Biography - John Crum
JOHN S. CRUM was born in Cambria, County, Pa., about ten miles from Johnstown, September 3, 1836, and is now a resident of Vienna City, Johnson County. His father, Aaron Crum, was born in the same county to John Crum, who came from Maryland, and, from the best information obtainable, was born of German parents. He removed from Maryland to Cambria County, at an early day, and bought a tract of timberland near the town of Wilmore. Here he cleared a farm, upon, which he lived until his death. Aaron Crum was reared on this farm, was himself a farmer, and resided there until 1857, when he removed to Missouri, settled in Perry County, and died there in January, 1859. The maiden name of the wife of Aaron Crum was, Sophia Kisner. She was a native of Bedford County, Pa., and her father, John Kisner, was born either in Germany or in Pennsylvania, and was certainly of German. ancestry. She died in 1858, having reared a family 0f eight children.
John S. Crum was reared and educated in his native county, and moved with his parents to Missouri in 1857. The first year of his residence in Missouri he was engaged in working in a stone quarry and in farming. In 1858 he removed to Illinois, and was here engaged in the same kind of work in different localities until July, 1858, from which time until August 22, 1861, he was employed in a flouring-mill. On the date last mentioned he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-first Regiment Illinois Infantry, commanded by Col. John A. Logan, and served with his regiment until July 25, 1862, when he was discharged on account of disability caused by wounds received in the battle of Ft. Donelson. He then returned to Vienna, and being appointed Postmaster of this place, he served until November, 1864, when he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, and was elected to the same position in 1868, and re-elected in 1872, serving in all twelve years. In 1876 he was elected a member of the State Board of Equalization, and was re-elected in 1880. In 1886 he was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners and served until 1889. While he was serving as Circuit Court Clerk he compiled a complete set of abstracts of title for the county, the only set the county has ever had. He has been continuously in the business ever since.
Our subject was first married February 3, 1859, to Miss Eda E. Smith, of Bollinger County, Mo., who died July 31, 1868. His second marriage was to Carmelia Boyt, November 26, 1868. She was born in Johnson County April 24, 1849, and died February 9, 1888. His third marriage took place April 17, 1890, to Miss Barbara Tappas, who was born December 17, 1866, in Johnson County. By the first marriage he had two children, viz.: David W. and Alice C. By the second marriage he also had two children, viz: Ulysses G. and Dollie G., the latter of whom married a Mr. Farris, now an attorney at Bloomfield., Mo. David W. Crum is a plumber and carpenter by trade, and Ulysses is a printer.
John S. Crum cast his first Presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas, but in the year 1864 he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and was an active member of the Republican party for nearly thirty years. At the present time he is a member of the People’s party, and was for many years a member of Vienna Lodge No.150, A. F. & A. M. At the present time he is a member of Vienna Chapter No. 67, R. A. M., of Vesta Lodge No. 340, I. O. O. F., and of Vienna Post No. 221, G. A. R. In his religious views he is liberal, holding it possible for any man to be wrong, and believing that all men have the same right to judge for themselves as he claims for himself.
Extracted 09 Sep 2009 by Vera Burnham from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 421-422.
