Returning to Iowa the family was moved to the new home and a larger two-story log building was erected the following year in which the family continued to reside until the fall of 1864, A younger brother, Rev Samuel B McGrew, located on an adjoining claim to the east. A son, Abner G, located a claim on adjacent land and remained several years when he left for Chicago and graduated from Rush Medical College and was for many years surgeon for the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company. One daughter, Jane, became the wife of Col Ed. R Smith, and Elizabeth married Dr Hugh McKean of Iowa and their son, Dr James W McKean has been for forty years a resident of Siam as physician to the King and a world known authority on leperology, having built and still superintends a large leper colony at Chiang Mai. Isabella, another daughter, married Herbert Capper who then resided at Mapleton, but they later made their home at Garnett where was born their son Arthur, who became Governor of Kansas in 1914, and is now junior Senator from Kansas in the United States Senate. One other daughter of Simon and Ura was Martha who died in 1863 and was buried in the little cemetery near the old homestead.

Simon McGrew was well known as a radical outspoken free state advocate and by reason of his activities was often marked as a subject for punishment by the Border Ruffians but fortunately escaped personal injury. He was ironically called "the fighting Quaker" from the fact that he used the plain language, as some of his descendants still continue to do. While religiously opposed to war, with a good pair of Colts Navy revolvers he was always ready to protect himself and his family. Being trained for a surveyor, he and John Brown became intimate friends and they did surveying work together, and when Brown left Kansas, McGrew purchased Brown's surveyors' compass, which is now deposited with the State Historical Society in Topeka as an authentic relic and reminder of the early days.

Simon McGrew was a giant in stature, being six feet three and one half inches tall in his stocking feet and was widely known for his great physical strength. He had a strong personal resemblance to Abe Lincoln and his portrait was often mistaken to be a picture of the Emancipator because of the strong resemblance.

The family was possessed of more than the ordinary means of the average settler, but owing to the impossibility of purchasing anything but the barest necessities of life, and that no nearer than Westport Landing (Kansas City), the family suffered all the hardships and privations of other pioneer families. Owing to failing health and advanced age Mr. and Mrs. McGrew with the two sons, James B and Charles F, removed to northern Iowa in the fall of 1864, where he died October 18, 1874 and is buried in the cemetery at Wyoming, Jones County, Iowa.

Bio submitted by Palmer McGrew
Note: Simon lived in Wyoming township for many years and remarried there after the death of his first wife, Ura.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 617.

On October 4, 1866, Mr. McIntyre wedded Miss Sarah Ann Overley. She was born in Kentucky, August 1, 1841, and was a daughter of John C. and Lucinda (Arnold) Overley, both natives of the same state. In 1852 they came to Iowa, entering land in Jones county, where they made their home until 1891, when Mr. Overley retired from active life and moved his family to Onslow. That same year Mrs. Overley passed away, but he survived until April 30, 1905, when he too was released from the trial of this life. Seven children were born to them: Henry, who was killed in the Civil war while fighting for the preservation of the Union; Margaret J., deceased; Sarah A., who married Mr. McIntyre of this review; Nancy E., William L. and John A., deceased; and Charles C., who is living in Wyoming, Iowa.

One daughter, Catherine L., was born to Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre, whose birth occurred July 9, 1868. In 1891 she was graduated from Cornell College, Mount Vernon and shortly afterward married H. L. Nash. In the course of a few years her health failed rapidly and she was taken to California, where she died in 1896, leaving a mother, husband and a son, Harold, to mourn her loss.

Mr. McIntyre had for years before his death been a member of the Masonic lodge and was accounted one of the most active in promoting its interests and those of his fraternal brothers, among whom he had made many stanch friends. Mrs. McIntyre is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah. In 1891 she removed to Onslow, where she has since made her home, occupying one of the fine residences of the village. She at one time owned a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, but this she disposed of.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 604.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 656.

Dr. Alexander McKean, deceased, who for eighteen years was prominently and successfully connected with the medical profession of Center Junction, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, on the 22d of June, 1838, a son of James and Nancy J. (Smith) McKean. The parents, who were both natives of Ohio, came to Jones county in 1856 and located on a farm in Scotch Grove township, where both passed away. In their family were eight children but only one now survives.

Dr. Alexander McKean remained a resident of his native state until eighteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Jones county. Later deciding upon a medical career as a life work, he took a course of study at Rush Medical College, of Chicago, from which institution he was graduated in 1884. Returning to Jones county he immediately began practicing in Center Junction, and for twenty-four years, or up to the time of his death. he followed his profession in that city, Onslow, Anamosa and Scotch Grove. During that period he worked up a large and successful practice which, as the years passed and his ability became recognized in the community, continually increased in volume and importance until he was the loved family physician in many households. He ever remained a student and kept in touch with the general trend of progress and improvement made by the medical fraternity through his reading and investigation, and everything that served to bring to man the secret of that complex mystery which we call life was of intense interest to him. He fully recognized the obligations which rested upon him in his chosen field of labor and he ever performed his duties in a conscientious and careful manner that won for him the high commendation and confidence of his fellowman.

It was on the 24th of May, 1871, that Dr. McKean was united in marriage to Miss Delia A. Strohl, who was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, on the 10th of March, 1838. She was a daughter of John and Katherine (Beghler) Strohl, and was one of eight children born unto them, two of whom still survive. Her parents removed to Iowa in 1846 and here their remaining days were passed. Dr. and Mrs. McKean were both members of the Presbyterian church, in which he served as elder for eighteen years, and both were actively and helpfully interested in church work. He assisted in raising the money to purchase the organ and bell for the church in Scotch Grove.

Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic order, the Legion of Honor, and the Odd Fellows, and in these organizations was well known and active. On the 23d of February, 1891, he was called to his final rest and when he passed away Center Junction lost one of its respected, honored and valued citizens, who, during the period of his residence here had proved a factor for good in the life of the community. At the time of his death he was the owner of three sections of land in Texas and also of several acres of timber land in Jones county, and this property is now proving a source of revenue to his widow, who still survives and makes her home in Center Junction. She is a most estimable lady, who through her many good traits of mind and heart has gained an extensive circle of warm friends who hold her in high regard and esteem.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 253.