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Below is a family biography included in The History of Moniteau County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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N. A. Crum, a pioneer of Moniteau County, was born in Cole County (now Moniteau) in 1837, being one of six children of A. P. and Letitia (Akers) Crum, who were Virginians, the father being a tobacco manufacturer. In 1834 he immigrated to Moniteau County, where he bought and improved a squatter’s claim, then entered land and improved that, becoming in time one of the wealthy men of the county. He died in 1878, and his wife in 1845. N. A. Crum attended the old subscription schools of the county and learned the tobacco manufacturer’s trade of his father, also assisting in clearing and improving the home farm. At the age of twenty-one years he began farming on his own responsibility, and in 1864 was married to Jane Durham, who was born in Cole, but was reared in Moniteau County, and settled on a farm on Brush Creek, near California, but after partly improving it sold out in February, 1866, and bought his present farm of 120 acres, seventy-five of which are under cultivation. During the winter of 1862-63 he was with Gen. Price, and was a participant in the battle of Pea Ridge. He now votes the Greenback ticket, and has served as constable two years. He belongs to the Sweetwater Agricultural Wheel, No. 1518, of which he is secretary. For a number of years he has been a correspondent for the Journal of Agriculture, published at St. Louis, and also for the California Democrat. In 1878 his wife died after a short illness, having borne six children, four living: R. L., Benjamin F., Anderson L., Joseph A., and F. J. Crum, who died at the age of thirteen months, and Octavia Bell, three years old at time of death. Her parents, James and Mary (Wade) Durham, were born in Tennessee, and were farmers. They came to Cole County in 1821, and entered and improved considerable land. The father died in 1844 and the mother in 1866. April 21, 1885, Mr. Crum wedded Rhoda Cram, who was born in New Hampshire, but was reared in Illinois. Her parents, Peter and Rebecca Cram, were also born in New Hampshire, and at an early day immigrated to Miller County, Mo., where the father died. The mother now lives in Moniteau County. Mr. Crum has taught several terms of school, and has always been deeply interested in school matters. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 187 biographies included in The History of Moniteau County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Moniteau County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Moniteau County, Missouri family biographies here: Moniteau County, Missouri Biographies

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