Stephen McGroarty was born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States at an early age. Settling with his family in Cincinnati, McGroarty became a well-known and successful merchant and lawyer. However, it was on the battlefields of the Civil War where McGroaty found his greatest success and fame. As commander of the 61st Ohio McGroarty was wounded more than twenty times and earned a reputation as one of the bravest officers in the Union Army. McGroarty died in 1870 and is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.