Groom, Christiana Purdy

MRS. CHRISTIANA GROOM, P.O. Spartansburg, was born August 28, 1818, in Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., N.Y., daughter of Silas and Mary E. (Snyder) Purdy, who were natives of the same county. They were the parents of twelve children— three sons and nine daughters— six of whom are living. Mr. Purdy was a farmer and stone-mason by occupation. He left Rensselaer County in 1834, and settled in Harmony, Chautauqua Co., N.Y., where he spent the remainder of his life. There he took up 1,140 acres of wild land, giving fifty acres to each of his children, which most of them have improved and still retain, though, a few sold and moved to other localities. He died in August, 1858, his widow, who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, following him in April, 1861. Our subject, the ninth in the family, was married January 1, 1839, to Elijah Groom, a native of Onondaga County, N.Y., and a farmer by occupation. After marriage they resided at Watts Flats, Chautauqua County, till April, 1848, when they came to Spartansburg, where Mr. Groom engaged in the mercantile business for eight years. He then purchased the farm of 200 acres now owned by his widow, and noted for being the place where Hugh Fitzpatrick, in 1817, was murdered by Van Holland, who was the first to suffer the penalty of hanging in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Groom were born four children, three now living: Emily A., wife of Luther W. Day, of Spartansburg; Lucretia, died when five years old; Christiana L., wife of Vernon Covel, in Olean, N.Y., and William E., residing with his mother on the old homestead. Mr. Groom was an active business man and one much respected by the community. He served as Justice of the Peace several years; was the first Postmaster of Spartansburg; an A.F. & A.M.; a strong temperance man. In politics he was a Republican. He died February 13, 1870. His widow, our subject, is a fine old lady, a great lover of books. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and highly esteemed by all.