Dunklin County, Missouri Genealogy Trails

Biographies

Elias V. McGrew. Having lived in Dunklin county all his life, a prosperous farmer and highly esteemed citizen, Elias V. McGrew is one of the old settlers and is the son of one who was a pioneer in the best of the term. Hamilton McGrew, his father, who was born in Illinois in 1842, was brought to Dunklin county by his parents in 1845. The family first lived near Cotton Plant, and then at Buffalo Island. No school existed in the county at that time, so his education was limited. He married Miss Elisa Branum, who was a native of Dunklin county. Seven children were born to them, but three sons and three daughters died, so that Elias V. is the only remaining representative of the family. Hamilton McGrew was one of the enterprising early settlers, and he acquired one hundred and sixty acres of land, forty of which cost a dollar and a quarter an acre, and the rest two and a half dollars an acre. Much of this he cleared himself. He had a cabin home, and he spent his life as an industrious and prosperous farmer. His wife died December 5, 1879, and he passed away April 17, 1902.

Elias V. McGrew was born on the farm where he has spent the rest of his life on December 29, 1871. He lost his mother when he was eight years old, and he was reared on the home farm and attended free school at Buffalo Island. At the age of eighteen he married Miss Martha Noonan at Senath. She was born in Illinois, July 11, 1873.

His father having retired from regular labor several years before his death, Mr. McGrew has had the active management of the home farm for a number of years. Not only has he done much to improve and develop the home farm which he got from his father, but he has increased his holdings until he is now one of the most extensive land owners in the vicinity. His possessions consist of five hundred and eleven acres, about one hundred and fifty being slough land, two hundred acres in cultivation and the rest timbered. In a short time practically all the land will be cleared. On the home place he has built a comfortable residence, and he has four houses for tenants, one being an especially good dwelling of the kind. He has a large amount of wire fencing, and all his improvements are of a substantial character that enhance the value of the land and contribute to the progress of the community. His farm is five miles southwest of Senath, at which town he does his trading. He also owns a house and lot in Cardwell.

Mr. McGrew is a member of the Masonic lodge at Senath, and in politics is a Republican. He and his wife lost four of their children in infancy. The family now consists of: James H., born in 1890: William H., born in 1892; Fred L., born in 1896; Edward V., born in 1900.
The History of Southeast Missouri, Volume 1 by: Robert Sidney Douglass, A. B., LL. B. Published by: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1912 Page 1113
submitted by: James D. VanDerMark- 2009