Angus McCrummen was born around 1843 in Norh Carolina to Roderick and Flora McCrummen. His father was a farmer who owned $1,000 of real estate and $10,000 of personal property by 1860. He grew up and attended school in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and by 1860, he was also working as a farmer. He enlisted in the Confederate army on July 10, 1862, and he mustered in as a private in Company A of the 5th North Carolina Cavalry. He fell ill in the summer of 1863 and spent several months recovering. The regiment took part in the Overland Campaign. He died of pneumonia in Raleigh, North Carolina, on October 29, 1864.