Update rec'd 2/19/2017 form t. garlow:

HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY


'The Gronendykes trace their lineage back to the Dutch Republic of Holland, the history of which is so replete with historic incident and interest. The first of the Gronendyke family to come into Indiana was James, a native of New Jersey, born in 1770. He settled first in Dearborn County but in 1819 moved to Fayette County where he lived near Connersville until his death in 1836. James Gronendyke was married to Johannah Hagerman who was also a native of New Jersey. She was born in 1780 and died in 1825. They were the parents of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, named as follows: Nicholas, John, Peter, James, Thomas, Michael, Elias and Catharine. James Gronendyke remarried in 1828 and by this marriage had five sons and two daughters.

Michael, the sixth son of James and Johannah (Hagerman) Gronendyke and his family, are the immediate subjects of this sketch. He was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, March 25, 1815, but was reared in Fayette County, where he resided until 1843, when he moved with his family to Henry County and settled in Jefferson Township, about six miles northwest of the present site of the village of Sulphur Springs, on the splendid tradt of land now owned and occupied by his daughter, Lucinda Ann Josephine. This land, at the time he purchased it, comprised one hundred and sixty acres of virgin forest in and almost impenetrable wilderness. By unceasing toil and persistent effort, he made it one of the finest farms in Henry County. He later added to his land holdings one hundred and sixty acres located in Delaware County, making in all three hundred and twenty acres of magnificent farm land. In 1837 Michael Gronendyke married, in Fayette County, Anna Hankins, a native of Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Hankins and was born December 16, 1815. Michael and Anna (Hankins) Gronendyke were very religious people and were prominent members of the United Brethren Church to which denomination they were exceedingly devoted. They did everything in their power conscientiously to advance its interests and in the building of what is known as the Forest Hill Meeting House, which stands on the Gronendyke place. Michael was the moving spirit, donating the ground and otherwise contributing to its erection and completion.
To Michael and Anna (Hankins) Gronendyke were born three children, namely: James, born in Fayette County, July 6, 1838: Amos, the subject of this sketch, born in Fayette County, November 14, 1840; and Lucinda Ann Josephine, born in Henry County, March 27, 1848. The first and last of the above named are still living, Michael Gronendyke died February 5, 1899, and Anna, his wife, died April 30, 1898. Both of these old pioneers lived for a period of more than four score years. They were hard-working, persevering, moral, economical, God-fearing citizens. They acquired, by their thrift and economy, comfortable homes, maintained a generous hospitality and were always good citizens and good neighbors. they are both buried in the Painter Cemetery, near Middletown....



Above 'biographical sketch' is from 'Hazzard's History of Henry County' Military Edition, Volume I (Page #'s 488+)
George Hazzard-Author and Publisher-1906
New Castle, Indiana