MySource:Rebekah Carlisle/Diary of a House: Crum Homestead Since 1839

The author assembled the history of Moses Crum and his wife, Margaret Rex, concentrating on their move from Menallen Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, to Sharon Township, Richland County, Ohio; the construction of their large home located outside of Shelby; and the occupants of the house.

Additional information includes the immigration of Johann Frantz Crum from Germany to Philadelphia in 1753, his last will and testament; and the founding of Shelby, Ohio.

The house featured in this book was completed in August of 1841. Moses and Margaret (Rex) Crum lived out their lives in the house, as did their 4 unmarried children: Mary, Elizabeth, Daniel and George. Of their 6 children, only Jacob and Michael married.

Jacob married Susan Nazor in 1857, and moved to Vernon Township in Crawford County on land he was gifted from Moses.

Michael, who survived his wounds received while fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg, returned to the homestead and, at the age of 44, married Elizabeth "Libby" Coble in 1876. He and Libby built an elegant residence on the west 80 acres which he had inherited from Moses. After the birth of a stillborn son, Michael and Elizabeth welcomed a second son, Franklin Paul Crum, in 1878.

After Dan Crum died in 1901, the old Crum homestead, which had been inherited by Michael, was rented, the first time in 60 years that no Crums resided in it.

In 1925, after 24 years of tenant occupation, the old Crum homestead became the home of Michael's grandson, Waldo Emerson Crum, and his wife, Ruby Wagner Crum.

After Waldo Crum died, Ruby remained in the home, located on West Main Street Road, now within the Shelby city limits, until 1970. She wrote and self published "Diary of a House: Crum Homestead Since 1839," in 1984. Ruby passed away 26 December, 1992.