Gruversville Cemetery
21, July 2001
A recent interest to visit many of the little known and remotely located graveyards in Bucks County, has led me to the Gruversville Cemetery. This site has been visited and reported on at least two occasions. In December 1964 the tombstones were transcribed by Russell Schanely. On 15, August 1981 Ken Hottle visited and made his report with an in depth sketch showing the locations of the graves. I would find it difficult to improve on his report. Upon reading as many of the tombstones as I could, it seems to have been quite accurate. On Mr. Hottle' sketch, it shows the location of each grave. During my visit I did take a few pictures and will place at the top of this page.
This is a private cemetery, located on private property. I did receive permission from the present owner to visit the premises, take pictures and report the present condition.
A few things have changed from the 1981 visit by Mr. Hottle. The most significant change was his sketch which showed a stone wall on three sides of the cemetery with the West end opening into a field. My inquiry with the present owner was the wall was removed by others, sometime between 1981 and 1986. The graveyard has been improved on since the 1981 visit. The grass was cut short and seemed well maintained. It appears as Mr. Hottle stated, "The tombstones have been tampered with to such an extent that the original location of the graves in some cases is doubtful."
There is a Plaque located near the Southeast corner of the cemetery showing the location of the former Church House. At this time I have no picture of the Church but hope to locate one to place on this page.
The following was E-mailed to me Jan. 1,2002 by Betty Lou Gross Riter, Springfield Township Historical Society. I wish to thank her for this contribution.
1775. April 12. A tract of 149 acres and 133 perches on a branch of Cooks
Creek by parts of the Manor of Richland,was confirmed to Peter Gruber, Sr. by
Thomas Adamson. This would become the site of Gruversville.
1809. Deeding of Gruversville Cemetery. Portion of a deed referring to purchase
of 10 acres of woodland, being a part of the same tract of land which Jacob, Sr.
and Elizabeth Ritter by indenture bearing date 3/2/1809 did grant and confirm to
their son, Philip Ritter and Catherine nee Huber his wife, and recorded in Deed
Book 41 page 163 in the office of Deeds in Doylestown, Bucks County. Philip
Ritter reserves the graveyard tract of land for to bury the relations and
kindred of the said Philip Ritter and also a road or cart way from the public
road to the said graveyard to pass with the dead and people tending the funeral
unmolested and if the grave yard is not large enough to bury the said dead in
then the said Lewis Ritter is to give more ground around the said grave yard and
put up and keep the wall in good order at all times hereafter, Deed Book 88 page
127.
1861. John Gruver (1787-1870) donated a portion of his land consisting of 81
perches and nine tenths for the establishment of a church and cemetery, Deed
Book 173 page 529 and Recorded June 17, 1869.
1861. June 15 & 16. "Dedication of St. James Church of the Evangelical
Association by Father John Gruver (1787-1870). Brother Herman Kempfer officiated
on the occasion. About $80.00 was collected by cash and subscription, and only a
debt of about $70.00 remains on the church. The church is 28 feet by 40 feet
costing $600.00 to construct by Frederick Krecker. The church has a twenty
member class." Evangelical Messenger.
| Name | Dates and Location | aged |
| Gruver, John C. | 8 March 1787-19 January 1870 The following by Betty Riter: John Gruver (headstone) // J. G (footstone), a son of Peter, senior and Plantina Gruber was born 3-8-1787, and died 1-19-1870 at age 82 years 10 months 11 days His tombstone is engraved In Memory of JOHN GRUVER BORN MARCH 8, 1787. DIED JANUARY 19, 1870. AGED 82 YEARS 10 MO. AND 11 DAYS. The verse reads: "Farewell my wife and children all, From you a father just doth call, Mourn not for me, it is in vain to call me to your sight again." John Gruver married Mary Ritter 1-8-1810. | 82.10.11 |
| Gruver, Mary | Wife of John Gruver; 1 April 1790-27 March 1871 The following by Betty Riter: Mary Gruver // M. G. Her tombstone is engraved "In Memory of Mary Ritter Gruver, wife of John Gruver, born 4-1-1790, died 3-27-1871 at age 80 years 11 months 26 days." | 80.11.26 |
| Gruver, Heinrich | 8 September 1812-6 January 1863 The following by Betty Riter: Heinrich Gruver, a son of John and Mary Ritter Gruver was born 9-8-1812, and died 1-6-1863 at age 50 years 3 months 8 days. | 50.3.28 |
| Gruver, Reuben S. | Son of Henry and Susanna Gruver 1 November 1819-27 November 1866 The following by Betty Riter: Reuben S. Gruver // R.(S.) S. G., a son of Heinrich (Henry) and Susanna Gruver was born 11-1-1849, and died 11-27-1866 at age 17 years 26 days. | 47.0.26 |
| Gruver, William S. | Son of Henry & Susanna 13 September 1814- 2 July 1866 The following by Betty Riter: William S. Gruver // W. S. G., a son of Heinrich (Henry) and Susanna Gruver was born 9-13-1844, and died 7-2-1866 at age 21 years 2 months and 20 days." His tombstone is engraved 'In Memory of William S. Gruver.' | 51.9.20 |
| Kunsman, Amanda | Wife of John V. Kunsman, nee Frankenfield 17 August 1855- 10 February 1885 Information by Betty Riter: Amanda Kunsman // A. K. Amanda nee Frankenfield Kunsman. Born 8-17-1855, and died 2-10-1885 at age 29 years 7 months and 23 days. She was the wife of John V. Kunsman/Kuntzman. Stone by Henry Diehl of Springfield Marble and Granite Works in Pleasant Valley later owned by Abe Derr, my father's uncle who adopted him. | 29.7.23 |
| Laubach, Susanna | Wife of Isaac H. Laubach 28 February 1831- 15 January 1862 | 30.10.15 |
| Laubach, Catharine | Daughter of Isaac & Susanna Laubach 14 July 1854- 15 June 1861 | 6.11.6 |
| Ritter, Jacob | (1726) - 25 December 1815 | 89. |
| Riter, Elizabeth | Died 6 June 1812 | |
| Ritter, Philip | 27 December 1775- 19 August 1855 | 79.7.22 |
| Beck, Peter | 5 July 1830-18 August 1886 | |
| Durn, Joseph F. | 15 October 1838-30 August 1878 The following by Betty Riter: Joseph F. Durn // J. F. D. Born 10-15-1838, and died 8-30-1878 at age 39 years 10 months and 15 days. Tombstone inscription reads: "As Thou hast sent me into the world even so have I also sent them into the world." Stone by Smith of Quakertown. Joseph Fluck Durn was a son of Joseph and Catherine Fluck Durn. A brother of Joseph Fluck Durn was Elias Fluck Durn. Aaron Durn, son of Elias Fluck Durn married Mary Catherine Steiger, daughter of John S. and Lydia Ann Weaver Steiger. Joseph F. Durn was owner of the Jacob Ritter, Sr. and his wife Elizabeth Ritter homestead in 1855, sold to him by Joseph Ritter, son of Jacob Ritter. Jr. The property is now owned by Mary Creticos. | 39.10.15 |
| Foltz, Jonas | 5 September 1805- 29 April 1862 | 56.7.24 |
| Foltz, Elizabeth | Wife of Jonas 1 March, 1806-31 July 1860 | 54.6.0 |
| Frankenfield, Samuel | (From the notes of K. Hottle: 25 December 1863- 18 March 1870. This stone is one of two that shared a common base and faced the front of the church in a westward direction, all other stones in the cemetery face east. An inscription on the base reads, "Children of Samuel & Henrietta Frankenfield". Mr. Schanely identifies the second child as "I. F." 23 June 1866-18 March 1870 aged 3.8.25. The parents of these children are buried at Pleasant Valley Evangelical Congregation cemetery. The following by Betty Riter: 1870. March 18. Samuel Frankenfield, born on Christmas Day in 1863, died at age 6 years 2 months and 23 days. His brother, Isben Frankenfield, born 6-23-1866, died on the same day at age 3 years 8 months and 25 days. They were the sons of Samuel Frankenfield, Sr. (1827-1899) and his second wife, Henrietta nee Kindig Klotz Frankenfield (1828-1903). They lived in the area of western Springfield Township. The parents of the children are buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Pleasant Valley. (Bucks County Wills, File Number 20907) Samuel Frankenfield, Sr. was a son of Philip and Elizabeth Rinker Frankenfield, and a direct descendant of immigrant settlers Simon and Eve Frankenfield. | 6.2.23 |
| Gross, Margaret | 19 December 1782-5 January 1872 | 89.0.16 |
| Gross, Andrew | 14 August 1817-26 February 1896 Information by Betty Riter: Andrew Gross // A. G. Born 8-14-1817, and died 2-26-1896 at age 78 years 6 months and 12 days. Buried 3/3/1896, expenses paid by son Andrew Gross, Jr., executor, buried Gruversville Cemetery (from records of Tilghman A. Benner, undertaker). Andrew Gross was the son of Jacob and Margaret Gross of Springfield Township. He was baptized October 28, 1818, according to records of the Springfield Reformed Church. His stone was the last to be set in the Gruversville graveyard. Edwin A. Gross (1840-1890) was also a son of Andrew and Anna Arnold Gross. He married Christina Nicholas Fluck. They named a son Seth Gross. | 78.6.12 |
| Gross, Annie | Wife of Andrew Gross 14 January 1814-12 December 1895 Information bt Betty Riter Anna Gross // A. G. Anna (Annie) Arnold Gross. Born 1-14-1814, and died at age 81 years 10 months and 28 days. She was the wife of Andrew Gross. She was one of eight children of Frederick and Deborah Arnold of Springfield Township. She was baptized April 11, 1814, according to records of Blue Church. Anna Arnold's brother Joseph Arnold married Susanna Gross, daughter of Daniel and Catherine Gross. | 81.10.58 |
| Gross, Seth | Son of Anna & Andrew Gross 8 March 1849- 12 November 1864 | 15.8.4 |
| Ritter, Catharina | 24 November 1776- 19 June 1863 | 86.6.25 |
| Ritter, Lydia | 10 February 1806-10 September 1821 | 15.7.0 |
| Ritter, John | (1768)- 25 July 1853 | 85 years |
| Ritter, Christiann | Wife of John Ritter (1766)- 8 November 1852 | 86 years |
| Ritter, John | 10 September 1818- 8 March 1865 | 46.5.28 |
| Ritter, Hannah | Wife of Johannes Ritter nee Beringer 16 July 1820- 16 August 1861 | 41.1.0 |
| Ritter, John W. | 12 March, 1850- 1 August, 1875 | 25.4.19 |
| Ritter, Malinda | Daughter of Johannes & Hannah 13 November, 1851- 22 September, 1869 The following by Betty Riter: Malinda Ritter // R. Born 11-13-1851, and died 9-22-1869 at age 17 years 10 months and 9 days. She was the daughter of Johannes (John) and Hannah Berninger Ritter. Tombstone inscription reads: "Jer. (Jeremiah) Ch. 3, v. 24. For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters." | 17.10.9 |
| Ritter, Heinrich | Son of Johannes & Hannah Ritter 16 November, 1853- 27 June, 1869 | 15.7.11 |
| Schneider, Catharina | Wife of Lewis Schneider 28 September, 1835- 30 September 1860 | 25.0.2 |