Page 72 - United Brethren Preachers
P. 72
Volume 9 Preachers of U.B. and EUB Virginia Conferences December 26, 2024
GRIMM (GRIM): William Otterbein Grimm (b. July 14, 1837, near Rohrersville,
Md.; d. Aug. 24, 1896; mar. Martha Ann Mullendore) was District Superintendent
(Presiding Elder, Potomac) for the churches in Morgan County during 1878-80. He
was a teacher of “freed men” at Vicksburg, Miss., 1864-66. He was licensed and
became a member of Va. Conference in 1865 (with P. H. Thomas), was ordained
there in 1865, and served Boonsboro, 1868-69 and 1870-71; Potomac Mission, 1871-
72; Boonsboro-Keedysville, 1872-73; Churchville, 1873-75; Rockingham, 1875-77;
and Edinburg, 1877-78; Presiding Elder (Potomac District), 1878-79; North River,
1879-80; Keedysville Station, 1880-81; and Rohrersville, 1881-82. He was an agent of United Seminary,
1882-84. In 1884 he transferred to Pa. Conf. and served Littlestown Circuit, 1884-85; St. Thomas, 1885-87;
Big Spring, 1887-89; Bendersville, 1889-91; Shop’s Station (Shiremanstown), 1891-95; and Dover, 1895-96.
He retired in 1896, the year he died. He is interred at Rohrersville. William Otterbein Grimm is the son of
Joseph S. Grimm and a brother to John Wesley Grimm and Jacob Luther Grimm. He was a school teacher in
early life and was considered a most excellent scholar. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 265, 273 (“Grimm”); and 126,
137, 264, 267-282 (all “Grim”)]; [Holdcraft 1938, p. 295, 306, which provided the picture on the right];
[Glovier 1965, pp. 68 (which provide the picture on the left, taken in 1873), 89]; and [Lycoming 2013 (which
uses “Grimm” throughout)]
GROSH: Christopher Grosh (b. Jan. 12, 1749; d. Apr. 16, 1829; mar. Ann Maria Ranck) was licensed in
1789 and a member of Conference in 1800. He served churches on the north side of Susquehanna Circuit.
He went West; died 1829; buried at Ranck’s Church, New Holland, Pa. Note: One of the “founding fathers,”
Grosh was Moravian and added that influence to the Reformed and Mennonite background of the others.
Among his descendants are the Weidman and Ranck pastors of the East Pa. Conf. From [Drury 1884, pp.
226-227]: Christopher Grosh was of Moravian descent. His home was near New Holland, in Lancaster
County, Pa. In many respects he was a superior man. He perceived the necessity of organization and system
in advance of many of his brethren. Immediately about him there was a small circle of evangelical preachers,
not all of whom went so far as to directly connect themselves with the United Brethren. While lie was in the
fellowship of these men, he was also importantly connected with the rise and progress of the United Brethren.
Those that knew well his work have asserted that the part that he performed has never been properly
recognized. He died in 1829. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 137 (“Grosch”); 124, 224-231 (all as “Grosh”); and 242
(as “Christian Grosh”)]; [Glovier 1965, p. 87]; and [Lycoming 2013]
GROVE: G. [George] Edward “Eddie” Grove, a member of the Virginia EUB Conference, received
Probationer’s License in 1962 and was ordained in 1967. He attended Shenandoah College (Class of 1962);
Shepherd College, 1964, A.B.; United Theological Seminary, 1967, M.Div. He served Martinsburg First, June
1963-June 1964, while attending school; Mt. Horeb, June 1967-June 1968; Inwood UMC June 1968-73; John
Wesley UMC in Hagerstown as an associate; St. John’s UMC in Hampstead, 1976-1986; Liberty Grove, 1986-
1991; Baldwin Memorial UMC, 1991-95; Trinity UMC in Martinsburg, 1995-2009; and, while retired
(Sep. 2009) has been serving Mt. Wesley-Greensburg UMC in Martinsburg.
GROVE: Herman Jonas Grove (1899-1994) was born at Mapleton Depot, Pa., Mar. 17, 1899, and is a son
of John H. and Rhoda (Gerhart) Grove. He was converted in 1915. New Creek is his one circuit thus far
(1921), 1919-23. Hermon Grove joined Conference 1921; living in 1921 at Antioch, W. Va.. He married three
times: Jeanetta Belle Taylor on Mar. 17, 1920; Ruth __ about 1949 in Reno, Nev., who died of brain cancer;
and Laura __ in 1975 in New York. The children were Elda Margaret, Joseph, Bernis Ray, and Treva. Rev.
Grove died in Nov. 1994 Woodland Retirement Community, Huntingdon, Pa. [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 129, 166,
308-312]
GROVES: A. A. Groves served Swope Circuit, 1922-24. Nothing else is known.
GROVES: Lester R. Groves served Lacey Springs Circuit, 1953-54. Nothing else is known. No Lester
Groves was listed in the 1968 and 1969 UMC General Minutes, but in 1982 a Lester M. Groves was listed as a
probationary elder in the Eastern Pa. Conf., serving Bird-in-Hand Charge (Lancaster District).
GRUBER: George M. Gruber became a member of Conference in 1887; transferred to Maryland
Conference 1887. In 1921 he was living in Hagerstown, Md. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 127, 130, 137, 288;
Glovier 1965, p. 90]
GRUVER: Jacob Paul Gruver was born Aug. 25, 1900, at Martinsburg, W.Va., the son
of Rev. W. F. and Nellie May Gruver. He was converted in 1912 at First Church,
Martinsburg. Rev. Gruver was married Alberta Corwin of Dayton, Ohio, on Oct. 27, 1928.
The Gruvers have two children: Jean Gruver Reach, and J. Paul, Jr. (“Jake”). He received
his Quarterly Conference License, 1921; Annual Conference License, 1922; Ordained,
1928. Education: Martinsburg High School; Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of
Music (3 years); Lebanon Valley College, 1925; Bonebrake (United) Theological Seminary,
1928, B.D.; and Lebanon Valley College, 1944, D.D. He was appointed to and served the
Biographical Sketches 60
GRIMM (GRIM): William Otterbein Grimm (b. July 14, 1837, near Rohrersville,
Md.; d. Aug. 24, 1896; mar. Martha Ann Mullendore) was District Superintendent
(Presiding Elder, Potomac) for the churches in Morgan County during 1878-80. He
was a teacher of “freed men” at Vicksburg, Miss., 1864-66. He was licensed and
became a member of Va. Conference in 1865 (with P. H. Thomas), was ordained
there in 1865, and served Boonsboro, 1868-69 and 1870-71; Potomac Mission, 1871-
72; Boonsboro-Keedysville, 1872-73; Churchville, 1873-75; Rockingham, 1875-77;
and Edinburg, 1877-78; Presiding Elder (Potomac District), 1878-79; North River,
1879-80; Keedysville Station, 1880-81; and Rohrersville, 1881-82. He was an agent of United Seminary,
1882-84. In 1884 he transferred to Pa. Conf. and served Littlestown Circuit, 1884-85; St. Thomas, 1885-87;
Big Spring, 1887-89; Bendersville, 1889-91; Shop’s Station (Shiremanstown), 1891-95; and Dover, 1895-96.
He retired in 1896, the year he died. He is interred at Rohrersville. William Otterbein Grimm is the son of
Joseph S. Grimm and a brother to John Wesley Grimm and Jacob Luther Grimm. He was a school teacher in
early life and was considered a most excellent scholar. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 265, 273 (“Grimm”); and 126,
137, 264, 267-282 (all “Grim”)]; [Holdcraft 1938, p. 295, 306, which provided the picture on the right];
[Glovier 1965, pp. 68 (which provide the picture on the left, taken in 1873), 89]; and [Lycoming 2013 (which
uses “Grimm” throughout)]
GROSH: Christopher Grosh (b. Jan. 12, 1749; d. Apr. 16, 1829; mar. Ann Maria Ranck) was licensed in
1789 and a member of Conference in 1800. He served churches on the north side of Susquehanna Circuit.
He went West; died 1829; buried at Ranck’s Church, New Holland, Pa. Note: One of the “founding fathers,”
Grosh was Moravian and added that influence to the Reformed and Mennonite background of the others.
Among his descendants are the Weidman and Ranck pastors of the East Pa. Conf. From [Drury 1884, pp.
226-227]: Christopher Grosh was of Moravian descent. His home was near New Holland, in Lancaster
County, Pa. In many respects he was a superior man. He perceived the necessity of organization and system
in advance of many of his brethren. Immediately about him there was a small circle of evangelical preachers,
not all of whom went so far as to directly connect themselves with the United Brethren. While lie was in the
fellowship of these men, he was also importantly connected with the rise and progress of the United Brethren.
Those that knew well his work have asserted that the part that he performed has never been properly
recognized. He died in 1829. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 137 (“Grosch”); 124, 224-231 (all as “Grosh”); and 242
(as “Christian Grosh”)]; [Glovier 1965, p. 87]; and [Lycoming 2013]
GROVE: G. [George] Edward “Eddie” Grove, a member of the Virginia EUB Conference, received
Probationer’s License in 1962 and was ordained in 1967. He attended Shenandoah College (Class of 1962);
Shepherd College, 1964, A.B.; United Theological Seminary, 1967, M.Div. He served Martinsburg First, June
1963-June 1964, while attending school; Mt. Horeb, June 1967-June 1968; Inwood UMC June 1968-73; John
Wesley UMC in Hagerstown as an associate; St. John’s UMC in Hampstead, 1976-1986; Liberty Grove, 1986-
1991; Baldwin Memorial UMC, 1991-95; Trinity UMC in Martinsburg, 1995-2009; and, while retired
(Sep. 2009) has been serving Mt. Wesley-Greensburg UMC in Martinsburg.
GROVE: Herman Jonas Grove (1899-1994) was born at Mapleton Depot, Pa., Mar. 17, 1899, and is a son
of John H. and Rhoda (Gerhart) Grove. He was converted in 1915. New Creek is his one circuit thus far
(1921), 1919-23. Hermon Grove joined Conference 1921; living in 1921 at Antioch, W. Va.. He married three
times: Jeanetta Belle Taylor on Mar. 17, 1920; Ruth __ about 1949 in Reno, Nev., who died of brain cancer;
and Laura __ in 1975 in New York. The children were Elda Margaret, Joseph, Bernis Ray, and Treva. Rev.
Grove died in Nov. 1994 Woodland Retirement Community, Huntingdon, Pa. [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 129, 166,
308-312]
GROVES: A. A. Groves served Swope Circuit, 1922-24. Nothing else is known.
GROVES: Lester R. Groves served Lacey Springs Circuit, 1953-54. Nothing else is known. No Lester
Groves was listed in the 1968 and 1969 UMC General Minutes, but in 1982 a Lester M. Groves was listed as a
probationary elder in the Eastern Pa. Conf., serving Bird-in-Hand Charge (Lancaster District).
GRUBER: George M. Gruber became a member of Conference in 1887; transferred to Maryland
Conference 1887. In 1921 he was living in Hagerstown, Md. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 127, 130, 137, 288;
Glovier 1965, p. 90]
GRUVER: Jacob Paul Gruver was born Aug. 25, 1900, at Martinsburg, W.Va., the son
of Rev. W. F. and Nellie May Gruver. He was converted in 1912 at First Church,
Martinsburg. Rev. Gruver was married Alberta Corwin of Dayton, Ohio, on Oct. 27, 1928.
The Gruvers have two children: Jean Gruver Reach, and J. Paul, Jr. (“Jake”). He received
his Quarterly Conference License, 1921; Annual Conference License, 1922; Ordained,
1928. Education: Martinsburg High School; Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of
Music (3 years); Lebanon Valley College, 1925; Bonebrake (United) Theological Seminary,
1928, B.D.; and Lebanon Valley College, 1944, D.D. He was appointed to and served the
Biographical Sketches 60
