BIO: Joseph Reed McCRUM, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Denise Phillips Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 104-105. __________________________________________________________________ JOSEPH REED McCRUM, Masseysburg, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Barree township, May 7, 1831, son of George and Rebecca (Henry) McCrum. His grandfather, the elder George McCrum, was born in 1776, and was of Irish ancestry. He bought a farm of 200 acres in Barree township, which he cleared and improved, and upon which he built himself a log dwelling house and a barn. His wife's family name was McElhaney; their children were: Robert; James; John; William; George; Martha; Jane; Elizabeth; and Margaret. His wife died on the homestead; Mr. McCrum married again, but without issue. Both he and his second wife died in Barree township, and their remains are interred at Manor Hill. Mr. McCrum was a Democrat. George McCrum (2) was educated in the district school. He remained with his father on the homestead until he was twenty-one, and then learned carpentry, which was his vocation nearly all his life. He bought the farm of 260 acres, now the property of his son Joseph r., partially cleared and improved it, and turned his attention to farming and raising stock. Mr. McCrum was an industrious, persevering worker, a good husband and father. His political views were Democratic. George McCrum was married in Barree township to Rebecca, daughter of Samuel Henry, a farmer of that township. Their children are: Henry, residing at Huntingdon, Pa.; Mary M. (Mrs. William P. Reed), of Clearfield county, Pa.; Catharine A. (Mrs. Abraham Snyder), of West township; Joseph Reed; John M., of Stone Creek, Pa.; Susanna J. (Mrs. Henry Wilson), of Oneida township, Huntingdon county. Mr. McCrum married again; his second wife was Eliza Fagan; they had no children. Mr. McCrum died on the homestead in 1877, and is interred at Manor Hill. Mrs. Eliza McCrum survived her husband, and died some time after at the home of his youngest daughter, Mrs. Wilson, in Oneida township. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Joseph R. McCrum received a common school education at Saulsburg and Masseysburg. He resided on the homestead with his father until 1860 or '61, when he was about thirty years old. He then rented a farm owned by Robert Moore, in West township; it contained 150 acres, which he cultivated for two years, returning after that to the homestead. He has ever since resided there, having come into possession of the farm upon the death of his father. Mr. McCrum has made some further improvements upon the farm, and is still engaged in cultivating it and raising stock. He is a Democrat. He takes a warm interest in educational matters, and favors the compulsory education law; he has been for twelve years in the school board, of which he is treasurer. Joseph Reed McCrum was married in 1858, in Barree township, to Susanna, daughter of Charles Wolverton, a farmer of German descent, residing in Porter township, where Mrs. McCrum was born. Their children are: Charles G., deceased; Mary (Mrs. Henry Sheesley), of West township; John C., of Barree township; Mary J. (Mrs. James Grossman), of Barree township; Susanna A.; Watson; and Thomas. Mr. McCrum is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; he grew up under the care of the church, in its Sunday-school. He has been a diligent worker, and has won for himself a place in the esteem of his neighbors and acquaintances.