Which Sarah Jane?

I want to point out a possible error I found today while searching for the parents of Sarah Jane Roop, spouse of James Monroe Groves and mother of Etta Gertrude Groves. In one source, this Sarah Jane is identified both as Rupp (in the notes) and Roupe (in the index).

The index gives her data as
“Sarah Jane Roupe b: 19 Mar 1850 in Echo, Armstrong, PA
Married: 3 Aug 1871 in Alexandria, Clark, MO”

In trying to confirm this information, I found a Sarah Rupp born in 1850 in Echo, Armstrong, PA. On the 1870 census, she is listed as residing with her parents, John and Harriet, and her younger siblings, John and Mary. While I thought it slightly unusual for her to be in PA in 1870 and in MO in Aug 1871 to marry James Monroe Groves, not impossible.

At the same time, I was looking for a possible sister, Phoebe Ann, to confirm my information, but it was entirely probable that the sister had already left the home in 1870, the date of the census, especially considering that Sarah Jane is already 20 by this time, a ripe old age for marriage in these years.

Not entirely satisfied that the Sarah Jane I had found in PA in 1870 was the mother of Etta, I continued the search and came upon the record of a Sarah Jane Roop, also 20 years of age in 1870. In addition, Sarah Jane “Roop” had a sister named Ph(o)ebe Ann. Significantly, this census records Sarah Jane and Ph(o)ebe Ann living with their parents in Clay, Clark Co., Missouri, the same county in which Sarah Jane married James Monroe Groves in Aug 1871.

Summary:
It’s possibly incorrect (unless there is compelling family or historical evidence) to claim the parents of Sarah Jane Roupe, b. 19 Mar 1850 in Echo, Armstrong, PA, as the grandparents of Etta Gertrude Groves. Families with trees listing Michael Roop and Sarah nee Taylor as the grandparents should take another look at their records. I could find no record that this couple had a daughter named Sarah. Also, trees with John and Harriet Rupp of Echo, Armstrong, PA as the grandparents may be incorrect. Although they had a daughter named Sarah, it’s more likely that the Sarah Jane living in Missouri (with a sister named Ph(o)ebe) is that one who married James Monroe Groves.

In the absence of additional conflicting evidence, it’s probable that the grandparents of Etta Gertrude Groves (through Sarah Jane Roop) are Jonathan (b.1819) and Sarah (b.1820) Roop, both born in PA. If this is the case, then Sarah Jane’s siblings are the following:

Ph(o)ebe b.1849, PA
Adam b.1852, PA
Jonathan b. 1854, PA
William b.1856, PA
David A. b.1863, MO (Place and time of birth suggests the family moved from PA to MO, at least, by 1862/3)

Jonathan and Sarah Roop also appear on the 1880 Census, where David, Adam and Jonathan still live at home, working on their farm. Both Phoebe and Sarah Jane are gone from the household. This supports the story that Phoebe and Sarah Jane married two Groves brothers, Franklin and James Monroe, respectively.

If anyone would like more information or has some to share with me, please leave a comment.