Bennie McGrew

Notes:

He has a military marker, embossed with a cross, and "Bennie McGrew, Mississippi, M Sgt US Air Force Ret, World War II Korea, Dec 15 1919 Aug 28 1973." He also shares a double headstone with Myra McGrew (1920-1988).

Social Security Death Index has the same name, same date of birth, shows his last residence as Seminary, Mississippi, BUT has his date of death as December 1963?

Notes:

When he registered for the World War I draft, he was a resident of Seminary, Mississipi and was farming 3 miles west of that place. He was single, of medium heighth and slender, with gray eyes and dark hair.


(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Mississippi, Covington County, Beat One Seminary
Enumerated 10 Jan 1920
SD 6 ED 2 Sheet 5B
82-89
McGrew, Benjamin Franklin Head M W 25 M Miss Miss Miss Farmer
McGrew, C. Irene Wf F W 16 M Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, B ennie Son M W 11/12 S Miss Miss Miss

Benjamin married C. Irene Aultman on 1 Jul 1918 in Covington County, Mississippi. C. was born on 6 Sep 1903 in Mississippi; died on 25 Oct 1994. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935

Irene Aultman to Frank McGrew 1 Jul 1918 Covington

Notes:

When he registered for the draft during the first World War, he was farming for S. B. Hathorn in Franklin Parish, Louisiana, and his nearest relative was his wife, Mrs. Anna Jane McGrew of Seminary, Mississippi. He was described as short and slender, with brown eyes and dark hair, and missing his right eye.

At the time of the 1930 Federal census, he was listed as a boarder, age 57 and widowed, in the home of E. L. and Ida COUTLER in East Carroll Parish, Louisiana. His occupation was shown as "farmer."

(Research):

Census Listings:

1910 Census
Mississippi, Covington County, Twp 7, Beat 1
Enumerated 25 Apr 1910
SD 6 ED 2 Sheet 6B
106-107
McGrew, W H Head M W 37 M 18 Miss Miss Miss Farm Operator
McGrew, Anna Wf F W 41 M 18 Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Willie Dtr F W 17 S Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Bennie Son M W 14 S Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Ida Dtr F W 14 S Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Leo Dtr F W 11 S Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Linnie Dtr F W 10 S Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Wheeler Son m W 7 S Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Myrtle Dtr F W 2 S Miss Miss Miss

Wood married Annie Jane Lott in 1891. Annie (daughter of William Alexander Lott and Martha Edmondson) was born on 4 Nov 1869 in Covington County, Mississippi; died on 3 May 1948 in Seminary, Covington County, Mississippi; was buried in Seminary Cemetery, Seminary, Covington County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Wynema McGrew notes that their marriage was arranged by her parents, worried their daughter would remain a spinster. Wood and Annie were third cousins. The marriage was stormy, even though it lasted more than 30 years and produced seven children. They ultimately divorced around 1926.

Notes:

Wynema McGrew notes that Leonard was not easy to get along with, and had been asked by neighbors to move. He was rumored to have killed men, outside of combat, during the Civil War. Bruce Aultman, an attorney living in the Victory community in Lamar County suggested that Leonard was a Jayhawk (Union sympathizer) during the Civil War. He did serve in the Confederate Army, however, enlisting in Capt. H R McLaurin's Company (Co F, 27th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry) on 26 Aug 1861, the same day R. L. McGrew enlisted. He was discharged in Rome, Georgia on 11 Apr 1863 due to wounds to his hip and knee while at Shelbyville, Tennessee. He later served in Company E, 3rd Battalion, Mississippi Reserve Calvary from which he was paroled on May 16, 1865. He was a freemason and baptist for most of his life, but converted to Catholicism late in life, due to his many transgressions and the influence of his eldest daughter, Susanna, who had converted when she married, and Leonard was buried in the Catholic portion of the Williamsburg Cemetery. The cemetery name, per Find A Grave, was the Saint James Catholic Cemetery in Bassfield, Mississippi.

His FindAGrave memorial page, crated by Fred Rose, has a photo of him in uniform and with a bayonet.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38991981



(Research):

Census Listings:

1880 Census
Mississippi, Covington County, SD No 1
Enumerated 11 Jun 1880
Page 9 SD 2 ED 123
73-73
Magrou, Leonard W M 38 Planter Miss ---- Miss
Magrou, Jane W F 31 Wf Keeping home Miss Miss Miss
Magrou, Susanna W F 12 Dtr At Home Miss Miss Miss
Magrou, Elizabeth W F 10 Dtr At Home Miss Miss Miss
Magrou, Luella W F 8 Dtr Miss Miss Miss
Magrou, Wood W M 7 Son Miss Miss Miss
Magrou, Mary W F 5 Dtr Miss Miss Miss
Magrou, Laura W F 3 Dtr Miss Miss Miss
Magrou, Fannie W F 1 Dtr Miss Miss Miss

1900 Census
Mississippi, Covington County, Williamsburg
Enumerated 14 Jun 1900
SD 6 ED 11 Sheet 12B
199-199
McGrew, Len Head W M Mar 1840 60 M 34 Miss Miss Miss Farmer
McGrew, Jane Wf W F Dec 1849 50 M 34 14/13 Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Fannie Dtr W F May 1879 21 S Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Lenard B Son W M Mar 1881 19 S Miss Miss Miss Farm laborer
McGrew, Lucy Dtr W F Apr 1883 17 S Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Allice Dtr W F Mar 1885 15 S Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Molly Dtr W F Mar 1887 13 S Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Thomas K Son W M Jun 1891 8 S Miss Miss Miss
McGrew, Dimie Dtr W F Aug 1896 3 S Miss Miss Miss

Leonard married Leitha "Lether" Jane Hathorn on 25 Nov 1866 in Covington County, Mississippi. Leitha was born on 22 Dec 1849 in Mississippi; died on 23 Apr 1914 in Covington County, Mississippi; was buried in Mount Horeb Cemetery, Seminary, Covington County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Wood Hathorn and Susan Thompson.

Notes:

Married:
Wynema McGrew says they Lenard met Leitha and became enamored with her on a trip to Mobile with his mother to sell produce. Her parents objected to the marriage as Leonard was overbearing and older than Leitha.

William married Martha Edmondson. Martha was born before 1853; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]