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Below is a family biography included in The History of McLean County, Illinois published by Wm. LeBaron, Jr. Co. in 1879.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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I. R. KRUM, grain dealer, Bloomington. Among the citizens of McLean County who have in many instances been identified with the development and improvement of the county is I. R. Krum, dealer in grain, lumber and coal; he is a native of Green Co., N. Y.; in 1849 he came West with his parents; he being then 12 years old; they located in McLean County, where for five years he was engaged in many different kinds of work for the farmers and cattle dealers; for a year or two he was engaged as clerk in the grocery business; after which, he engaged as bookkeeper with Mr. Elihu Rogers, which situation he held until he was 21 years of age; he had been dependent upon his own resources in procuring an education, but, being obliged to work hard, he had but little time, except nights, for study; but in this way he secured a good business education; also learned phonography and the German language; at the age of 21, he formed a partnership with Mr. Robinson, engaging in the coal, lumber, grain trade and milling business; the latter business they had conducted but about two years, when their mills were burned, causing a loss for them of $20,000; the firm was known as Krum & Robinson, the partnership lasting for thirteen years, when he bought Mr. Robinson out, and has since conducted the business alone; in 1871, he established a branch house at what is now Arrowsmith and, in 1877, he established another branch house at Lilly; the combined shipments of the three houses now amounting to about 1,700 cars per annum; this immense business is wholly the result of Mr. Krum’s energy, industry and good financiering; he has always been liberal and public-spirited, helping to forward any enterprise that he deemed for the public good; he is a gentleman so well known that any compliments of the press are wholly unnecessary.

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This family biography is one of 1257 biographies included in The History of McLean County, Illinois published by Wm. LeBaron, Jr. Co. in 1879.  View the complete description here: The History of McLean County, Illinois

View additional McLean County, Illinois family biographies here: McLean County, Illinois Biographies

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