hunt.) They took me along. The big farm breakfast set out before me impressed me (homemade butter, etc.) However, I was quite disillusioned when out in the field, I found out Papa didn't always hit the pheasants cleanly through the head. I don't think I ever went on another such hunting trip.

Papa belonged to a hunting club that packed into Myrtle Lake, northeast of Kamloops up in Canada. His friend Leigh Savage had a cabin up there. One time he brought home the most beautiful rack of caribou horns you ever did see. He also brought home smoked steelhead that hung in our basement storage room. Delicious! For several years we went on family fishing trips near Hope Island in the San Juans over the 4th of July with a neighbor family My line once caught a 20 Ib. Starfish. After Groninger Family Reunions in Lakeland, FL in Feb., 1953, Papa & I went out from Ft. Lauderdale on a deep sea excursion on "The Kingfisher III" and I caught a 52 pound, 7 foot long Sailfish. Took me an hour and a half to reel it in. I got the weekly award for the largest fish (a little silver box) but didn't win the drawing for a new car

Papa introduced me to air travel. As a high school graduation gift he took me on a business trip to Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. A business associate, Kenneth Elliot, went along. I'm not sure if the DC 3's and 4's were pressurized in June of 1950. I recall the awesome beauty of Mt. McKinley in both sunrise and sunset almost at the same time.

My earliest memories of Papa are sitting on his lap listening to him recite Sam Magee and Dangerous Dan McGrew. I'd beg him to tell me one of his stories about the first, second or third time he was killed by a bear. Once a bear came up a tree after him. He'd tell about all those eyes shining in the darkness as the campfire died out...I wish he'd have had R.W.S. autograph his little book of poems that Papa carried with him during the First WW He often talked about visiting far off places like China but never went. So I took his little book with me when I visited Guangzan (Canton) and Hong Kong in March of 1988.

Almost every year Roy would come east on business and stop by the farm to see members of his family He died 10 Nov 1967 Since April of 1993 I have come to Washington DC six times for DAR Continental Congress. Most of the times I have rented a car and driven up to see somebody, always stopping by "Church Hill" (Cemetery, Port Royal, PA) to copy something or take a picture. This last trip was truly exceptional. Cousin Harry Dunkleburger came in from Silver Springs, MD, and took me to lunch at the Library of Congress.

We went up to Tuscarora Inn where we stayed. I had a nice chat with Cousin Albert Groninger who still lives in the house where Papa was born. He's Jake's son. I stopped to see Jessie Robinson Reagan who lives "up the road a piece."

I made two trips to Church Hill this time and Ellen & I covered the libraries and Hist. Soc. of Mifflintown & Lewistown. My specific task this trip was to seek out the family of Grandmother Annie Elizabeth Kauffman. I found a book. And I found her parents Solomon Kauffman & Mary Elizabeth Gingrich at Mattawana Cemetery, McVeytown. Her grandparents Jonathan Kauffman & Nancy (Ranck) were at K. Rothrock Cemetery on the old homestead property not far from "Stop 35." (Mifflintown, PA restaurant)

Re: Leonard 2 - How long with the Indians? In Penn-Archives. Fifth Series. Vol. VII. I found, "A List of Six and Seven Month Men." p. 684, No. 31 Linhart Croninger receives 94 not 24 L and 18 shillings. This is three or four times as much as any of the others. On p. 689 we find, "Rec'd Sept. 12th 1784 of Thos Robinson one certificate for the sum of ninety-four pounds eighteen shillings in full for my pay in his company of Rangers during the time I was prisoner Reed by me. Leonhart Groninger"

This would indicate to me he might have been held prisoner for longer than 9 months, closer to 2 years many think. Thus, owing to his bodily condition, I would not think he would be up to marriage in 1782; he would also only be 19 years old. So it would seem to me that 1788 is a more logical date for his marriage to Barbara May

Mother died of a massive stroke on 24 May 1964. Papa suffered a partial stroke on his right side Autumn of 1965. Recovered pretty well it seemed but died of congestive heart failure in his own bed 10 Nov 1967, age 77

Bye now, Beverly Groninger Robinson

Portland OR.

Leonard Groninger 1 m. Elizabeth Deishman

Leonard Groninger 2 m. Barbara May

Jacob Groninger m. Nancy Hench

Jacob Groninger m. Margaret Jacobs

Henry A. Groninger m. Annie E. Kauffman

Robert Roy Groninger m. Lillian

Beverly Groninger Robinson

Obituaries

Helen Groninger Lauver 94, of Blue Ridge West Nursing Home, 770 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill, formerly of Mifflintown, died at 7:45 PM Thursday, April 20, 1995, at Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, PA.

Born August 1, 1900, in Mifflintown, Juniata County, she was a daughter of the late Harry E. and Gertrude (Ernest) Groninger Her husband, James H. Lauver, died March 30, 1975.

Surviving are: a sister, Mildred Lauver, Lombard, IL, a brother, J Don Groninger, Lewistown, a grandson, a great-granddaughter

She was preceded in death by a son, Donald J Lauver, May 7, 1969, and a sister, Dillie Mae Cleck.

She was a housewife.

Services will be held at 11 AM Monday at the Brown Funeral Home, 100 Bridge St., Mifflintown, with the Rev Anna M. Ritter officiating. Interment will be in the Westminster Presbyterian Cemetery, Mifflintown.

Leonard Groninger 1 m. Elizabeth Deishman

Leonard Groninger 2 m. Barbara May

Jacob Groninger m. Nancy Hench

Orrin S. Groninger m. Malinda Jacobs

James W Groninger m. Anna Harris

Harry E. Groninger m. Gertrude Ernest

Helen G. Groninger m. James H. Lauver

Source: The Sentinel, (no date furnished), Lewistown, PA. Provided by Emma Jane Pursel, Lewistown.

A Visit to Groninger Valley

60 Years Later

by Gerri Andrews

In July, 1995, my husband, David Andrews, and I took my 84-year-old mother, Anna Ruth Gilson Jurey , back to the Groninger Homestead for a reunion. As we turned West off of Route 333 and crossed over Tuscarora Creek, we learned from mom that so many Groningers lived in the area that it's called "Groninger Valley."

Mom left Port Royal in the 1930s and has been back only a handful of times, so this was a treat for her. Her claim to the Groninger name is through her mother, Sara Grace Groninger. Sara married David Boyd Gilson, and their son, Frederick, was born in Port Royal, (see Keeping up with Family which follows.)

In 1906, David Boyd moved to North Dakota with Sara's father, William Heim Groninger, and his other sons, W Sherman, Charles, and Fred. They came back for Sara Grace, Fred, and Sara's sister, Mary, in 1907

In 1908 Sara and David had another son, Charles, then in 1911 Anna Ruth was born; Sara died two weeks later Boyd felt he couldn't take care of their two small boys and a two-week-old daughter, so he asked his mother to take mom back to Port Royal. She obliged, and Anna Ruth grew up in Port Royal with her grandparents, Annie Hannah McCoy and William B. L. Gilson, and a houseful of uncles and aunts. After her grandfather died, she and her grandmother continued to live on the Gilson farm with Neal and Violet Gilson and their children. The farm was just down the road from the Groninger Homestead.

The reunion took place at the old homestead. When we asked mom if she wanted to attend it and to see her family, she said, "I'm sure they're all gone by now." She was pleased that 50 Groningers and a host of Gilson’s proved her wrong. They weren't all gone; she just hadn't met them all yet.~GFR

Keeping Up with Family

Research by various Groningers is registered with the Church of Latter Day Saints in Utah. However, it has not been updated in as many as three generations.

Send a listing of your descendants, and we'll try to run it in this column. Here, we're trying to update Sara Grace Groninger If anyone could fill in the blanks, give us names of children, or correct dates, we would greatly appreciate it.

1. Leonard Groninger1 m. Elizabeth Deishman

.. 2. Leonard Groninger2 m. Barbara May

….3. Jacob Groninger m. Sydney Wilson

……4. William Heim Groninger m. Catherine Ritzman

……. 5. Sara Grace Groninger m. David Gilson
………..6 Frederick Gilson b. 1907, Port Royal, PA sp.?

…………..7 living child, name?

………..6 Charles Gilson b. 1908, Minot, ND sp-Carolyn?

………….7 Timothy Gilson, b. 194?

………..6 Anna Ruth Gilson b. 1911, Minot, ND m.. Charles Pere Jurey b. 1909

………….7 Danez Sarah Jurey b.1941, Detroit, Ml sp. John Gardiner b. 1933 Ml

……………8 Christopher Gardiner b 1961, Detroit, Ml sp. Pamela Trombley b. 1963

………………9 Matthew Gardiner b. 1993, TX

……………8 Kelly Gardiner b. 1964, Detroit, MI

……………8 Ann Gardiner b. 1968, Detroit, Ml

………….7 Pierre Neal Jurey b. 1942, detroit, Ml sp. Gail Stevenson b. 1941, Detroit, Ml

……………8 Jennifer Jurey b. 1969, Lincoln Park, Ml sp Michael Mallory b. Ml

……………8 Kristi Jurey b. 1974, Lincoln Park, Ml

………….7 Geraldine Jurey b. 1944, Detroit, Ml sp. David W. Andrews b. 1944, Detroit, Ml

……………8 Michele L. Andrews b. 1967, Ann Arbor, Ml sp. Charles Hardy 3 b. 1963, Dearborn, Ml

………………9 Michaela A. Hardy b. 1990, Dearborn, Ml

………………9 Kendra A. Hardy b. 1994, Ann Arbor, Ml

……………8 Mark David Andrews b. 1969, Livonia, Ml

……………8 Rachel Beth Andrews b. 1971, Livonia, Ml sp. Richard Ranck b. 1969, Columbus, OH

………….7 Margaret Y. Jurey b. 1945, Detroit, Ml sp. Donald Wrightnerb. 1945, MT Clemens, Ml

……………8 Anita Weightier b. 1970, Warren, Ml sp. Timothy W. Dotson, 1965, TN

……………8 Donald Wrightnerb. 1975, Warren, Ml

………….7 Jacqueline Jurey b. 1949, Detroit, Ml

Grange Preserves Quiet Dignity

by Karin Lillis

OLD PORT- The old Kilmer Graveyard stands sentinel over rolling hills and jutting mountains of Turbett Township, Juniata County.

Locals who once farmed the land now rest within a hill rising above the quiet landscape. Like the inscriptions carved in the tombstones that survived years of wind and wear, settlers to the area carved niches for their descendants.

Many of the names appearing on the weathered graves-Kilmer, Kepner, Lauver- still appear in the local phone directory Its land once a part of a neighboring farm, the cemetery contains around 50 graves, many dating back to the early 1800s, said Juniata County historian Elmyra McClure.

American flags dot a handful of veterans' graves, including two from the Revolutionary War Personal inscriptions and elaborate designs remain on some stones. A simple name and year of death stand on others.

Local history books list the graveyard among many cemeteries but provide few details of its origins. The cemetery

has gone by many names over the years, McClure said, including Robison Cemetery, named for the farm the land may have come from, and Mount Hope Cemetery, named for a turn-of-the-century group that once kept the grounds.

According to McClure's research, one of the oldest graves belongs to Maj. George May, who served in the Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and died in 1798.

The Major's daughter, Barbara, married a Leonard Groninger, McClure said, leading to descendants with that name still living in the area.

In recent years, a new stone was placed on the grave with the title "Private" instead of "Major" and no date of death.

"But that's not right," said McClure.

Since 1960, Turbett Grange has cared for the cemetery

McClure, also a member of the Grange, said the clean-up started as a community service project 35 years ago but the local organization continued the cemetery's upkeep. Grange members cleared away high weeds camouflaging grave stones and cemented fallen stones together Those that could not be repaired were placed neatly upright in the ground.

"The men used to come in with scythes to clear away the weeds," said McClure as she looked at an old photo of the overgrown cemetery. Today the cemetery lawn remains neatly clipped and tombstones free of weeds. A post and wire fence stands where an old iron barrier once was. McClure and other Grange members want it to stay that way. Five years ago the Grange established a perpetual care fund, she said. McClure believes the final resting place of those who lie there should remain in quiet dignity, especially the graves of veterans.

"They fought for our country, the least we can do is keep their graves neat," she said.

Source: The Sentinel, July 29, 1995. Lewistown, PA. Provided by Larry L. Groninger, Lewistown.

Leonard Groninger1 m. Elizabeth Deishman

Leonard Groninger2 m. Barbara May

Jacob Groninger m. Nancy Hench

Orrin Groninger m. Malinda Jacobs

James W Groninger m. Anna Harris

Charles H. Groninger m. Eva S. Landis

Charles R. Groninger m. Mary Elizabeth Centner

Larry L. Groninger m. Kay Wilson

Kelly Dianne

Major General Homer M. Groninger

General Groninger was born July 24, 1884 in Milford Township (PA), a son of R. Elliot and Mary (McLaughlin) Groninger

He was educated in the schools of Milford Township and Port Royal and was graduated from Airy View Academy in 1904. He entered United States Military Academy at West Point and following his graduation was appointed a second lieutenant of Cavalry on February 14, 1908.

He was assigned to the 5th Cavalry and served at various posts until he joined the Punitive Expedition into Mexico in 1916-1917.

He was instructor at the Officers' Training Camp, Plattsburg, N.Y. and at the Infantry School of Arms, Fort Sill, Okla.

He served on the War Department General Staff in Washington, D. C. and in France and Germany with the General Staff of American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.

Upon his return to the United States in 1919, he served in the same capacity in Washington, D.C. until January 1922.

He was graduated from the Cavalry School, Fort Riley, Kansas in June, 1922 and then entered the Command School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas completing the course as a "Distinguished Graduate" in June 1923. After service as an instructor in Tactics at the Cavalry School for two years, he entered the Army War College in Washington, D.C. and was graduated in 1926. He then was assigned to the faculty of U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Subsequently he was an instructor at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas and 52nd Cavalry Brigade, National Guards, Harrisburg, PA. After service as Commanding Officer of the 11th Cavalry at Presidio of Monterey, Calf., he was assigned to command the Port of Embarkation, Brooklyn, NY in 1940 and in June 1945 was moved to the West Coast to command the San Francisco Port of Embarkation.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal - period October 1940 - June 1945 and Legion of Merit - June 1945 - May 1946.

His distinguished service citation states in part "This officer had direct charge of the largest movement of troops and supplies in the history of the world."

He was retired December 31, 1945 and came to Port Royal where he lives in a home he built on a farm owned by his family

He was married to the former Gertrude Pomeroy who died in 1959.

(Homer died on September 26, 1963 in Port Royal, PA)

Source: Port Royal Sesqui-Centennial Book of 1962. Submitted by Beverly Groninger Robinson, Portland OR