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Note: HI32263
Note: (Research):H.R. 7501. David Crum, Plant City, Hillsboro County, Fla., was a private soldier of Captain Sparkman's independent company, Florida Mounted Volunteers, from August 23, 1857, until honorably discharged February 16, 1858, in the Florida Seminole Indian wars, and he is now receiving the pension of $8 per month allowed by law to the survivors of said war.
In a sworn declaration accompanying the bill claimant sets forth that he is now 76 years of age, wholly incapacitated for earning his support by manual labor by reason of complete paralysis of left side; that he is possessed of real and personal property of the value of $600, and that his annual income from all sources is about $200.
In keeping with the precedents an allowance of $16 per month is recommended. Source: Pensions and increase of pensions for certain soldiers and sailors of wars other than the Civil War, etc. February 2, 1910. -- Ordered to be printed. Date: 1910-02-02, Serial Set Vol. No. 5587, Session Vol. No. A, 61st Congress, 2nd Session, S.Rpt. 158.
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 05 May 1862 at the age of 28 Enlisted in Company F, 7th Infantry Regiment Florida on 05 May 1862. Absent, without leave on 10 May 1862. In the years after the war many Hillsborough Co. Confederate veterans joined with Captain F. W. Merrin of the Mississippi Artillery, Company L, to form Hillsboro Camp No. 1, Confederate Veterans. A 1891 membership roll has D.L. Crum 7th Florida Infantry listed.
David applied for and received a Confederate Veterans Pension only to have payments suspended. The Department of Pensions, State of Florida requested by letter dated September 27, 1909 from The War Department, the information contained in David Crum's file. The return letter received from the War Department dated October 2, 1909, contained the following:
"Governor, �tab�State of Florida, Tallahassee, �tab�The records show that David Crum, private, Company F, 7th Florida Infantry, Confederate States Army, enlisted May 5, 1862. On the roll of the company for March and April, 1863, the last roll on which his name appears, he is reported deserted. No later record of him has been found."
Because of the contents contained in the letter from the War Department, the State of Florida Department of Pensions informed David L. Crum by a letter dated November 4, 1909 that payment of his pension would be suspended. This decision was made only a few months before David Crum died. The disclosure was a shock to David who was unaware that this information was included in his military files. He wrote a letter challenging the veracity of the information, in addition, family and friends of the family to include veterans who served with David wrote letters to the Department of Pensions to try and convince them to correct the record. A letter of reply from David Crum to the Board was contained in the file maintained by the Department of Pensions, a transcription follows:
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�tab�Plant City, Fla., Nov. 9th 09 To The Honorable Board of Pensions �tab�State of Fla. Tallahassee. Gentlemen. I am just in receipt of your letter denying my claims for pension and canceling my certificate on alleged grounds of desertion.
Kindly allow me enough of your valuable time to make a statement.
I am now seventy five years of age. Have been paralyzed for more than twelve months unable to earn a single dollar and I need the financial assistance of a pension. However, I am faced with enough to assure no necessary comforts as
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long as I shall live.
But gentlemen, the hardest of all is to be shown on your books as a deserter from my flag. When it is all a mistake. I was never absent from duty a day during the time I was enlister only by leave of my commanding officer.
I was detached and under command of Col. A. G. Summer who was head of the Subsistence Department of Florida. I served most of my time in this capacity.
While I was with the 7th Fla. was on detached service most of the time and was transferred by Col. Summer from Mizells Co. to Watson's Co. by order from Gen. Beauregard.
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It is a fact that most of Watson's Co - was composed of absentees & deserters. But I was transferred to the command by Col. Summers. If the state does not care to pay the pension it is all right but I can't afford to have it denied on the present grounds without informing you of the mistake. I can prove by living witnesses that I never deserted my command and served until the close of the war.
I would ask you to kindly examine the war records again and see if there hasn't been a mistake made in the findings. I shall hope to hear from you
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again regarding this matter for I assure you I was never a deserter and cannot bear to be listed as such when I rendered true and faithful service to my state not betraying a single trust.
Please furnish me with date of war records wherein it is claimed I deserted my command.
Very truly, David Crum
Dictated to & Written by Dwight Crum
Unfortunately, David passed less than three months after dictating this letter. On behalf of his widow and to try and correct the record, other letters written on his behalf were included in the file maintained by the Department of Pensions.
(1) CPT William W. Slone and A. A. Slone, in a sworn statement made on February 17, 1913, provided the Board with this statement "...we know of our own knowledge that he was regularly enlisted...".
(2) W. F. Hines, on the Comptrollers Office State of Florida letterhead, dated June 7th 1913 stated "I know of the family and the persons making the additional proof, and in my judgment it can be depended upon."
(3) John T. Lesley (Commander, B Company, 1st Battalion Florida Special Cavalry), letter dated October 16, 1911. The letter is extremely hard to read, but it seems to suggest that the Pension Board recruit the services of CPT James McKay (Quartermaster, 1st Battalion Florida Special Cavalry) who is working at Governor's Island, New York.
(4) Mr. J. G. Wall, in a letter he wrote to the Board on April 18, 1911 attested to the character of David Crum. He also made inquiry as to why his widow was denied request for Widow's Pension.
(5) Mr. Dibnell Wells, in a sworn statement made on Goree Nelson, Clerk Circuit Court Sumter County letterhead, dated November 9, 1911 stated that "...of his own knowledge that David Crum was a member of Capt Sloans Company in Florida during the last years of the war & his service as a confederate soldier in said service until the close of the war. David Crum at no time deserted...".
(6) In a sworn statement made by John L. Brown and J. G. Wall on October 30 1911 they state "...that he served faithfully in said service until he was detached to furnish beef and supplies for the confederate soldiers in line of duty, that he said David Crum remained at the said duty until regularly and honorably discharged...". The statement was taken by a Notary Public.
(7) A. S. Speer and John Barnhart deposed and said before a notary public on February 26, 1910 that "...they were well acquainted with David Crum, that he served with them, in Watson's Company, Dickinson's Command, in the Civil War - and that they know, personally that he did not desert...".
(8) In a letter of reply from the State Board of Pensions, dated May 11, 1955, to Mrs. Aurora Shaw regarding her inquiry about David Crum, they wrote "He is charged with desertion by the War Department, but furnished affidavits stating he did not desert."
********************************************************* In the Confederate Pension Application File for for Joseph S. Goss [File Number D24006] is an interesting letter. It is from the War Department, The Adjutant General's Office, and it is addressed to Mrs. Amos H. Norris, Chairman, Civil Service Board, City Hall, Tampa, Florida. The first paragraph reads, "The records show that L.G. Leslie was Captain of Company "E", 1st Battalion Florida Special Cavalry, (Cattle Guards), Confederate States Army, of which company there are no rolls on file in this office."
This would suggest that service in the 1st Florida Special Cavalry would be difficult to substantiate. It is extremely unfortunate that David's only available service records suggest that he was away without leave. ********************************************************* Listed on the Sumter Co., Florida Census for 1860. Listed on the Hillsborough Co., Florida Census for 1870 and the 1870 Federal Census.
Son of Harmon Crum & Rhoda Burnett. Deborah Millier says:"David L. Crum served in Co. F, 7th Regiment, FL during the Civil War. David "enlisted 5/5/62 at Camp Lee and was AWOL since 5/10/62. It i[sic] believed that he served in Watson's Company, Munnerlyn's Battalion near the end of the war. He was a member of Hillsborough Camp #1, United Confederate Veteran in 1891." (Biographical Rosters, p. 736)
There is also a David Crum serving in Sparkman's Independent Co. of FL Mounted Volunteers, along with Harmon Crum and Daniel G. Crum, during the Seminole War of 1856. This may be David Lovette Crum as his file maintained by the Department of Pensions states that he fought in the Indian Wars.
David Crum and his wife Elizabeth were charter members of the first church built in the Dunedin area. It was called Curlew Methodist Church and was completed in 1869. This was before the Crums moved on to Polk County. David Crum was also one of three trustees of the first public school (the second school in the area) in Curlew. Records of this are found in the Hillsborough records in Tampa. (Dunedin thru the years 1850-1978).
There are two lakes within the corporate limits of Groveland (Mascotte area), Lake David and Lake Audrey. The former was named in 1880 after a man named David Crum, who was known to have killed a large black bear on its borders (History of Lake County, Florida, p. 108)"
An early orange grower in the Cork (name of the first post office in the Plant City area after changing from the indian name of Itchepuckesassa) area.
One of the memorial windows in the First Methodist Church (cornerstone laid in 1924) were donated in memory of D.L. and Elizabeth Crum. Source: Plant City: Its Origin and History.
Record of CRUM, DAVID L is found in the Land Office records located in Gainesville.
********************************************** Notes by Mary McPherson
David and Elizabeth are buried at Oaklawn East Cemetery, Plant City, Hillsborough County, Florida.
Misc. Records:
Recorded this 15th. day of July A.D. 1879-William C. Brown, Clerk. David L. Crum Records his Mark and Brands as follows, to wit. Crop Split and under bit in one ear-two under bits in the other. Branded DL. Recorded by me this 25th. day of July A.D., 1879. William Brown, Clerk Source: THE SUNLAND TRIBUNE, Tampa, Florida December 7,1878, Volume 3, Number 39.
Cassava. Mr. David Crum, living on curlew creek in the Clear Water section, brought to this office last Wednesday, a stalk of cassava on the root of which there were seven tubars varying in length from 6 to 30 inches. Besides these, he presented us with another tuber of the same kind over 2 feet in length and 4 inches in deameter. These specimens, he informs us, were produced on unfertilized pine land on his place. He says that for fattening hogs he knows nothing that excells the cassava for food, as he has abundantly proved on his place in the past year or two. With such a splendid starch producing root as this cassava is well known to be, and in view of the fact that it will grow on the poorest kind of soil, we cannot see why our farmers should not be able to raise their own supplies of pork and bacon instead of having to send off their money for that of the west. Copied at the Hillsborough County Museum and Historical Society, Hillsborough County Courthouse, Tampa, Florida. Ms. Minnie Alderman, Hostess.
FAMILY RECORDS David Love Crum was born in Lowndes County Georgia on the 5th. day of January 1834. Elizabeth Slone was born in Erwin County, Georgia on the 23rd. day of September A.D.1844. Rhoda Rebecca Crum was born in Sumter County, Florida on the 27th day of April A.D. 1861. Baby born and died on the 26th. day of November 1862. Elizabeth Ellen Crum was born on the 17th. day of June A.D. 1864 in Sumter County, Florida. David Rite Crum was born on the 4th. day of December A.D. 1866. William Harmon James Crum was born in Hillsborough County, Florida on the 15th. day of December A.D. 1869. Eliza Ealon Crum was born in Hillsborough County, Florida on the 1st. day of November A.D.1871. Dwight Lafayette Crum was born on the 15th. day of June A.D. 1876 in Hillsborough County, Florida. David L. Crum and Elizabeth Sloan were married in Sumter County, Florida March 6,1860. John S. Whitehurst and Rhoda R. Crum were married in Hillsborough County Florida on the 24th. of December 1878. August 10 A.D. 1913 is when Leon Walton Whitehurst married Laura Marguariete Urquhart in Tarpon Springs, Florida, by Rev. Bell. Murdock Lemuel Lee Crum was born in Hillsborough County Florida on the 27th. day of November A.D. 1873. The above is an exact copy of family records contained in the Bible belonging to Rhoda M. Whitehurst Morgan the daughter of Leon Walton Whitehurst and Laura Marguariete Urquhart his wife. Rhoda is the wife of Wallace William Morgan. The record is in the care of Rhoda Morgan at 9521 Red Run Drive, Tampa, Florida 33615. Some things included in these notes may appear more than one time, because the info came from several different sources and I want no one left out. CRUM-SLONE-TINNEY-BIBLE RECORDS Contributed by Aurora C. Shaw
Marriages: David L. Crum and Elizabeth Slone was married Sumter County, Fla. on the 6th. of March 1860 A.D. John S. Whitehurst and Rhoda Rebecca Crum, Hillsborough County, Florida December 24,1878. John Tinny and Elizabeth Ellen Crum, Hillsborough County, July 7th., 1885. William H.J. Crum and Martha J. Brown, Hillsborough County, Florida Aug.27th., 1891. Murdoch Lee L. Crum and Fannie C. Webb in Fort Meade, Florida. Deaths: Eliza Elon Crum, Sumter County, Florida Jan.13,1875 A.D.. Henry Prucious Tinny, Hillsboro County, Florida March 17,1887 A.D. Julia Dell Tinny, Hillsboro Co., Fla. Dec.16,1898.
***************************************************** Notes by Geoffrey A. Thompson
David L. Crum and his wife, Elizabeth were charter members of Curlew United Methodist Church. It was the first church in the Dunedin area and the second church in Pinellas County, Florida in 1869. There were 22 charter members: John A and Mary Sutton, Walton Whitehurst and wife, Susan Daniels, Joseph and Mary Garrison, George W. and Renna Holland, Emily Garrison Robinson, J.W. Matchett and wife, William L Thompson and wife, Daniel and Jincy Whitehurst. Reverend James Kilgore was the first pastor. Notes by Geoffrey A. Thompson
Service Record: Enlisted at Camp Lee as a Private on 05 May 1862 at the age of 28 Enlisted in Company F, 7th Infantry Regiment Florida. Absent, without leave on 10 May 1862.
In the years after the war many Hillsborough Co. Confederate veterans joined with Captain F. W. Merrin of the Mississippi Artillery, Company L, to form Hillsboro Camp No. 1, Confederate Veterans. A 1891 membership roll has D.L. Crum 7th Florida Infantry listed.
An article appeared in the Sunland Tribune December 1878 regarding David Crum cassava crop. He resided on Curlew Creek in Clear Section.
In another article appearing in the Sunland Tribune June 1878, it reads " Whitehurst, Walton and David Crum, living on Gulf Coast near Yellow Bluff above Clear Water. Expect 40 colonists from Kansas to arrive. 1 June 1878; 3:2.
Listed in the Sunland Tribune 5 February 1880 as a Petit Juror for the Hillsborough County Circuit Court, Spring term.
Listed as a Hillsborough County delegate to the County Convention representing Curlew. Source: Sunland Tribune, 12 August 1880.
Elected and served as a Hillsborough County Commissioner for the term 1880-1882. Source: Sunland Tribune, 11 November 1880
In 1881 David wrote two Letter's to the Editor, Sunland Tribune. It stated that his residence was Cork. Source: Sunland Tribune, 15 October 1881 and 26 November 1881.
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