NOTE: This writer does NOT believe that this Clarence Groves was KIA.

CLARENCE GROVES, born 17 May 1887 in Parkersburg, Wood County, W.Va., was the son of Jonathan Groves and Mary Jane McBride, married in Washington County, Ohio in 1878. The West Virginia birth records state his birthday as 7 May but other records say 17 May. Clarence had a twin sister, Clara, according to census and birth records. When Clara married 21 August 1911, in Washington County, Ohio, her birthday was stated as May 17.

Mary Jane McBride Groves died sometime after she gave birth to her last child in 1893. All four of her children were born in Wood County, per birth records.

1900 Census, Marietta, Washington County, Ohio
#268
Jonathan Groves, Head, 50, Day Laborer, b. Mar 1850, Ohio
Clarence Groves, Son, 13, b. May 1887, Ohio
Clara Groves, Daughter, 13, b. May 1887, Ohio
Chas. M. Groves, Son, 9, b Jan 1891, W.Va.
Rosa J. Groves, Daughter, 7, b. April 1893, W.Va.

The father remarried in 1901 and they are found in Marietta in the 1910 census. The record incorrectly states that Clarence and Clara, 22, were born in Ohio.

In the book, Soldiers of the Great War - West Virginia, published in 1920, two West Virginia men named Clarence Groves are listed as Killed in Action. One is Clarence C. Groves, Harpers Ferry, and the other is Clarence Groves, St. Marys.

The West Virginia Adjutant General published Revised List of Deceased Soldiers, World War on January 1, 1922. Only the name of Clarence C. Groves, Harpers Ferry, is named. He was Clarence Clark Groves, 3173558, Private Co I 125th Infantry, born 24 Dec 1895; KIA 18 Oct 1918.

The West Virginia Memory Project, West Virginia Archives & History, accepted the name of Clarence Groves, born 7 May 1887 in Parkersburg, W.Va. for the Veterans Memorial. Their facts are minimal but their record does say that Clarence was the son of Jonathan and Mary Jane Groves. As already stated, the birthdate of the man born in Parkersburg is an error; he was born 17 May 1887 in Parkersburg, and his parents, per birth record were Jonathan and Mary Jane.

Clarence and Clara were young when their mother died and they may not have known they were born at Parkersburg, hence they both stated their place of birth as Washington County, Ohio.

In any case, the Clarence Groves born in Parkersburg had some affiliation with St. Marys. However, although he was Wounded in Action, he was honorably discharged 15 August 1919. He went on to marry and have a family.