John Krum

John Marshall Krum (1810–1883) was a lawyer, jurist, and mayor. He was the 11th mayor of St. Louis, Missouri and the first mayor of Alton, Illinois. In 1860, he was the chairman of the Credentials Committee at the Democratic National Convention held in Charleston, South Carolina. Early life and education John Marshall Krum was born on March 10, 1810, in Hillsdale, New York to Sarah Trowbridge and Peter Krum. Peter came to America with his father Henry about 1760. Krum attended Smith Academy at Albany and Fairfield Academy in New York City. In 1829, he attended Union College for one year, but had to quit due to an ailment of his eye. He was a teacher at Kingston, New York and he studied law. In 1833, he was admitted to the bar. Career Krum moved to St. Louis in November 1833 and was admitted to the state bar in January 1834. He then moved to Alton, Illinois, practicing law there while also retaining his law office in St. Louis. He was appointed probate judge for Madison County, Illinois, in December 1835. Alton was incorporated in 1837 and he became the town's first mayor during which Elijah Parish Lovejoy was killed by a pro-slavery mob. The following year he became state senator. In 1840, the Krums moved to St. Louis, where he was a successful lawyer, specializing in land cases. He became the Judge of the St. Louis Circuit Court in 1844. In 1848, he resigned from his judicial position and became the first Democrat mayor of St. Louis.