THOMAS J. CRUM, of Virginia, Illinois, was born within one mile of his present residence, July 9, 1835. He is the eldest living son of James and Christina (Ream) Crum. (Parental history is given in the history of James Crum elsewhere in this book.)

Thomas was raised to manhood on a farm and attended the subscription schools of the neighborhood. He has always lived on the farm given him by his father upon attaining his majority. To this he has added until he now has 450 acres in this farm, besides 800 acres of land in Burleigh county, North Dakota. He has been a resident here for over fifty years and has witnessed wonderful changes in the country. He remembers very well when there was but very little improved land near him. He is a Democrat in politics.

He was married March, 1857, to Miss Sarah A. Henderson, daughter of William and Lucinda Henderson, who were among the early settlers in this, then Morgan county. She was the eldest of twelve children, seven of whom are now living. The mother died in Morgan county and the father in Henry county.

Mr. and Mrs. Crum have had eleven children, nine of whom are still living, namely; Charles, married, operating the Dakota farm; Theresa M., wife of Edward D. Sommers, resides at Colorado Springs, Colorado; Oscar M. is in the publishing business at Jacksonville, Illinois; William S., a wholesale grocer in Joliet, Illinois; Ollie, now Mrs. Strong, resides at Winfield, Kansas, husband a farmer; Eben Ross, Mary L., Henry Obed, and Thomas Austin are still at home. A pair of twins died in infancy. The family are members of the Protestant Methodist church. Mr. Crum is an Ancient Odd Fellow, lodge having surrendered its charger during the late war. The Crum family is quite extensively represented in this county, where they are well and favorably known citizens who have by their industry accumulated a comfortable property. The aged father, now in his eighty-sixth year, is one of the solid landmarks of early pioneer days in Cass county.