1857                Address Unknown, Fort Smith, Arkansas.

J. M. McGrew was recorded in one advertisement that was recorded on April 11, 1857 in the Fort Smith Weekly Herald (Fort Smith, Arkansas).  J. M. McGrew, Melainotype, Ambrotype and Sperotype Artist, would respectfully announce to the citizens of Fort Smith and vicinity, that he will visit their city in a short time, for the purpose of taking likenesses in any of the above arts; and, as he has been engaged in the business for the last 10 years, he flatters himself that he can give entire satisfaction, and asks of all to give him an impartial trial, and then compare the likenesses taken by him,, with those taken by other artists, and judge for themselves.  Mar. 28. 

J. M. McGrew is not recorded in other photographic directories.  Note the date at the end of the advertisement Mar. 28, another advertisement for S. H. McGrew[1] ran from March 13 to 27, 1857 in the Arkansas Intelligencer Van Buren, Arkansas.  The distance between Van Buren and Fort Smith, Arkansas is 7.3 miles on modern roads.  It is unknown if they are the same person or possibly related.

[1] Also recorded in Pioneer Photographers From The Mississippi To The Continental Divide A Biographical Dictionary, 1839-1865, and in Arkansas Made a Survey of the Decorative, Mechanical, and Fine Arts produced in Arkansas, 1819-1870, Vol. 2.