JoHN CRUMRINE. Upon the roll of representative citizens of Allen County of a past generation appears the name of the late John Crumrine, whose death occurred at his home in Lima on March 8, 1920. He spent practically his entire life in this county and won his way into the confidence_and esteem of the people because of his persistent industry, unswerving honesty and business success - in short he possessed those sterling qualities of character which commend themselves to persons of intelligence and the highest morality. He was a public-spirited man, standing for the upbuilding of his community in any way possible, and his support was not withheld from any laudable movements looking toward the general welfare of the people.
John Crumrine was born in Prairie Township, Allen County, on February 29, 1844, and he was the son of Martin and Catherine (Brockins) Crumrine, natives of Pennsylvania and who became early settlers of Allen County. John Crumrine was reared on the parental farmstead and secured his education in the district schools of Prairie Township. After his marriage in 1866, he remained with his mother for about a year and then, his wife's parents having moved to Michigan he lived on the farm at Elmhurst, Ohio, about three years. He then moved into a log cabin which he had built on his father-in-law's farm living there for several years, at the end of which time he bought a farm in Prairie Township, to the operation of which he devoted his energies until 1889, when he sold that farm and coming to Lima, bought residence property and engaged in the buying and selling of mortgages, in which he met with splendid success, carrying on the industry until about 1915, when he retired from active business and lived quietly at home until his death. He had made a definite impression on the community in which he lived, and his death was sincerely mourned by a host of loyal friends and acquaintances.
On April 8, 1866 Mr. Crumrine was married to Frances Emma Hanthorn, who was born two miles west of Westminster, Allen County, on November 18, 1847, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hardesty) Hanthorn. Her parents were natives of Virginia, and bore the distinction of being among the earliest settlers of Allen County, becoming residents of this county while the Indians were still here in large numbers. Mrs. Crumrine is still living in the old home in Lima. They became the parents of the following children: Bronson E. and Charles, who still live with their mother in Lima; Frank Martin, who died at the age of forty five years; James Howard, of Lima; Stella B., who lives with her mother; Alice Maude is the wife of Charles Keller, of Cleveland, Ohio; and Delbert Ray, of Lima.
Mr. Crumrine was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his widow still belongs. He was a democrat in his political faith and was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons. He was a man of kindly and generous impulses and made friends of all who knew him.
