In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910)
WILLIAM M. GROVES.
The very necessary, rapidly enlarging and extremely responsible field of work offered by banking is one very attractive to many young men, one in which they find an opportunity for pleasant and remunerative service and in which a good man may be promoted as his work deserves. The profession develops responsibility, and is not one for weaklings, and everywhere the man who has reached one of the more responsible positions in a bank is prominent in the general affairs of the community, a leader of public sentiment more than men of most other professions.
William M. Groves was born in Dover township, Lafayette county, June 24, 1855, the son of David Groves, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was brought up on a farm, educated in the common schools and the Dover high school. For a short time he was a merchant, then began work as cashier of the American Bank at Corder, and became connected with the American Bank at Higginsville in 1882. In 1890, the bank at Corder was reorganized as the Columbian Bank and soon merged with the Corder Bank, opened in 1891, and after the merger in 1893 Mr. Groves became cashier and has since retained the position. He owns two hundred and fifty acres of land in Dover township and is treasurer of the Diamond Coal Company. In politics he is a Democrat, has been a notary public, and has held all the village offices, having always been high in the confidence of the people. He and his family are members of the Methodist church.
Mr. Groves was married in 1894 to Bettie Corder, who was born in Dover township, the daughter of George W. and Elizabeth A. (Wall) Corder. George W. Corder was a native of Virginia who came to this township and owned a section of land where Corder now stands. His-father was Nathan Corder, the pioneer of Corder, who died in Dover township. Elizabeth Wall was born in North Carolina, and was married when she came to this township. Mr. and Mrs. Groves are the parents of four children: Helen Elizabeth; Wilham M., Jr.; Frances G., and Marjory J., all of whom are living and are a vivacious and attractive family of young people.
Mr. Groves has by his affability and hospitality made friends of all those who know him. No citizen of his township is considered more worthy of the people's trust then is he. In all the relations of life, family, social and professional, he performs his part in such a manner as to win the regard of all. His success has been not only in accumulating property, but in establishing character as well.
As printed in Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.