My Genealogy Hound

I. F. RUSSUM, farmer and justice of the peace, post-office Jasper, was born in Warren county, Ohio, April 1, 1844, and is the son of Peter and Catharine Russum. His father was a native of Maryland and his mother of Delaware. They had ten children, our subject being the seventh child. He was reared on a farm and educated in Illinois, to which place he moved after his father’s death, which occurred August 23, 1856. His mother broke up housekeeping, and our subject went to Logan county, Ill., and worked out by the month. In Aug,, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in at Camp Latham, went to Jackson, Tenn., and was after General Price on his raid through Missouri. He was mustered out in July, 1865, at Pine Bluff, Ark., and returned to DeWitt county, Ill. He attended school one winter and then taught school for three terms. In July, 1868, our subject came to Jasper county, Mo., and bought his present farm, which was all wild land at that time, but he has greatly improved it. On Sept. 9th, 1869, he was married to Amanda A. Caldwell, daughter of Thomas and Lucinda Caldwell, who were natives of Boone county, Mo., and moved to Jasper county in 1857. Mrs. Russum was the seventh of nine children, and was born in Boone county, Mo., June 11, 1852. After our subject was married he moved on his present farm of 160 acres, which is all under cultivation, with fair buildings, well watered, has a small orchard, and raises all kinds of fruit. He raises an average of twelve bushels of wheat to the acre and thirty-five of corn. Mr. and Mrs. Russum have six children: Mary A., Gertrude, Serena Y., Sarah E., Charles E., and Alice P. Mrs. Russum is a member of the Christian Church, and Mr. Russum takes quite an interest in public affairs, and in polities is a Greenbacker.