Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 596.
 
J. A. CRUM

     deceased. In speaking of those who have made Gilliam county the prosperous
section that she is today, it is quite proper to mention the gentleman whose
name appears at the head of this article. His labors have been very productive
of good development in this part of the country, and he was one of the early
settlers in the territory now embraced in Gilliam county. He had been a pioneer
to various sections of the west and had seen very much hard service for years. A
brief account of his life will certainly be interesting and instructive.
     J. A. Crum was born in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, on February 14, 1846.
His father, George Crum, was born in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania in 1818. He
followed school teaching and later was a manufacturer of harness. He died in
1875. Our subject received his early education in his native town and then
attended school in Philadelphia. When fourteen years of age, he began working in
a flour mill and remained until eighteen years of age and became a skillful
miller. He came to Illinois at that time and remained in that state until 1861
when he went with a train under the command of Captain Sawyer, who was opening
up a route to Montana. They were corralled by the Indians for fourteen days at
one time.  The Indians agreed to let them go if they would deliver up Captain
Sawyer. This they refused to do and stood the siege for fourteen days when they
finally purchased off the Indians by giving them sugar and other provisions. Mr.
Crum operated the first mill at Virginia City, Montana, which was the first in
the territory. He continued milling and mining there for six or seven years and
was there when the vigilants were in command of the country. About 1867 or 1868
Mr. Crum came on to Walla Walla and after spending one year there went to the
mines, then returned to Summerville, Oregon where he operated a mill for his
wife's brother, J. H. Rinehart, for five years. Next we see Mr. Crum in the
vicinity of Aurora, Clackamas county, Oregon, where he did farming until 1883.
In that year he removed to Gilliam county, settling near Olex and remained until
his death which occurred on October 8, 1898. Being one of the old pioneers, he
was well known throughout the country and was also highly esteemed. He built and
operated a mill at Olex which was the first mill in Gilliam county. There had
been but one crop of wheat raised here when. Mr. Crum erected it and his mill
came in splendid time to assist the pioneers.
     In Union county, Oregon, on July 7, 1871, Mr. Crum married Sarah E.
Rinehart, who was born near Oskaloosa, Iowa, on March 6, 1853. Her father, Lewis
Rinehart, was born in Tennessee, on September 5, 1801 and was also a pioneer,
keeping ahead of the railroad and his death occurred at Summerville, in 1882. He
had married Elizabeth Ellis, who was born in Tennessee, on February 19, 1805.
She died at Olex, on January 30, 1903, lacking but twenty days of being
ninety-five years of age.  Mrs. Crum crossed the plains with her parents in 1854
and settled in Lane county, ten miles south from Eugene. She received her early
education in the common schools of that section and remained until seventeen
years of age, when the family went to Summerville. She completed her education
in the Lagrande schools and was then married. Since her husband's death, she has
continued to conduct the farm and does fruit raising and gardening and also
handles considerable hay. She is the youngest of thirteen children, part of whom
are mentioned as follows : John, deceased, G. W, J. H., F. M., H. H, L: B, W.
E., and J. N.  To Mr. and Mrs. Crum the following named children have been born
: Mrs. Carrie Wilkins, at Clem; George L., living near Ajax; Willard, Eugene and
Franklin, deceased. The death of all these occurred in September, from typhoid
fever. The other children are Jessie W., Ora A., and McKinley. These three are
living with their mother. Mr. and Mrs. Crum were active members of the Methodist
church and were always laboring for the extending of the church, for better
educational facilities and for general advancement.


*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2010 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.