In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1899) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1832, Empire Township
From The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men (1879), The Biographical record of McLean County, Illinois (1899)
JAMES T. CRUMBAUGH, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 18; P. 0. LeRoy. The birth of this gentleman may be considered as one of the earliest in McLean Co.; he was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Jan. 24, 1832; he was a twin brother of Daniel T. Crumbaugh and a son of Daniel and.Martha (Robinson) Crumbaugh, who were among the earliest settlers of McLean Co., locating in Empire Township in the fall of 1830. and of whom a more extended mention is made in another part of this work. James T. remained with his father and followed forming and stock-raising until 21 years of age, when he farmer for himself for two years, upon a part of his father's farm, and, the following year, he, with his brother. D. T., purchased 160 acres of land, upon Section 13, and put in a crop of 60 acres of wheat, which yielded 30 bushels to the acre, the whole crop being sold in the field, at $1 per bushel; in 1856. he purchased 80 acres of land upon Section 18, AVest Township, and, the following year, added, by purchase,. 120 acres more, which he improved, and, in 1864, he realized i3,500 from th- product of his 200 acres, with which he purchased 280 acres adjoining his home farm; in 1867, he purchased 80 acres, and, in 1869. he purchased 160 acres, at S35 per acre, to which, in 1874, he added 74 acres, for which he paid.52,000, cash, making 794 acres in West, and 60 acres in Empire Townships, upon which there is no incumbrance. Mr. Crumbaugh first commenceil farming upon rented land, which he followed two years; his capital consisted of one horse; his harness and plows he borrowed of his neighbors; he then, with his brother, D. T., purchased 160 acres of land, upon time, as well as their farming implements, their seeds being purchased from the proceeds of their previous farming. He now owns 854 acres of land, feeds 150 head of cattle and ships his own stock, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor and good business management, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, to whom he was united in marriage upon the 18th of Sept., 1863; her maiden name was Elizabeth.1. Wiley; she was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Nov. 17, 1841; she was the daughter of James Wiley,, one of the early settlers of McLean Co., and of whom a more extended notice is given in the sketch of James S. Wiley, among the biographies of Empire Township. Mr. C'-umhaugh expresses much gratitude to his esteemed brother-in-law, Charles Cope, and attributes much of his success in life to the kindness and judgment and advice of that gentleman, and by whom he was generously supplied with money at various times; not to the subject of this sketch alone was his kindness shown, but it extended to the balance of the family, as well as to many others. The biography of Mr. Cope is to be found among the sketches of Empire Township. James T. and Elizabeth Crumbaugh were the parents of one child, which died in infoncv.
As printed in The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men (1879). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JAMES T. CRUMBAUGH. The name of Crumbaugh has been so intimately associated with the development and progress of McLean county through almost three-quarters of a century that a representative of the family hardly needs an introduction to the readers of this volume. J. T. Crumbaugh, or as he is more commonly known, Thomas Crumbaugh, is a business man and capitalist of high standing in McLean county, and his strict conformity to the ethics of commercial life have won him uniform confidence, while his enterprise and industry have gained him material reward.
One of McLean county's native sons, he was born in Empire township, January 24, 1832, and is a twin brother of D. T. Crumbaugh. His boyhood days were spent on the old homestead farm, and in the public schools of the neighborhood he acquired a fair English education that fitted him for the practical duties of life. On attaining his majority he formed a partnership with his twin brother and purchased a tract of prairie land of one hundred and sixty acres, then entirely unimproved. Soon the furrows showed the track of the plow and the planting was followed by good harvests. The place was also divided into fields of convenient size by well-kept fences, and as their financial resources were increased as the result of their labor they added to their property from time to time until their landed possessions aggregated nearly fourteen hundred acres. The partnership was continued for about ten years, when the property was divided.
The subject of this sketch then located on his share of the land and continued his farming operations. He later purchased more land and is now the owner of one thousand acres which is contained in three farms, all well improved. This is a valuable property and yields to the owner a good income. In 1886 Mr. Crumbaugh rented his farms and removed to LeRoy, where he purchased a lot, erecting thereon one of the most pleasing and tasteful residences in the town. In connection with his brother, L. A. Crumbaugh and James Bonnette, he established the Citizens Bank, a private banking institution, which the brothers still conduct, Mr. Bonnette having sold his interest to them. They carry on a general banking business and their trustworthiness, safe and conservative methods, and unfailing enterprise have given the institution rank among the best financial concerns of McLean county. The brothers are known as men of decided character and sound judgment, are practical financiers and have the confidence of all.
In Empire township, September 13, 1862, J. T. Crumbaugh was united in marriage to Elizabeth J. Wiley, a sister of his brother Leonard's wife. She was born, reared and educated in this county, and is a daughter of James Wiley, a native of Ireland, who left that land for Jamaica and later came to the United States. On reaching this republic, he became a resident of Vermillion county, Illinois, where he married Permelia Waters, a native of Virginia, and to them were born six children, namely: Mrs. L. A. Crumbaugh; Mrs. John Bishop, of LeRoy; James S., a substantial farmer of Empire township; and Mrs. James T. Crumbaugh; Frank, died in 1898, and Constantine, deceased.
Our subject and his wife hold membership in the Universalist church of LeRoy and socially he is connected with the Odd Fellows society and the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He cast his first ballot for James Buchanan in 1856, and at each election since that time has supported the men and measures of the Democracy, believing most firmly that the party principles contain the best elements of good government. He is true to all the duties of citizenship and obligations of business and social life, and while his labors have brought to him a handsome competence he also belongs to that class of representative American citizens who while advancing their individual success promote the general prosperity.
As printed in The Biographical record of McLean County, Illinois (1899). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Charles Cope (b. 1813) James Buchanan James Wiley (b. 1839) John Bishop (b. 1799)
The printed record stops around 1879. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.