Bartholomew-Scott-Jay County IN Archives Biographies.....Crump, Francis T. 1837 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 26, 2007, 11:18 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) FRANCIS T. CRUMP. Francis T. Crump, a leading capitalist, and the president of the First National Bank of Columbus, Indiana, was born on the old Crump homestead in Columbus township, Bartholomew county, on August 25, 1837, the son of the late Francis J. and Emily (Smith) Crump. The father was one of the pioneers of Bartholomew county, and also one of the county's most prominent and successful citizens. Like many of the pioneers of southern Indiana, he was a southerner by birth, having been born in Hanover county, Virginia, on January 31, 1801. Before reaching his sixteenth year he left his native state and came west into Kentucky, locating at Bowling Green, that state, where he learned the carpenter's trade, and where he worked at the trade for several years. He was a bound boy, and ran away from the man Wood he was bound out to and came to Indiana with fifty cents in his pocket. In 1821 he came to Bartholomew county and located in what is known as the Hawpatch, where he entered land and carried on farming for twenty years. In 1850 he removed into the city and took up his residence on Fourth street, about midway between Washington and Franklin streets. He and his son James had engaged in merchandising in the building now occupied by Mayor Parker as a drug store, in about 1849, one year before the family removed from the farm. He was engaged in merchandising for a number of years and met with success. From year to year he branched out and soon his interests were both extensive and important. He was one of the founders of the First National Bank of Columbus, of which institution he served at different times as director, vice-president and president, holding the latter position at the time of his death. He was at various times interested in many of the enterprises of the city, the promoters of worthy and profitable enterprises finding him willing to lend a helping hand and aid them with his capital and influence. Early in life he was a Democrat in politics, but later gave his -support to the Republican party. He served one term as county commissioner. On May 18, 1826, he married Emily Smith, who was born on August 17, 1809, and died February 7, 1846. Mr. Crump died April 30, 1881. Francis T. Crump, the immediate subject of this sketch, spent his early boyhood on the farm. He attended the common schools of the neighborhood, beginning when he was a boy of only six years. The school house he attended was a log cabin, with a puncheon floor and home-made seats or benches. After coming to the city with his father, he went to work as a clerk in his father's store and thus spent two years. His father sold the store, but the man to whom his father sold it failed after conducting it for two years and it passed into the hands of Colonel Keith as receiver, who employed the subject to close out the stock, which he succeeded in doing in about nine months time. Following this he clerked for about one year in the general store of a man named Gruell, after which he went to farming on his own farm, north of the city, now within the city limits. By degrees he extended his business interests and soon was carrying on farming on an extensive scale, and is one of the largest owners of farm land in Bartholomew county, besides owning vast acreage in other counties and states. He owns four thousand five hundred acres in this county, seven hundred acres in Scott county, two hundred sixty-five acres in Howard county and eighty acres in Jay county, Indiana, and four sections of land in Texas. He also owns over one hundred houses in the city of Columbus. He began the manufacture of brick in 1865 and has continued that line to the present time, having now a large plant, situated in Columbus, which has a daily capacity of forty thousand bricks. In 1879 he became vice-president of the First National Bank and held that position until 1902, when he was elected president, a position he now holds. Mr. Crump was affiliated with the Democratic party until the campaign of James G. Blaine for the presidency, when he became a Republican. He has been active in politics and has served two terms in the city council and also as a water works trustee. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. On September 12, 1861, Mr. Crump was married to Catharine E. Kyle, who was born in Bartholomew county, near Edinburg, on February 5, 1840, the daughter of Nathan Kyle, an ex-county commissioner. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crump: Minnie W., who married Joseph A. Weller, of Columbus, who holds a responsible position in the postoffice; Hattie, who married Arthur Overstreet, a well known citizen of Columbus; Francis J., Jr., of Columbus; Catharine C., who married the Hon. Jesse Overstreet, member of congress from the Indianapolis district; Flora, who married Albert Schwartzkopf, a well-known business man of Columbus. Mr. Crump is a whole-souled and genial gentleman, warm-hearted and honorable, and while he each year gives liberally to charity it is done in a quiet and unostentatious manner. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. 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