Susan Black, Comp., Early LDS Member Records: Grover, Thomas (Male)
Comment 1:
Thomas was one of the original pioneers of Utah. Born in Whitehall, Washington, New York, July 22, 1807, the son of Thomas Grover and Polly Spalding. As the father, Thomas, had died during the previous February, the rearing and teaching of the infant, as well as that of his brothers and sisters was left to his widowed mother.
When the boy was twelve years old he entered a boat on the Erie Canal as a cabin boy and twelve years later he became captian of the boat "Shamrock."
In 1828 he married Caroline Whiting, the daughter of Nathaniel Whiting and Mercy Young, and while they were still living at Whitehall, their oldest daughter Jane was born. A little later he moved to Freedom, New York, where three other daughters were born. It was at this point that he first heard the Gospel and became a member of the L.D.S. Church in 1834.
From a letter written March 2, 1886 by Caroline Nickerson Hubbard to her daughter Persia Grover Bunnell, the following is taken: "It was in Freedom, Cattaraugus County, New York, where he and his wife first heard and embraced the Gospel. In 1834 the Prophet Joseph and Sidney Rigdon were the ones that bore the message to them and baptized Brother Grover and some others. He removed to Kirtland and helped to build the Temple there.
Shortly after his arrival in Kirtland, Brother Grover called on the Prophet. As he knocked at the door the Prophet opened it and said, putting out his hand: 'How do you do, Brother Grover. If God ever sent a man he sent you. I want to borrow every dollar you can spare for immediate use. Brother Grover entered the house and conversed with the Prophet about the situation, offering to let Joseph have what money he needed. Brother Joseph accepted the offer and told Brother Grover to look around and find a location that suited him for a home and then return, when the money he had advanced would be returned to him. In a short time the place was selected, but Brother Grover refused to receive back hs money, saying 'I have sufficient for my needs without it.' From that day the devotion of Thoma Grover to Joseph Smith never wavered."
On February 4, 1841, when the Nauvoo Legion was organized with Joseph Smith as lieutenant-general, Thomas Grover was chosen as an aide-de-camp on the general's staff and on January 28, 1842, he was appointed one of his body guards.
When Joseph was kidnapped by Wilson and Reynolds, Brother Grover was one of the number who rescued him, also when Joseph was imprisoned at Rock Island his release was effected by Thomas Grover and Stephen Markham. During his lifetime the Prophet gave him a sword which has been a precious heirloom in the family and which is now in the hall of relics at the State Capital of Utah.
During the years from 1840 to June, 1844, Brother Grover was sent on three missions through the states of Michigan, New York and southern Canada. In June, 1844, while doing missionary service near Kalamazoo, Michigan, he was warned in a dream to return to Nauvoo. He hesitated about the matter until the warning was repeated the third time. Then he awoke his companion, a Brother Wilson, and they got up, made it a matter of prayer and were told to go at once to Nauvoo. They did so, taking the shortest route possible, and arrived at Carthage just after the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum. Hurrying forward, they overtook the company with the bodies and accompanied them to Nauvoo, where Brother Thomas was requested to assist in the preparation of the bodies for burial. During that service, at the request of Emma Smith, he cut a lock from the Prophet's hair which she divided with him.
In October, 1840, Brother Grover's wife, Caroline Whiting, died, leaving six little girls, Jane, Emmeline, Mary, Adeline, Caroline and Eliza Ann; the baby, Emma, died
On February 20, he married Caroline Eliza Nickerson Hubbard, widow of Marshall Hubbard. She was the mother of Persia Grover, born December 27, 1841, and Marshall Grover, born September 27, 1846. This wife Caroline wrote in her journal "that the principle of plural marriage was taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith, that her husband, Thomas Grover, believed and accepted that law, and that on December 17, 1844, he married Hannah Tupper, daughter of Silas Tupper, and Hannah Ladd, as a plural wife. The first child of that union, Thomas Jr., was born Nobember 17, 1845, in Nauvoo Illinois."
In Decmeber, 1845, they had their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple and their sealings on January 20, 1846. Just before they were driven out of Nauvoo, Brother Grover also married Laduska Tupper, a sister of Hannah.
February 8, 1846, this family along with many others, left their comfortable homes and started the long trek across the plains to Utah.
Comments: #2.
Thomas was baptized by Warren A. Cowdery, September 1834. Moved to Kirtland by 1835. Appointed to be ordained elder January 2, 1836. Ordained high priest January 1836. Appointed member of Kirtland high council 13 January 1836. Moved to Far West, Missouri, by December 1836. Appointed member of Far West high council 1 August 1837. Expelled from Missouri 1839. Moved to Nauvoo 1839. Apointed member of Nauvoo high council 6 October 1839. Wife, Caroline, died October 1840. Married Carolina Eliza Nickerson 20 February 1841. They were later divorced. Member of Nauvoo Legion 1841. Mission to southern states from about June to October 1841. Another mission from about September 1841 to January 1843; area unknown. Assisted in resucing Prophet from Dixon arrest 1843. Mission to Michigan 1844. Married Hannah Tupper 17 December 1844. Received endowment December 1 1846. Appointed member of Council Bluffs high council 21 July 1846. Did not accept calling. Appointed member of "Municipal High Council" in Cutler's Park 9 August 1846. Arrived in Salt Lake Valley 3 October 1847. Moved to Centerville in spring of 1848. Moved to Farmington, Utah, about fall of 1848. To California 1848-49. Travled to Missouri 1850 to purchase cattle. Returned to Salt Lake area in spring of 1853 with 150 head of cattle. Resided in Farmington remainder of life. Member of Utah Legislature. Probate judge of Davis County. Married Elizabeth Walker 1856. Married Emma Walker 1857. Assisted emigrating Saints from Missouri River 1861. Mission to eastern states 1874-75. Died February 19, 1886 at Farmington, Davis County, Utah.
Comments: #3. Thomas was a member of a High Council.
Comments: #4. Thomas and Caroline Nickerson was married by William Smith.
Comments: #5. In 1870, Thomas had a household of 4, $2700 in real wealth, and $1800 in personal wealth.