CRUM, MARQUIS L., president of the Petefish-Skiles Bank, of Virginia, and formerly one of the heaviest landowners of Cass County, is one of the substantial men of his community. He was born in the south central part of Cass County, Ill., January 16, 1851, a son of James and Christina (Ream) Crum, the former of whom came to Cass County in the spring of 1830, from Clark County, Ind. Here he took up 160 acres of government land and made it his home until his death in 1899, when aged ninety-three years. His wife died in 1878, aged sixty-four years, and both are interred in the family lot in Greenwood cemetery at Union church. Their family consisted of twelve children: David M., Thomas J., and James F., all of whom are deceased; Sarah M., who is Mrs. J. F. Wilson of Tallula, Ill.; Mary E., who is deceased, married W. Howard Thompson; John M., who lives at Newton, Kans.; William M., who is deceased; Amanda C., who is of Oklahoma, married W. Henry Thomson; George W., who lives in Cass County; Marquis L.; Charles P., who was killed in a railroad accident; and Oscar M., who is deceased. The father of these children was a member of the Methodist church. His homestead of 160 acres is now owned by his grandson, Arthur E., son of Marquis L. Crum.

Marquis L. Crum was educated in the schools of Cass County, and at the Wesleyan University. Brought up on the farm, he learned farming, and for many years followed an agricultural life. At one time he owned 1,600 acres of land, and still has farming interests, although he has divided much of his property among his children. On September 25, 1913, he was elected president of the Petefish-Skiles Bank, of Virginia, and still holds that office, his name giving the institution added stability.

On March 30, 1875, Mr. Crum married Frances Stubblefield, who was born September 17, 1853, a daughter of John and Ellisannah (Houser) Stubblefield, and four children were born to them, as follows: Edith, who married Lee Skiles, and they have two children, Helen and Marquis O.; Arthur E., who married Nina G. Swope, and they have two children, Mary F. and Josephine; Oral, who was accidentally killed by a fall at San Francisco, Cal., on June 23, 1912, when thirty years old; and Rena, who married Harry W. Sinclair, and they have one son, Marquis C. While he takes a public spirited interest in local affairs, Mr. Crum has never entered the political arena.