SUMMERS’ ANCESTRAL LINEAGE

This is a pedigree listing for Dale Richard Summers. I would be the 8th generation listed on this page. Several of Illinois earliest Summers' grave sites can be found in Scott, Greene, Morgan, Pike and Franklin Counties.  William, John W., George L. and their spouse's grave sites are in the original Summers' family plot in the Winchester Il. Cemetery. There are undoubtedly more graves not marked in the family plot.  There is room for at least twelve burial sites and only ten sites are marked.  Many of the other Summers' graves sites (60+) are scattered around the rest of this large cemetery.  Click on the individual names to see their obituary and or tombstones. 

(1)Thomas Summers, Sr. (b.1698-1703 d.1749) about 1725 married Rosanna Summers (1705-1751)  To this union were born four sons; Thomas (1727), John (about 1730), William (about 1732-1771) and (2)Joseph (1749).  No daughters have been identified. Thomas Sr. was most likely born in England. 

There is information Thomas Sr. had been part owner of the ship "Good Intent" of Liverpool England.  This would be consistent with the occupation of other known Summers' in the 1600-1700's.  There is some information that suggests Thomas Sr. is the great grand nephew of Sir George Summers (Somers). There is other information Thomas Sr. immigrated to the colonies in 1720. Thomas Sr. was a well to do planter in Kent County, Mispillen** Hundred, Delaware.  Thomas owned three plantations consisting of several hundred acres.  When he died in 1749 he willed his estate to his wife and sons with equal shares for all.  Joseph was placed in an orphanage after his mother passed in 1751.  It is suggested that Rosannah never fully recovered from this late in life baby.  Eventually, his brothers rescued him when they relocated to Guilford County North Carolina in 1782.

(2)Joseph Summers (1749–1839) on 08/02/1774 married Mary (Nancy) Jackson (about 1753–before 1832).  To this union were born at least twelve children. The ones identified are Margaret born about 1777 (04/02/1795 married James Smothers) died after 1854, Rebeckah born about 1778 (06/29/1816 married Noah Harper) died after 1850, (Mary) Polly born about 1780 (03/01/1800 married Joseph Sebastian) died 1857, (3)William Jackson born 1783 (about 1804 married Jane Ross) died 1853, Thomas born about 1786 (12/03/1804 married Priscilla Summers) died 1864, Nancy (Casney?) about 1787 died ?, John Alexander born 06/05/1789 (was married 3 times) died 11/06/1869, Levi born 1790 (was married 3 times) died after 1870, Elizabeth "Betsy" born 1792 (03/20/1810 married William Jackson) died ?, Alexander born 07/18/1793 (married Clarisa Lilly) died 01/01/1867, Peter Bozeman about 1798 died ?, and Sarah born about 1800 (01/30/1827 married Mathew Ing) died after 1850.

Joseph was born in Kent County Delaware. He moved to Guilford Count North Carolina in 1782 with his brothers.  Joseph, Mary, Margaret, Rebeckah, Mary, William, Thomas and Nancy lived in Guilford County North Carolina until migrating, via the Daniel Boone trail, to Logan County Kentucky.  Joseph and family appeared on the Guilford county 1790 census records (1 white male over 25, 2 white males under 16 and 5 white females of all ages) but not on the 1800 census records. It appears they lived from about 1795 to 1815 in Logan County Kentucky.  About 1815 most of the family moved to Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee.  Tax records indicate Joseph and his sons William, John, Levi and Alexander lived in Sumner County, Tennessee for about seven years.  It appears they moved back to Logan County Kentucky about 1824-1825 and lived there until migrating to Illinois in 1828/29.  Levi and Alexander (Alexander is buried in Summers Cemetery # 1 Franklin County, Illinois) stayed in Franklin County, Illinois while Joseph, William, and John moved on to Madison County, Illinois.

In 1776 Joseph enlisted 3 times and served for over a year with the North Carolina Continental Army.  In 1832 Joseph applied for a revolutionary war pension.   His pension was approved on 04/16/1833.  He was 84 years old.  He was living in Morgan County Illinois at the time he applied. He most likely would have been living in the Winchester area.  Winchester would have been part of Morgan County in 1832. He may have been living with family because of his advanced age and recent death of his wife.  Family lore and pension records indicates he died in Scott County in 1839 at the young age of 90.  Family lore also indicates his wife died before 1832.  Family lore suggests they are buried in the Wilson Cemetery near Glasgow which at that time had been part of the Colonel John  A Summers farm.  However, I find no record of their burial in the Scott County archives. 

(3)*William Jackson Summers (1783–1853) about 1804 married *Jane Ross (1786–1861). To this union were born five children that lived beyond infancy.  They were (Mary) Polly 1806-1872 (on 08/13/1827 married Andrew Smothers in Gallatin, TN), *Jane Rose 1817-1895 (on 10/09/1839 married *Thomas Kirkpatrick in Scott County IL), Joseph* 1819-1897 ( on 10/14/1841 married Mary F Edmonson in Scott County IL), Nancy Eloisa* (Elvira) 1823-1879 (on 09/28/1848 married Milby Smith* in Scott County, IL),  and  (4)John William (1825-1889).  Oral family history suggests there may have been at least one child and maybe more who died in infancy.  We know from family records John William was their last child.

William lived in Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky until migrating to Madison County, Illinois in 1828/29***  They came in an old fashioned wagon, that resembled a flatboat on wheels.  The trip took about 30 days.  Madison County split to form Morgan County which in turn split to form Scott County.  They settled 5 miles east of what is now Winchester, Illinois. In later life William and Jane moved into Winchester, Scott County, Illinois.  William was a cabinet maker by trade.

(4)*John William Summers (08/02/1825–07/26/1889) on 09/21/1848 married *Sarah Ann Peak (05/30/1829–04/09/1907).  To this union were born twelve children.  They were Mary Jane 1849-1927 (on 01/31/1867 married William H Lawson in Scott County IL), Flora Ellen 1852-1921 (on 10/12/1870 married James Howard in Scott County IL), *Charles H 1853-1930 (on 11/26/1873 married Elizabeth Reese in Morgan County IL), Thomas H 1855-1930 (on 10/27/1882 married Laura B Grey in Scott County IL), (5)George Levi, * (John) William Jr 1863-1940 (married 10/27/1892 Lillie Murray in Scott County IL), *Joseph L. (died about 3 years old), *Samuel P. (died at about 18 years old), Eliza Alice 1864-? (on 02/25/1886 married Luther Newton Todd), Charlottie Ann "Lottie" 1867-1928 (married Levi W Todd on 02/25/1886 in Scott County IL), Frank E. 1870-1948 (on 04/07/1891 married Nicholena J McAllister) and Ludella 1874 - 1963 (on 01/16/1895 married Arthur Seymour in Scott County IL). 

John W. was a business man in and around Winchester.  John W. fought in the Mexican War.  In 1854 John W. bought the old Flynn farm which consisted of 160 acres, and was 7 miles south-east of Winchester. John W. later purchased 40 timbered acres at 12 ½ cents an acre from the government.  It stayed in his family until 1943. John W. died at home in 1889 from complications of a stroke suffered 2 years earlier.  Sarah Ann died at her daughter Ludella Seymour's home in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois in 1907. 

(5)*George Levi Summers (1861–04/27/1939) on 02/19/1885 married *Ida Ann Busby (04/19/1866–04/29/1948).  To this union were born nine children.  They were *Pleady Maude 1885-1903, *Mary (Tine) Odessa 1887-1948 (married Harvey McCarty), *Homer B. 1889-1937 (married Estella Whewell), (6)Howard A., *Frank T 1893-1976 (married Alma Baird), *Levi George 1898-1963 (married Martha Butler), Clyde William 1902 (died at 1 month of age), Harvey Leo 1905 (died at or near birth), and Lola Dell 1907-1974  (married Arthur Wages).  George and Ida Ann farmed most of their lives around the Manchester, Scott County, Illinois area.

(6)*Howard Andrew Summers (08/23/1891–03/28/1966) on 11/08/1916 married *Osie Marie Mellor (11/20/1896-09/23/1982).  To this union were born five children.  They were Francis Andrew 1917-1993 (married Lucille Balke), James William 1918-1963 (married Irene Allan), (7)George Robert, *Stanley Daryll 1921-xxxx (married Emma Henry), and *Wilbur Eugene 1924-2006 (married Mildred Walker). 

Howard and Osie lived in the Murrayville-Woodson, Morgan County, IL area in their early years of marriage.  Their children were born there. Howard purchased farm land 7 miles south-east of Winchester in the early 1940's.  It had to be very close to the farm purchased by John W in 1854. The home had the original logon cabin that was built there.  It had been added on to and had been sided with clap board.  I remember as a child seeing the 12 - 18 inch walls in the door ways.  After my grandfather passed my grandmother moved to Winchester and rented the home out.  Renters started a fire in the original fireplace that had been boarded up for 40 years and burnt the home down.  The farm stayed in the family until my grandmother passed in 1982.  The old homestead and out buildings have all been dozed down and the pond has been drained.  There is little to tell there was ever a family home there.

(7)George Robert (Bobby) Summers (11/12/1919-06/24/2006) on 01/21/1942 married Dorothy Irene Baker (01/17/1924-xxxx). Barbara Jean (married Albert McIntire, 13 Apr 1963), Dale Richard (married Charlynn Harper, then Sherry Herrington, then Andrea Kappel), Carl Dean (married Sandra Hurd), Emily Sue (married Frank Verenski), Glenn Lee (married Jan Laux), Warren Robert (married Debbie Orr; then Karen Gatrell), David Wayne (married Janet Hart), Roger Eugene (married Vickie Ladely), Pamela Ann and almost adopted daughter Lotus Guthrie. 

George served in the US Army Air Corp 4000th Bomber Squadron during WWII.  After being honorably discharged he farmed in the Murrayville and North Jacksonville areas.  In the mid-1950's George, Dorothy and family relocated to Milton, Pike County, IL and farmed the old Abe Douglas Homestead.  George retired from farming in 1968.  George was a mechanic on tractors and other farm equipment for Johnson Implement and Milton John Deere Implement until his retirement.  George was not one to set idly by in his retirement.  He worked as a handyman for the town of Milton into his seventies.  He was still very active until just a few weeks before his death in 2006 at 86 years old.