Funeral Record: Thomas Groenendyke

This funeral record of Thomas GROENENDYKE was located at the Alexandria-Monroe Historical Society museum.  Thomas was my maternal 3rd-great granduncle, the brother of my Catherine GROENENDYKE.


Thomas was born October 2, 1852 near Frankton, Madison County, Indiana.  He married first to Emily SMITH in February 1876, and after her death married Hettie (BALLARD) THOMAS on December 20, 1899 in Madison County, Indiana. His obituary stated that he was a large landowner in Lafayette Township, and that he operated a grain elevator in Linwood.


This funeral record gives the name of his father (Elias); the time of death (5:55 PM) and the person who ordered the funeral (Mrs. Jasper Miller).  Thomas' daughter, Cora, was married to Jasper J. MILLER.

Family Milestones: December 20th

My maternal 4th-great grandaunt, Nancy DAVIS, was married on this date in 1846 in Monroe County, Indiana to James M. CAMPBELL.  Nancy was the daughter of John and Susannah (________) DAVIS, and the older sister of my Austin DAVIS.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My maternal 3rd-great granduncle, Thomas GROENENDYKE, was married on this date in 1899 in Madison County, Indiana to Hettie BALLARD.  Thomas was the son of Elias and Nancy (JENKINS) GROENENDYKE, and the younger brother of my Catherine GROENENDYKE.  Thomas was born October 2, 1852 near Frankton, Madison County, Indiana.  Hettie was born March 1865 in Indiana.  Thomas was a farmer in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Thomas died November 25, 1944 in Madison County, Indiana, and is buried in the Park View Cemetery in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.

My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Amanda P. PIERCE, was born on this date in 1842.  Amanda was the daughter of Francis S. and Rebecca (PAGE) PIERCE, and the younger sister of my Edmund G. PIERCE.  Amanda died February 22, 1845.

My paternal great granduncle, Harvey Allen WEHRLY, was born on this date in 1876 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Harvey was the son of William P. and Olive Jane (SMITH) WEHRLY, and the younger brother of my Barbara Isabel WEHRLY.  Harvey married October 9, 1888 to Nettie SHREEVE.  Nettie was born circa 1880 in Indiana.  They had 4 children, and lived in Henry County, Indiana.  Harvey died June 9, 1968.

My maternal 6th-great grandaunt, Mayke GROENENDYKE, was born on this date in 1751 in Kingston, Middlesex County, New Jersey.  Mayke was the daughter of Johannes and Sarah Ann (LAKE) GROENENDYKE, and the younger sister of my Nicholas GROENENDYKE.  Mayke was still living at the time of her father's death in 1785.  Nothing further is known at this time.

Marriage: Thomas Groendyke to Hettie Ballard

My maternal 3rd-great granduncle, Thomas GROENENDYKE, married his second wife,  Hettie BALLARD on December 20, 1899 in Madison County, Indiana.  The license records the surname as GROENDYKE.  

Thomas was born October 2, 1852 near Frankton, Madison County, Indiana, the son of Elias and Nancy (JENKINS) GROENENDYKE.  His first wife, Emily SMITH, had died in 1895.  Hettie BALLARD was born March 1865 in Indiana.  I do not know who her parents were at this time.  She was previously married to J.U. THOMAS.


Thomas died November 25, 1944 in Madison County, Indiana.  I do not know where Hettie died.  The last record I have for her is the 1920 census.  They were living in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana.

Happy Anniversary : Elias Groenendyke & Nancy Jenkins

Happy Anniversary to my maternal 4th great-grandparents, Elias Groenendyke & Nancy Jenkins, married July 28, 1839 in Fayette Co., IN.

Known children of Elias Groenendyke & Nancy Jenkins:

Amanda Groenendyke
Andrew Groenendyke
Catherine Groenendyke m. Edmund G. Pierce
Charity Groenendyke m. Thomas Stapleton
John Thomas Groenendyke
Amos Groenendyke
James Groenendyke
Thomas Groenendyke m. Emily Smith m(2) Hattie Ballard
Cora E. Groenendyke m. Garland Hancock m(2) Jasper Miller