EDISON SHRUM, SELF-TAUGHT RESEARCHER, DIES

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- A prominent local historian and noted author died Sunday at his home in Scott City.

Edison Shrum, 85, was a noted local historian and self-educated man who loved to read and do research.

Jim Steel, a longtime friend, said that Shrum was in love with books and knowledge although he was only formally educated through the eighth grade.

"He'd go to a junk store and get around all the books, and want to take them all home with him," Steel said. "He had an incurable hunger for knowledge, and it was all self-taught."

Ramona Glastetter worked with Shrum for 16 years at the Scott County Historical Society and remembers Shrum as a dear man who was very knowledgeable.

"You could ask him just about anything, and he could give you a good answer," Glastetter said.

Glastetter said she would always remember doing research with Shrum.

"I think anyone who knew him really cared for him," Glastetter said.

Dr. Frank Nickell, professor of history at Southeast Missouri State University, said Shrum made a significant contribution to history in the region, citing his research of slavery in the area and the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 and his extensive collection of documents.

Margaret Harmon, president of the Scott County Historical Society, said that the society feels a great deal of gratitude toward Shrum for his work in preserving the history of Scott County.

"He was an avid researcher and historian, and he will be missed greatly," Harmon said. "We were very sorry to hear of his passing, and the society extends its deepest sympathies to his family."

Published local histories

In his lifetime, Shrum published many local historical books, including "A History of Scott County, Mo.," "Graysboro to Ancell: A History of the Scott City Area" and "The Slaves and Slaveowners of Cape Girardeau County." He first began writing for an Illmo, Mo., newspaper in 1947. After moving to Scott City in 1949, Shrum devoted himself to full-time historical research and writing.

"He didn't rely on someone else for his information," Steel said. "He went straight to the old-timers of a town to get his information."

Steel said that Shrum made numerous corrections to local history by going out and researching.

"He asked the Why?' question where other historians just had hearsay," Steel said. "He really went out and did research and shook the bushes."

Shrum never married and is survived by a niece, Ramona Stevenson of Brownsville, Tenn., and a nephew, Kurt Shrum of St. Louis.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. today at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. The funeral will be at the funeral home at 1 p.m. Wednesday, with the Rev. William E. Stevenson officiating.

Nickell said that Shrum recognized the importance of communities in Southeast Missouri when no one else did and built an extensive collection of documents that he would share with anyone.

"Although he was never in a classroom, was never a professor or ever a schoolroom teacher, he was ever a teacher and would help anyone," Nickell said.

Nickell said that over the years Shrum helped countless students.

"He loved to talk history, and through that, he educated us all," Nickell said.