All that remains to be seen of the Groner Cemetery is a short piece of woven wire that once surrounded this half-acre tract. It is located in Section two of Valley Township about one mile south of Center.
Daniel and Catherine Groner came to settle in Knox County in 1872 with their three daughters and one son. They built a fine home and settled into the peaceful little community that came to be known as Plum Valley. Daniel established the first post office here in his home.
In 1875 their only son, Johannas, then age four, passed away. They put him to rest on a hillside near their home. Eventually other family members and neighbors would be buried here, but sadly no record of these burials exist. Thomas and Elizabeth Danaher were buried here, but their graves were later moved. Elizabeth was a daughter of the Groners.
It is believed that Joseph Hensman is buried here. He lived in the place just south of the Groners. Marvin Wills Cave, son of J. Alva and Cora Cave, died at birth on February 7, 1908 and according to the family, was buried at Center.
In 1902 when Daniel and Catherine Groner decided to leave Plum Valley and move to West Point, they sold their land. Wanting to preserve the final resting place of their son, the Groners had the little cemetery surveyed and platted. It appears on the plat that it was first intended to be named Valley Cemetery, but before it was filed, the name was changed to Groner Cemetery.
There aren't any stones left to mark the burials. Most of them were wooden markers, which fell to ruins many years ago.
