Mack Arthur Lanum
Mack Arthur Lanum, County Coroner, Circleville, Ohio. Nowhere in Pickaway County can we find a man more popular or more highly esteemed than the subject of this sketch, who has won a host of friends by his many estimable qualities of mind and heart. At present, under the firm title of Albaugh & Lanum,he is engaged in the undertaking business, and, as all know, there are few branches of business, if any, that require more consideration or sympathetic feeling than that of undertaker. Mr. Lanum seems well adapted for this business, being well grounded by nature and experience, and his quiet tact, coupled with decision and perfect, unostentatious knowledge of the business required, has increased his patronage very materially.
Mr. Lanum comes of an old Virginia family and is of English descent. His father, Vincent Lanum, was a Virginian, as was also the grandfather Lanum. Vincent Lanum followed agricultural pursuits in his native State until about 1832, when the fertile soil of the Buckeye State tempted him to make a settlement within its borders. He first went on horseback, selected a suitable location near what subsequently became the home place in Union Township, and was afterward married there. His farm was six miles south of Washington C. H., in Fayette County, and he began making improvements. He had accumulated a handsome property, but by going security for his friends lost it all. His wife died and he was the second time married, after which he located on the farm where he died, in 1867. At the time of Morgan's raid, he went to Washington C. H. and offered his services but was refused on account of his age. This did not please him at all, and after coming home, he molded bullets and the next morning, rifle in hand, saw him en route for Chillicothe. However, on the way he was induced to turn back. He was a Republican in politics, and a Metliodist in religion. His wife, the mother of our subject, bore the maiden name of Lucinda McArthur, a native of Washington C, H., Ohio, and of Scotch descent. Her father, Arthur McArthur, was a large land-owner and owned the site of the present city of Washington C. H. He was a cousin of ex-Gov. McArthur and was related to the McDougals and Mclves mentioned in Scott's works. Grandfather McArthur was one of the first Marshalls of Washington C. H., and was also Sheriff of the county. The stepmother of our subject, after the death of her husband, kept the family together and reared them to mature years. She died at the home of our subject on the 26th of July, 1891, when sixty-six years of age. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Mack Arthur Lanum was born in Union Township, Fayette County, Ohio, on the 23d of January, 1860, and was the only child born of the father's second marriage. He assisted his father in farm work and thus continued until thirteen years of age. His parents then removed to Washington C. H. and he attended the High School there until just before graduating, when he was obliged to quit on account of ill health. He was subsequently apprenticed to learn the undertaker's trade and continued in this for five years, being most of the time head man. After this, with Thomas Cleveland, he went to Frankfort, Ohio, and bought a drug-store but after one year's experience in this business he concluded that some other enterprise would suit him just as well. For one year after this, he was engaged in business in South and West Ohio, and in 1883 he located in Circleville, where he formed a partnership in the undertaking business with Mr. Albaugh. Mr. Lanum has the largest business of the kind in Circleville, occupies two floors, and is wide-awake and enterprising.
In the fall of 1888, he was elected County Coroner and has had several interesting cases, the King murder case being one of them. Mr. Lanum was married in October, 1890, to Miss Kate A.Lynch, daughter of James H. Lynch, who was born in this State. Socially, Mr. Lanum is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. He holds membership in the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Democrat. He has been a delegate to different conventions and is Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Democratic Club of Pickaway County.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]