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W. P. McGREW.
W. P. McGREW.—Among the native sons of the Sunflower state W. P. McGrew is numbered, while in the business circles of Humboldt he is recognized as an important factor. He was born in Douglas county, Kansas, February 10, 1862. His father, William McGrew, was a native of Indiana and married Lucinda Dickey, who was also born in that state. They arrived in Kansas in 1860, and the following year the father enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of the Eleventh Kansas Infantry, with which he was associated until victory crowned the northern arms and the sound of musketry was no longer heard in the land. He died in 1896 at the age of fifty-six years, and his widow is now a resident of Chetopa, Kansas
W. P. McGrew was the second in order of birth in their family of nine children, and learned the plasterer's trade under the direction of his father, following that pursuit for about sixteen years. He then went to the Indian Territory, where he worked in a cotton gin in a custom mill for some time, after which he returned to Chetopa, Kansas, and entered into partnership with Mr. Bartlett. They purchased a flouring mill which they still own and operate, the plant having a capacity of thirty barrels per day. Wishing to enlarge their business, in 1896 they purchased the mill site in Humboldt and built a large flouring mill with a capacity of fifty barrels per day and equipped with the latest improved machinery. In February, 1900, Mr. McGrew came to Humboldt to supervise and conduct the interests of the firm at this place.
In 1893 was celebrated his marriage to Miss Cora Orm, a native of Labette county, Kansas, and a daughter of Robert Orm. They have two children, Marguerite and Elinor. Already they have gained warm friends in Humboldt and enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes here. Socially Mr. McGrew is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, while politically he is a Democrat. He had no special educational advantages and was without the assistance of influential friends in his early business career, but steadily he has advanced step by step until he now occupies a creditable position on the plane of affluence.
Page 302, transcribed by Carolyn Ward from History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas: embellished with portraits of well known people of these counties, with biographies of our representative citizens, cuts of public buildings and a map of each county / Edited and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola Registers, Printers and Binders, Iola, Kan.: 1901; 894 p., [36] leaves of plates: ill., ports.; includes index.
