From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, Publ. 1912 - Page 896-898
RUSSELL E. CRUMB. Among those of a past generation in Walworth county who distinguished themselves in the active duties of life was Russell E. CRUMB, who has now long been sleeping the sleep of the just, but who is well remembered for his many estimable characteristics. He came of an excellent family, one that has always been strong for right living and industrious habits, for education and morality.
Mr. CRUMB was born on November 6, 1816, and he was reared at Leonardsville, Otsego county, New York. He was the son of Joseph and Susan (CLARK) CRUMB, the father having been the son of Joseph CRUMB, Sr., who emigrated to this country from England in colonial days. The name was originally CRUMBWELL. Susan CLARK was a sister of Dr. Harry CLARK, one of the pioneers of Walworth township, this county. A sketch of him appears elsewhere in this work. It is believed that Joseph CRUMB came to Leonardsville, New York, from Connecticut.
Russell E. CRUMB grew to manhood in his eastern home and on September 2, 1835, he was united in marriage with Fedelia J. RICHARDSON, who was born on August 11, 1818. They remained at Leonardsville, New York, until 1872, then emigrated to Walworth county, Wisconsin. The following children were born to them, all at Leonardsville: Helen F., born November 14, 1837, died August 1, 1840; Mary E., born January 11, 1840, married on February 7, 1861, Anson HARDER, a lawyer, and lived at Redwood, New York, and there her death occurred on March 27, 1871, leaving two children, Lizzie and Mary E. The former married Herbert TOWNSEND, who is now deceased, and she lives in Delavan, this county; she was living in Seattle, Washington, when her husband died in 1908. Mary E. HARDER married Harry JUDSON at Redwood, New York; they live in Washington, D. C. and have one little son, Lawrence Judson. Emma CRUMB lives in her own home in Walworth. Edgar D. CRUMB was born on August 5, 1852, and died December 4, 1910. Alice A. CRUMB married Newell L. BURTON, October 27, 1868, and he died about 1895, having made his home at Delavan; they had one son, Charles R. BURTON, who lives with his mother on the home farm, lying two and one-half miles east of Delavan and owned by Mrs. BURTON; the son married Jessie FAIRCHILD, and they have one little son, Ralph BURTON. Eugene W. CRUMB was born at Unadilla Forks, New York, in 1849, and he married in that state, on June 17, 1871, Mary BABCOCK, daughter of Henry and Hanna (PARMETER) BABCOCK. He came to Walworth county with his father and engaged in farming at the edge of the village of Walworth, and also bought and shipped live stock to Chicago for thirty-two years. He has one daughter, Mary E. CRUMB, who married Oliver PUTNAM, undertaker and furniture dealer at Howard, Illinois. They have two sons, Russell E. and Monroe L. PUTNAM. Eugene W. CRUMB platted about twenty acres of his farm and sold it off into city lots for addition to Walworth. Edgar D. CRUMB, mentioned above, was born in Leonardsville, New York, and he came to Chicago about the time of the great fire in the fall of 1871 and there he spent the rest of his life, engaging at first in the mercantile business, later was on the Board of Trade, then became a diamond broker. He married Hattie EASTMAN.
The CRUMB family came to Walworth county in 1872 as before stated, Russell E. CRUMB, the subject, buying a farm at the northeast edge of the village of Walworth. At that time there was no railroad nearer than Howard, and there were only two stores, a blacksmith shop, a school house and an old wayside inn, called "The Red Lion," and a few houses at Walworth. When the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad came through Walworth county it cut across Mr. CRUMB's farm, as did also the Chicago, Howard & Geneva Lake electric line, and another line is now being constructed across a corner of the place. Since the family settled here a great change has taken place in this community.
Russell E. CRUMB spent the major part of his life, forty years, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was also a traveling salesman for agricultural implements in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and the Western states, and he had a wide acquaintance and was very successful both as a farmer and salesman, accumulating a competency. His death occurred on June 5, 1883, his wife dying on January 25, 1889. They were both members of the Seventh Day Baptist church at Leonardsville, New York. Emma CRUMB still retains her membership in the old church at Leonardsville, as does also Mrs. BURTON, and so did Edgar W. CRUMB.
