Melvin Cass McGrew ^{3 4 5 6 7}

  General Notes:

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 7, Ed. 1]
Member I.O.O.F.
Christian Church (Ch/Christ), Angola, Steuben County, Indiana
Lived in Richland Township until 1873
Buried: Sowle Settlement Cemetery, Steuben County, Indiana

SOURCE: "History of NE Indiana"; Lewis Publishing Co (1920); Vol 2; 376

"It is over seventy years since the McGrew family came to Steuben County. The name has been identified with almost all the development and history of this section of Northeast Indiana from the log cabin days to the era of modern transportation, improved highways, and unprecedented prosperity for the agricultural district. Melvin's parents were married in Ohio and in 1848 came to Steuben County They paid $1.25 an acre for land in Richland Township. Obviously it was virgin soil and did not have a single tree removed. It was Findley's chore to clear it and make a home. In the end he had 80 acres of well developed farm land and a log house (the family's first home) was replaced by a good frame house. He was a fine mechanic, a millwright by trade. It was his practice to build, operate, and own mills. He operated mills at Metz, on Fish Creek, one northeast of Butler and one at West Buffalo, Ohio. He was one of the most useful citizens of the county in his time. He was a democrat and they were members of the United Brethren Church. Melvin is the only survivor of the family (1920). He grew up on the family farm in Richland Township and lived there until he was 21. He rented the Northway farm in Millgrove Township. In 1880 he bought the farm where he still lives. The 112 acres and all its building improvements represent his individual work and investment. He does general farming and raises stock."
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As I Remember Great Grandfather, Melvin Cass McGrew
Phyllis McGrew Walklet (1995)

My Dad, Harold Afton McGrew, was born and spent his formative years just a short distance from Melvin's farm. He spent a lot of his time there so many of his grandfather's standards were handed down to him - some good and some otherwise. Melvin was a hard working farmer. Going to his farm was always a treat. I could go to the barn to watch him milk his beautiful Jersey cow with the big brown eyes. I was given a cup of warm milk before it even hit the bucket (no pasteurization in those days). We gathered eggs, walked down the lane to pick hickory nuts from the ground, went fishing in the small, very deep lake behind the barn, dug horseradish roots and ground them, plucked fresh vegetables from the garden. I don't remember my Great grandmother, Rachel, but I do recall the huge black cast iron stove in her kitchen. Marie, Great grandad's second wife, made the best sugar cookies in the whole world in that oven. When we arrived the pantry was always my first stop. Lined up to cool were rows of 3" cookies, covered with sugar, and in the exact center of each, a giant sized raisin. We endured the long trips to the outhouse in the cold winter. I don't think indoor plumbing was ever installed while he lived. We were very impressed when he had a tall windmill put next to the house to generate power so he had electricity. My personal recollections of him are sketchy. He had the most piercing blue eyes I have ever seen. He seemed to look right through me. He was not a large man but strong. He loved castor oil. He drank it, not for medicinal reasons, but because he liked the taste. Another memory is of him breaking soda crackers into a bowl and filling it with strong hot tea and lots of cream and sugar. I can't remember him wearing anything but overalls. My Mother told me he was a very demanding husband. Rachel never was allowed to go to town. He would bring all her clothes (including her girdle) back to her when he went. I guess her big outing for the week was going to church. Several years ago I went to see the farm again. I was surprised to see it has been maintained almost as I remembered. The house was painted yellow with white trim, the yard was beautifully groomed but most surprising was the barn. The same weathered red siding was kept and not a blade of long grass or weeds grew around it.
(Phyllis McGrew Walklet; 1994)

Note the above incorrectly states that his wife died 5 Aug 1918. The correct date of death for his wife was July 31, 1928. "I know she was living when I was born in 1926". (Phylly McGrew Walklet)
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Found in a ledger of Melvin Cass McGrew (1852-1934)

LEGAL NOTICE

Maria Dickerson, Caroline Carpenter and Lucinda Sharrock of White Mound, Sauk, Wisconsin. Emily Dargitz, B. J. Rodgers and Sarah L Rodgers of Tipton, Cedar, IA, Abram Rodgers of Stanwood, Cedar, IA, Joseph McGrew, Benjamin McGrew, Melvin McGrew, Finley McGrew and James McGrew of Metz, Steuben, Indiana, Sarah McGrew and Ida McGrew and the unknown heirs of Constance Kent, deceased, the unknown heirs of Matilda Johnston, deceased, the unknown heirs of Nicholas Rodgers, deceased, the unknown heirs of Temperance Channel, deceased, alias Temperence Chandler, deceased, will take notice that Finley Sharrock has filed a petition against them and Others, in the Court of Common Pleas of Morrow County, Ohio, wherein he, as heir at law of Benjamin Sharrock, late of said, deceased, demands partition of the southeast quarter and the east half of the northwest quarter of section fourteen, and the west half of the northwest quarter of section twenty-four, all in township fifteen of range twenty-one, in said Morrow, and averring that Elizabeth McGrew, Temperance Channel, alias Temperance Chandler, James Sharrock, Maria Dickerson and Emily Dargitz, children of said Benjamin Sharrock, received advancements from said Benjamin Sharrock during his lifetime, to the full amount of the shares of themselves and their children in said premises, and praying that in such partition said advancements be taken into account, and that said petition will be for hearing at the next term of said court.

Finley Sharrock; 17 Dec 1879
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Millgrove Township, Steuben County, IN on 3 June 1880. ³

1880 US Census
Page 251A, District 1, Dwelling 39, Family 40, Roll 312
Millgrove Township, Steuben County, Indiana
Melvin McGraw..Self..28..IN..Carpenter
(Living with wife and 2 children.)
.

• He appeared on the 1900 US Census in Pleasant Township, Steuben County, IN on 6 June 1900. ⁴

1900 US Census
Sheet 3A, District 102, Dwelling 52, Family 52
Pleasant Township, Steuben County, Indiana
Farm owned, with mortgage
Married 25 years
Melvin McGrew..Head..Feb 1852..48..IN..Farmer
(Living with wife and son.)
.

• He appeared on the 1920 US Census in Pleasant Township, Steuben County, IN on 6 January 1920. ⁵

1920 US Census
Sheet 2B, District 158, Family 49, Roll 461
Pleasant Township, Steuben County, Indiana
Farm owned, with mortgage
Melvin McGrew..Head..67..IN..Farmer, General Farm
(Living with wife.)
.

• He was buried on 16 May 1934 in the Sowles Cemetery in Angola, IN.

Melvin and his wife, Rachel, share one gravestone of a vertical face monument of gray granite. On the polished front face is the name McGREW in large block letters at the top. On the left side the inscription reads "Melvin C., 1852 - 1934" while on the right side it reads "Rachel A. Fast, his wife, 1850 - 1928" and below that it reads "George A., son, 1880 - 1950 ".

Find A Grave Memorial #19066057
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. ⁷

• His obituary was published in the Steuben Republican on 30 May 1934 in , Steuben County, IN.

Melvin C(ass) McGrew, son of Finley and Betsey Sherrock McGrew, was the last survivor of a family of 11 children. He was born Feb 16, 1852 and died at his late home at Crooked Lake, Indiana, May 13, 1934, aged 82, 2, 27. He spent nearly his entire life in Steuben County At the age of 17, as a bit of an adventure, he spent a year in White Cloud, Kansas. While there, he engaged in the work of cutting railroad ties, carrying them on his back to the Missouri River and floating them down to other localities. July 2, 1874 he was united in marriage with Rachel, daughter of Christian and Henrietta (Sowle) Fast. To this union were born two children, George, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Elida, wife of Harley Webb of Nevada Mills, Indiana. When a young man he united with the Christian Church in Angola. After purchasing his farm on beautiful Lake James he gave a small tract to the Christian Church that a building might be built on it for the purpose of establishing a Christian service on this lake. In 1881 he purchased the farm where he lived at the time of his departure. Not much of the land was cleared at the time and he spent many a day cutting trees, grubbing and burning brush that the soil might be brought to a state of cultivation. In addition to his work as a farmer he attained a good reputation as a carpenter, erecting the buildings on his own farm and in various other communities, also as the owner and operator of threshing machines, he was known as an excellent thresher of grain. His wife preceded him in death Aug 5, 1918. On March 19, 1929 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Marie Harman of Angola, who survives him. The deceased was always a hard working man, very frank in his expressions, and was honest in all his dealings. He leaves to mourn his departure his wife, one son, one daughter, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many friends. Funeral services were held in the Weicht Funeral Home, Wed, May 16, conducted by Elder J. O Rose. Burial followed in Sowle Settlement Cemetery, near Angola.

(Source: Steuben Republican, Steuben County, IN, 30 May 1934)
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Melvin married Rachel A. Fast, daughter of Christian Fast and Henrietta Sowle, on 2 July 1874 in Angola, IN.^{1 2 3 4 5} (Rachel A. Fast was born on 4 December 1850 in Ashland County, OH,^{3 4 5 8 9 10} died on 31 July 1928 in , Steuben County, IN ¹⁰ and was buried on 2 August 1928 in Angola, IN ¹⁰.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1880 US Census in Millgrove Township, Steuben County, IN on 3 June 1880. ³

1880 US Census
Page 251A, District 1, Dwelling 39, Family 40, Roll 312
Millgrove Township, Steuben County, Indiana
Melvin McGraw..Self..28..IN..Carpenter
Rachael McGraw..Wife..29..OH..Keeping House
Lydia McGraw..Dau..2..IN
__ McGraw..Son..1m..IN
.

• They appeared on the 1900 US Census in Pleasant Township, Steuben County, IN on 6 June 1900. ⁴

1900 US Census
Sheet 3A, District 102, Dwelling 52, Family 52
Pleasant Township, Steuben County, Indiana
Farm owned, with mortgage
Married 25 years
Melvin McGrew..Head..Feb 1852..48..IN..Farmer
Rachel McGrew..Wife..Dec 1850..49..OH..2/2
George McGrew..Son..May 1880..20..IN..Farm Laborer
.

• They appeared on the 1920 US Census in Pleasant Township, Steuben County, IN on 6 January 1920. ⁵

1920 US Census
Sheet 2B, District 158, Family 49, Roll 461
Pleasant Township, Steuben County, Indiana
Farm owned, with mortgage
Melvin McGrew..Head..67..IN..Farmer, General Farm
Rachel McGrew..Wife..69..IN
.