The Grooms Family of New Jersey
Descendents of Peter Groom of Franklin County, Ohio
According to an account given by his daughter Lucinda in "Centennial Biographical History of Columbus and Franklin County," Peter Groom was born in 1823 in New Jersey and was brought to central Ohio as a young boy by his parents. Lucinda says that her paternal grandfather's name was John Groom and the family settled in Prairie Township.
In 1846 Peter Groom married Louisa O'Harra (1830-1852) daughter of Thomas O'Harra (1804-1877) and Lucinda Legg (1805-1867). Thomas O'Harra had come to Franklin County in the early 1800's with his father James O'Harra. Lucinda Legg was the daughter of a Revolutionary War vet Elijah Legg and Tabitha Holly originally from Loudon Co., Virginia, who settled in western Franklin County. Louisa O'Harra Groom died in 1852 and is buried in Clover Cemetery near Alton in Franklin County, Ohio. In 1854 Peter Groom married Mary Jane Gatton Wahl who died between 1860 and 1870. Peter died in 1891 in Prairie Twp.
Peter and Louisa Groom had the following children:
1. Joseph Groom (1846-1912) who married Mary Jane Parker (1855-1932, daughter of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Warner) in 1876 in Franklin County, Ohio. Joseph and Mary Jane are buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Worthington, Ohio. Their children were Ida May, Henry Ewing, Joseph Welling, David Benjamin, Walter Raymond, and Dora.
2. John Groom (1847- 1902) who married Anna Sullivan (1856-1903, daughter of Wesley Sullivan and Marianne Fitchman) in Franklin County. John and Anna are buried in Dublin Cemetery in Dublin, Ohio. Their children were Joseph, Peter Sellman, Marilla, John, Bessie, and Myrtle.
3. Margaret Groom (1848-1919) who married Jacob Nicely ( ). Margaret and Jacob are buried in Alton Cemetery in Franklin County. Their children were William, Milton, and Harrison.
4. Lucinda Groom (1850-1916) who married Stephen Parker (1847-1912, son of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Warner). Lucinda and Stephen are buried in Alton Cemetery in Franklin County. Their children included Jennie, Della, Dora, Lawson, Charles, Frank and Hosea.
5. Isabelle Groom (1852-1867).
Peter Groom and Mary Jane Gatton Wahl had
6. Charles Peter Groom (1856-- ) Charles is shown in the 1880 census living with half-sister Lucinda Groom Parker.
7. Benjamin Groom (1857-- ) believed to have died as a child.
8. Samuel Groom (1865-- ) Samuel is shown in the 1880 census living with Samuel Winegardner in McLean Co., Illinois.
9. Ellen Mina ( Unknown ) married a Mr. Trussel.
In order to see more about each of these children, click on the link.
Joseph Grooms family John Grooms family Margaret Grooms family Lucinda Grooms family
The first Groom(s) members to appear in the colonies were located in the New Jersey area in the late 1600's. To see some early genealogy of this family, click on this link.
Early Grooms in New Jersey Peter Groom--Saratoga, NY Moses Groom--NJ-VA
Several Grooms families in the central Ohio area came from Monmouth or Middlesex Counties in New Jersey. The loss of the 1790 and 1810 New Jersey census as a result of the War of 1812 does hinder research on these people but click on these links to find out about these families.
Ezekiel Groom Harmon Groom Noah Groom Job Groom
A thank you to researchers Gene Harrison, Joan Culp, Sue Dew, Alice Raven, Beryldean Hubbard, and Donna Grooms Ferrell whose work is included on this site. Although we believe the information to be correct, researchers in genealogy know that other information often appears. We are interested in hearing from other members of the very large Groom(s) family. If anyone has information to connect Peter Groom with his New Jersey ancestors, we would like to have that information. Please contact Donna Grooms Ferrell