http://books.google.com/books?id=bZl4AAAAMAAJ&q=baidland#v=snippet&q=smith&f=false left off on pg. 254, the McGrew Family The names of J. and R. McGrew were long familiar to the older citizens of Williamsport, now Monongahela City. There were citizens of the town prior to 1716, but from whence they came, and in what year, we have failed to discover. The firm of J. & R. McGrew for long years carried on the hatter business on the corner now occupied by the Odd Fellow's building. This firm made the wool and fur hats for the whole surrounding country, and to the wear and lasting of their wool hats there seemed to be no edn, and such a quality of the article was not always valued by the chaps who never got a new hat until the old one was worn out. It was the wear, not the style, the purchaser looked at. It was to this firm the country boys took their rabbit skins to exchange them for hats, and were rejoiced when each would bring the value of 8 cents. The rabbits were skinned from heel to head, and the skin inverted and drawn carefully over a forked stick so as to have it dried in a perfect state. Hats both fur and wool were often taken to this firm to be ironed over and their shape remodeled after each one's own fancy or some stray idea of style. James was the older of the two brothers. Though intimately associated all their lives, it is said they never had any difficulties, one with the other. James McGrew had, by his first wife, one daughter, Matilda, who married Rev. Samuel Hudson, a distinguished minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His second wife was the widow of Thomas Gordon, a brother of the late Hon. James Gordon, who had 2 daughters by her first husband: Margaret, now deceased, wife of Captain Samuel Reynolds; and Maria, widow of Robert, the junior member of the firm of J. & R. McGrew; she also is deceased, having d. in Monongahela City, Sep. 1, 1884. By his second wife, James McGrew had on daughter, who m. John Gilfillan, of W. Alexander, PA, but resided most of their lives in Parkersburg, WV, where Alvira, his wife, d. about 1886-7. Robert, son of James McGrew, was a well known merchant, and d. many years ago in the prime of manhood. James McGrew was elected and installed as an elder in the old church on the hill in Apr. 1816, and served during his lifetime. He was a member of the building committee of the old church at the foot of the hill. He was appointed a JP by Gov. Wolfe, but never took out his commission, yet he was always called Esquire McGrew.