B. F. McGREW, a member of the school board of Greenfield and a leading citizen connected with one of the most important productive industries of the county, having for eight years been connected with the milling business in Greenfield, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, on the 26th of December, 1859. His father, Jacob McGrew, also a native of that county, was born in 1816 and was a son of Joseph B. McGrew, one of the early settlers of Ohio. The father was a miller by trade and owned and operated a flouring mill in Jefferson county, being connected with that business throughout his active life. He was married there to Margaret Culp, also a native of the Buckeye state, and they reared their family in Ohio and eventually passed to their final rest there. In their family were seven children, of whom five are yet living: Mrs. Anna Householder, who resides in Ohio; Mrs. Ella Henderson, also living in Ohio; William, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; James; and B. F. Joseph is deceased.

Under the parental roof B. F. McGrew spent his boyhood and youth, attending the public schools and afterward learning the milling business with his father in Ohio. He entered the mill when but a lad and became familiar with every department of the business both in principle and detail, continuing to act as his father's assistant until he had attained his majority, when thinking that he might have better business opportunities further west he came to Illinois in 1880 and took charge of a mill at Nokomis. He conducted the plant there for fifteen years or until 1895, when he turned his attention to the operation of an electric light plant at Nokomis, filling that position for two years. In 1897 he arrived in Greenfield, where he entered into partnership with John W. Shoemaker and purchased the Greenfield roller mills. He took charge of the mill here and has since been engaged in the merchant milling business. The firm has built up a very fine business and manufactures a high grade of flour, having at the present time more orders than they can fill. This is one of the most important industries of Greene county and the proprietors are well known in business circles.

Mr. McGrew has intimate knowledge of the business in which he embarked as a young tradesman and to which his entire life has been devoted, and his long experience as well as his laudable ambition has been a leading factor in his success since he began milling on his own account in Greenfield.

Mr. McGrew was married in Nokomis, October 2, 1882, to Miss Lizzie Yarnell, who was born in Springfield, Ohio, but was reared in Montgomery county, Illinois, becoming a resident of that locality in 1862. There were two children born unto Mr. and Mrs. McGrew, but the elder, Willie, died at the age of six months. The younger, Ethel, is now the wife of G. H. Sheffield, a young man of sterling character and worth, who resides in St. Louis.

Mr. McGrew exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but at a former date was a Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland, while his last ballot was cast for Theodore Roosevelt. Mr. McGrew has never been an office seeker nor has he cared for political preferment, desiring rather to give his undivided attention to his business interests. He is, however, a friend of education, believing in securing good schools and employing competent teachers and he is now serving on the Greenfield school board. Mr. McGrew is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined the organization at Nokomis, where he still retains his membership. He has filled all of the chairs in that lodge and is now a past grand. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp at Greenfield and has filled all of the chairs in that lodge. A public-spirited citizens, his efforts have been discerningly directed along lines that have furthered public progress as well as individual advancement.