James Crum was born in Clark County, Ind., on 22 Sep 1806, a son of Matthias and Margaret Spangler Crum. James was a brother of Christian Crum. James and Christian came to Cass County, Ill., in 1830. James took up 160 acres of government land and made it his home until he died. He married Christina Ream and they became parents of 12 children.