Cuvier Grover born at Bethel, Maine, United States on July 29, 1828, he was the son of John and Fanny (Lary) Grover, a brother of La Fayette Grover and a descendant of Thomas Grover who emigrated from England to Charlestown, Massachusetts, about 1642. His father was a physician.
Prepared for college at the age of fifteen, young Grover refused to go, having determined to become either a soldier or a merchant. Too young to enter West Point, Cuvier Grover became a clerk of Eben D. Jordan in Boston and for two years was successful in business.
In July 1846 he entered West Point and in July 1850 graduated fourth in his class and was made brevet second lieutenant of artillery.
In 1853 he was assigned to engineering duty on the exploring expedition through the region now traversed by the Northern Pacific Railroad. In January and February 1854, on snow shoes and with only four men, he made his memorable crossing of the Rocky Mountains in the midst of hostile Indians. His report on the climatic conditions removed many of the objections to the feasibility of a Northern Pacific Railroad.
He was made a first lieutenant in the 10th Infantry on March 3, 1855. In the expedition for the reduction of the rebellious Mormons he served with such distinction that when martial law was declared in Utah he was appointed provost marshal of the territory.
He became a captain in the 10th Infantry September 17, 1858, and at the outbreak of the Civil War was on frontier duty at Fort Union, New Mexico.
Called upon to surrender to the Confederate government, he burned his supplies and by a brilliant forced march reached the Missouri River with his command. He was made a brigadiergeneral of volunteers on April 4, 1862, and served with the Army of the Potomac in the Virginia Peninsular campaign.
From December 30, 1862, to July 1864 he commanded a division of the XIX Corps in the Department of the Gulf.
He was engaged in the Shenandoah campaign from August to December 1864. On the same day he was wounded at the battle of Cedar Creek.
From January to June 1865 he was in command of the District of Savannah.
When he was mustered out of the volunteer service in August 1865 he was assigned to frontier duty in the West.
He was promoted colonel in the 1st Cavalry December 28, 1875.
He died in 1885 at Atlantic City where he had hoped to find improved health.
Grover frequently suffered from nervous prostration and a facial neuralgia contracted during the Red River campaign.
Cuvier Grover was twice married: first, on August 1, 1865, to Susan Flint, who died September 27, 1869; and second, January 28, 1875, to Ella Miller.
