Wilbur Fisk Crummer was the son of Rev John Crummer and Mary Susan Kellogg. He married first, in Mount Carroll, Carroll Co, IL, 6 July 1868, Martha Minerva Olney, daughter of James Y Olney and Minerva Washburn. He married second, in Oak Park, Cook Co, IL, 2 May 1901, Emma Caroline Cushman, daughter of Edward Cushman of Nova Scotia.

An account of Wilbur and Mattie's life in Jo Daviess County is given in The United States Biographical Dictionary, Illinois Volume, 1883, pp 614-15.

WILBUR F. CRUMMER
Galena

WILBUR FISK CRUMMER, clerk of the county court and county clerk for Jo Daviess county, first saw the light at Sycamore, De Kalb county, Illinois, July 23, 1843. His father was Rev. John Crummer, a Methodist preacher for more than forty years; engaged in itinerant work in this part of the country when his circuit had a radius of twenty or thirty miles. He married Mary S. Kellogg, a native of Connecticut, her grandfather begin a revolutionary soldier. The Crummers were from Ireland, and settled originally in the state of Delaware, spreading thence into the western states.

Wilbur farmed at Mount Pleasant, Jo Daviess county, and attended a country school in the winter season, until eighteen years old; he (August, 1861) enlisted in company A, 45th Illinois infantry, as a private, and after the battle of Shiloh was promoted to orderly sergeant. He was badly wounded at the siege of Vicksburg, being shot through the right lung, and was laid up for two years, but was not mustered out of the service until the war was closed. He took part in eight or nine of the hardest-fought battles: Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, etc. In the summer of 1865, Mr. Crummer became a clerk in a county office at Galena, and retained that post until elected to his present office, in 1869. He has been reelected twice, and at the time of writing is finishing his third term, making, in all, a period of thirteen years. There is no more faithful official in Jo Daviess county, or one more deserving of the good will of his constituents. This county is strongly republican, and usually fills its offices with men of that school of politics, Mr. Crummer being no exception to the rule. He is a Knight Templar among the brethren of the mystic tie.

The Crummers generally, in this part of the country, are Methodists, and usually quite active in religious work; and here, again, there is no deviation from the rule, our subject having been superintendent of the Bench Street Methodist Sunday school for seven or eight years. The people who know him have great confidence in his Christian integrity.

July, 1868, he was joined in marriage with Miss Mattie M. Olney, daughter of James Olney, of Mount Carroll, Illinois, and they have one daughter, Mabel W., aged eleven years. The residence of Mr. Crummer is known as Maple Grove Place, it being situated on the turnpike, one and a half miles north of the city of Galena. He has a little over twenty acres of land, all of it under excellent improvement, and twelve to fifteen acres devoted to small fruits,--raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, etc., for which he finds a ready market in Jo Daviess county. Mr. Crummer has quite a taste for horticulture, and some of his happiest hours, we run no risk in saying, are spent in his berry patches.

Wilbur died shortly after the 1920 census, and his many accomplishments were lauded in two newspapers, the first from an unidentified source, the second from the Oak Parker, 21 Feb 1920, p. 30.

DEATH OF MAJ. CRUMMER
Civil War Veteran and Well Known Citizen Answers Last Call at Age of 77 Years

Major Wilbur F. Crummer died on Wednesday. Altho a veteran of the Civil War, he had always been in such good health, and took such a keen and active interest in affairs, that his friends never thought of him as being seventy-seven years of age. He survived wounds received in battle in the Civil War, and lived thru two other conflicts.

During the world war he was a leader in the civil population. He was a four-minute man and one of the best. He spoke with force and his speech was made interesting by well told stories and figures of speech. He spoke almost every night for longer than a year.

He was of aid in organizing the reserve militia and his addresses to the men leaving for the front were such as to make their leave-taking less painful as he inspired them and injected the humor that is inevitable in an American army even in the face of death.

Major Crummer may have had enemies, and he may at some time or another have done someone an injury, but the writer, who knew him well for ten years, has the impression that he was the personification of kindliness and good nature. He probably led as happy a life as any man, and perhaps hundreds are glad that he lived here a while and regret that he was compelled to answer the last call. He enjoyed more than his share of years and had the happiness to be able to live fully, up to the last.

The funeral was held on Friday afternoon at Oak Park Masonic Temple, with full Masonic honors.

Major Crummer was born July 23, 1843. His boyhood was spent on a farm in western Illinois, until at the age of 18 years he enlisted in the 45th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He saw action at Fort Henry, Shiloh, Donelson, Corinth, Medon Station, Thompson's Hill, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill and the Siege of Vicksburg.

He was shot thru the right lung by a sharpshooter while making out an ordinance report on July 2, 1863, at Vicksburg. Owing to lack of proper medical attention at the time he suffered from a running wound for more than five years.

Major Crummer moved to Galena in 1867, where he became personally acquainted with General Grant, attending the same church. He was superintendent of the Sunday School at the church there for thirteen years. In the late eighties he removed to Oak Park with his family. Here he joined Siloam Commandery, No. 154, K. T., and Oak Park Lodge, No. 540, A. F. & A. M. He was a member of the Council and of the Sons of the American Revolution, and was active in the affairs of Phil Sheridan Post, of which he was twice commander.

During the world war Major Crummer was the only Civil War veteran from Chicago to be appointed a Four-Minute Man. In Oak Park his stirring and eloquent addresses were features of every large patriotic meeting. Major Crummer was the author of two illustrated lectures on the Civil War, and published a book entitled "With Grant at Donelson, Shiloh and Vicksburg." He was also the author of a biography of his father, Rev. John Crummer.

Up to the day he was taken ill he worked as an abstractor of wills and deeds for the Chicago Title and Trust Co. Major Crummer is survived by his widow, Mrs. Emma C. Crummer, a son, Wilbur Fisk Jr., a daughter, Mrs. Mabel C. Lattan, and a granddaughter, Doris Lattan.

HIS LAST ABSTRACT

A few months ago, Major Wilbur F. Crummer, after discussing with Mrs. Crummer the mystery of death and its coming, made out the following memorandum and left it with her:
"Last Abstract"
"When I die my soul will go home.
My body must be cared for.
Bury my body among my comrades and neighbors in Forest Home.
Funeral services at Siloam Commander Asylum, if possible.
Services of G.A.R.
Four minute talk over a four minute man by Dr. Barton.
Knights Templar service.
Blue Lodge Masonic service at the cemetery.
Notify at once Master of Lodge and Charles F. Geise, Commander of Siloam Commandery."
(Finis)

At that time it was little to be expected that within so brief a period the family of Major Crummer would be called upon to carry out the provisions of his "Last Abstract."

Wilbur F. Crummer was the son of Rev. John A. Crummer, one of the pioneer ministers in this state. He was born at Pleasant Valley, Ill., July 23, 1843. He grew up on a farm in western Illinois, until at the age of 18 he enlisted in the 45th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He took part in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Medon Station, Thompson's Hill, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill and the Siege of Vicksburg. He was wounded in the Vicksburg campaign by being shot through the right lung by a shaprshooter while making out an ordinance report on the second day of July, 1863. Owing to the lack of care at the time, he had a troublesome wound for the following five years.

In 1867 he moved to Galena, Ill., and there attended the same church as that attended by General Grant, Major Crummer being the superintendent of the Sunday school, in which capacity he served the Methodist Church of Galena for thirteen years.

He came to Oak Park in the early 80's and became a member of Siloam Commandery. No. 54, Knights Templar; he was also a member of the Council and Blue Lodge. He was affiliated with the various patriotic organizations. The Grand Army of the Republic, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Spanish War Veterans, besides taking a lively interest in the younger organizations and the American Legion. During the world war he was the only Civil War veteran in the Four-Minute Men's organization in Chicago.

He had prepared two illustrated lectures on the Civil War, which he gave in many places. He wrote a book on the War of the Rebellion entitled "With Grant at Donelson, Shiloh, and Vicksburg," he also wrote a book biographical in its contents, of Rev. John A. Crummer, his father.

His last work as a department head, with the Chicago Title and Trust Co. ended Feb. 7. He arrived home from work, attended the Masonic Lodge Saturday evening, and returned home with no indication that it was the last day of civic service for him. On Sunday morning he was unable to dress himself because of a stroke of apoplexy that rendered his right side useless. He was taken to the West Suburban Hospital the following Thursday, where on last Monday afternoon he experienced the second stroke that paralyzed his entire body, and death resulted Tuesday morning without his regaining consciousness.

The funeral was held Friday afternoon in the Asylum of the Siloam Commandery, and after the G.A.R. service, of which the deceased gave preference over the fraternal rites, the Commandery took charge of the service. The Blue Lodge performed the Masonic rites at the grave.

Interment was in Forest Home Cemetery.

The deceased leaves a widow, Mrs. Emma C. Cushman; a son, Wilbur F. Jr.; a daughter, Mrs. Mabel C. Lattan, and a granddaughter, Doris R. Lattan.

Major Crummer will be missed among the societies where he was always welcome as an entertainer and a friend. No call for assistance ever passed him unheeded where he was needed. The patriotic societies knew his worth and his willingness to serve. He was the moving spirit when the Illinois Reserve Militia was formed and spent his evenings helping to perfect that splendid organization, that served the people so well during the war days of the late European struggle.

Rev. Dr. William E. Barton and Rev. Dr. Carl D. Case officiated at the burial service.
* * *

From the Oak Park Oak Leaves,
Saturday, 21 May 1921, page 40

G. A. R. MEMORIAL TABLET
Phil Sheridan Post Officers Issue Orders for Dedication at 12:30 O'Clock on Memorial Day
The tablet to be dedicated by the G. A. R. at Forest Home on Decoration Day, Monday, May 30, is now completed. It reads as follows:

1861--TABLET--1865
Dedicated by Phil Sheridan Post, No. 615, Dept. Illinois, Grand Army of the Republic, May 30, 1921, In Loving Memory:

Of Past Commander Wilbur F. Crummer and his comrades here buried.
Of other Comrades of the Post buried in Forest Home Cemetery.
Of All Deceased Comrades of the Post wherever buried.

"Cover them over with beautiful flowers;
Deck them with garlands, these comrades of ours."

Comrades of the Post buried in this Memorial Lot:
1. John W. Scribner, Co. D, 10th U. S. Infantry..
Died Aug. 6, 1897
2. Hermann Hirshkorn, Co. B, 13th Ill. Cavalry........ Died Feb. 1, 1898
3. Richard L. Boyd, 39th U. S. Col. Infantry... Died May 5, 1905
4.George H. Frizzell, Co. B, 19th Me. Infantry....
Died Apl. 13, 1912
5. Amza L. Fitch, U. S. Transport Service....
Died July 13, 1913
6. August Sternistsky, Co. I, 2nd D. C. Infantry...
Died Sept. 26, 1917
7. Wilbur F. Crummer, Co. A, 45th Ill. Infantry....
Died Feb 17, 1920
* * *