John Crumbaugh
The subject of this sketch was born in Kentucky in the year 1800. When four years of age he was brought by his parents to Ohio. They located in Clermont County. Here young John grew up to manhood, and lived until he came to Shelby County, where he now lives, never having voted in but two townships in his life. The Crumbaughs are of German descent, but the time of their emigration to the United States is not known.
Mr. Crumbaugh received but a limited education, only such as was gotten at the primitive log school-house. He was raised on a farm, and has been a farmer all his long life up to the present time. He entered his land from the Government, cleared it himself, and made all its improvements without the aid or help of any but his own family. In the year 1823 he married Elizabeth Medaris. In 1830 they came to Shelby County, and stopped for a few months in the town of Sidney (during which time he entered his land in Perry Township where he now lives). He thought the rent of his house in Sidney was too high—he paid one dollar per month rent. So in the middle of winter he moved his family to a. cabin on a place close to his land, until he could clear a patch of ground, and erect a cabin for himself. He relates an incident that happened the morning he left Sidney to move to his land. He had used the stable of a man by the name of Hull, who was sheriff of the county, to keep his team in during his stay in town. On the morning he left he went to the sheriff, and told him he wanted to settle with him. The sheriff, who was a rough spoken man, and profane with all, but noble and generous, replied in a rough manner, “What do you want to settle? I don’t owe you anything.” “Yes, but I owe you for the use of your stable, and want to pay you,” replied Mr. C., somewhat embarrassed. The sheriff replied, "I don’t charge anything for that; for if you had not had it some other damn rascal would have had it.”
Mr. C. raised a large family of children, only seven of whom are living at the present time. Their names and dates of births are as follows: Peter C., born 1827; Willmath, born 1825; Mary E., born 1829; Daniel H., born 1835; Thomas D., born 1841; Hannah J., born 1844; and Samuel P. born 1847.
Mr. Crumbaugh lost three sons in the service of his country during the rebellion, one of whom was a prisoner for fifteen months, and died in the hospital. Some seven years ago his companion, who had journeyed with him by his side for half a century passed away and he is left to finish his journey alone, with the esteem and respectlof all who know him.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883