CRUM, REUEL G. - When William Marcellus and Mary E. (Graff) Crum, the parents of Reuel G. Crum, settled soon after their marriage, on the place where the latter now lives, the land was almost a wilderness. Of the 800 acres which was theirs, between 200 and 300 were covered with timber. All the buildings were put up by the father and all the other improvements were made by him, and he cleared all the timber land except fifty acres. He was one of the largest raisers of cattle, horses and hogs in Cass County, and also owned and operated 300 acres of land in Morgan County. He was a native of Cass County and his wife of Morgan County. William Marcellus Crum died April 1, 1905. The paternal grandparents were James and Christina (Ream) Crum, the former a native of Indiana, and the latter reared in Cass County, on this farm. David Ream was the maternal grandfather. After the death of William M. Crum, his widow lived on the home farm until February, 1910, when she married again.

Reuel G. Crum was born on section 17, range 10, W., Cass County, Ill., September 30, 1878, and in early youth received his educational training in the neighborhood schools, afterwards attending Jacksonville Academy and Illinois College. After his father's death, he conducted half of the home farm for two years, or until the estate was divided, when he was awarded 250 acres, although he continued to operate his mother's land. The following were the other children: Alma C., (Mrs. Dr. C. M. Hubbard), deceased; Jessie F. (Mrs. George Phillips), of Spokane, Wash.; Amanda, deceased; Elton M., of Virginia, Ill.; Luke, who married Anna Freitag; and Mary M. (Mrs. Howard Stribling), of Spokane, Wash. Reuel Crum is engaged in raising registered Percheron horses, mules, and also black Angus cattle. He feeds cattle extensively and breeds Poland-China hogs. He owns 350 acres of land at Little Indian, in the same township, and conducts operations altogether on 1150 acres. In Morgan County he also rents and operates 320 acres.

On February 1, 1911, Reuel G. Crum was married to Lulu Woods, born June 11, 1885, in Fancy Creek Township, Sangamon County, Ill., a daughter of Charles M. and Martha J. (Carpenter) Woods, the mother born in Sangamon County, and the father in Albemarle County, Va. The grandparents of Mrs. Crum are Sampson Lockhart and M. H. Durrette Woods, natives of Virginia; and Samuel and Martha Jane (Short) Carpenter, born in Cass County, Ill. Mrs. Crum attended the high school in Springfield, Ill., and the Betty Stuart Institute. Mr. Crum is a member of the Christian church while his wife is a Methodist. He has served as school director and is interested in general education. Fraternally he is affiliated with the A.F. and A.M., of Virginia, Ill., and the B.P.O.E. No. 682 of Jacksonville.

Reuel G. Crum is one of the most extensive and prosperous farmers in western Illinois, and one of the most intelligent and honorable members of the community in which he lives.