Groves - Samuel Morton
SAMUEL MORTON GROVES
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review Jan 26, 1954 p 1
Samuel M. Groves, 80, died shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday at Culver Hospital, the first traffic fatality in Crawfordsville in more than 4 years. Mr. Groves was injured when he was struck by an automobile driven by Joe Kirk, 25, of Darlington. The accident occurred while Mr. Groves was walking across the street in front of his home, 309 E. College about 5:45 p.m. last Friday. The last traffic fatality in the city was May 11, 1949 when Ronnie Baldwin, 7, Tuttle school pupil was killed under the wheels of a city-owned truck. The death of Mr. Groves also was the first traffic fatality in Montgomery County this year. Kirk, driver of the car that struck Mr. Groves was arrested on a charge of having inadequate brakes on his car. His trial has not been held pending the outcome of the aged man's injuries. Mr. Groves was thrown up on the hood of Kirk's car and suffered multiple injuries. They included a fracture of the right leg, severe head injuries and shock. Mr. Groves was a lifelong resident of Montgomery County and was widely known in music circles. For 20 years, he was the director of the Waynetown Band and for a number of years also directed an orchestra there. He also directed an orchestra at Mellott for a time, as well as leading bands in Wallace, Wingate and Hillsboro. He was a teacher of violin and cornet many years. Born Jan 1, 1874, at Waveland, he was the son of Aquilla W. and Lenora Russell Groves. When he was a small child, he moved with his family to a farm north of Waynetown. He graduated from the old College Grove School in Wayne Township and later attended the Metropolic School of Music now Jordan Conservatory in Indianapolis. He married on July 22, 1906 in Crawfordsville to Blanche Zuck. They lived for a number of years on a farm north of Waynetown, before moving to that town in 1929. A year later, after their home in Waynetown burned, they moved to Crawfordsville where they had since resided. For the past 10 years, Mr. Groves had been employed by the Ben Hur Life Assn. He also had served as Deputy Union Twp assessor for the past several years. Mr. Groves was a member of the First Christian Church of this city and was a deacon and member of the official board of the church. The survivors include the wife; two sons, Errett Z. Groves of Kansas City, Mo and Leslie R. Groves of Macon, Mo, both Wabash College graduates; a daughter, Mrs. W. Lennard of Ottawa, Kan, a DePauw graduate; two brothers, Arnett R. Groves and David A. Groves both of this city, a sister Mrs. Verne W. Livengood, also of this city; six grandchildren and a number of nieces and ndphews. Two sisters, Mrs. Savannath Francis and Miss Bettie Groves and a brother William E. Groves preceded him in death. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Bright Funeral Home with Rev. Paul E. Million, pastor of the First Christian Church in charge. Burial will be at Waynetown Masonic Cemetery. Friends may pay their respects at the Bright Funeral Home. - kbz