Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County
Biographical Publishing Company, 1886T. W. SUMNER. One of the oldest residents of Knox County and a general farmer and stock-grower, whose homestead is situated on section 23, of Orange Township, is found in the subject of this notice. He settled in this section of the country at an early day and has proved himself a highly esteemed and reliable citizen. He has held many offices of his county, has been Supervisor six terms and Township Clerk one term, also Commissioner, and at the present time is School Treasurer.
Mr. Sumner was born in Highland County, Ohio, Feb 22, 1820. He is the son of Bowater and Lettice (Walter) Sumner and the third child in a family of four children, all of whom are living. His father was a native of North Carolina, and of the Quaker faith, and his mother of Virginia; both are now deceased. In the fall of 1837 they removed from Ohio to Canton, Fulton Co., Ill., where they passed the winter, and in the spring of 1838 removed to Knox County; here both father and mother departed this life, while Mr. Sumner of this writing has remained here up to the present time, pursuing his chosen vocation.
He is interested in the breeding and raising of English thorough-bred race-horses, of which he has at this writing 20 head. He is the owner of three horses who carried off the blue ribbon at the Knox County Fair in 1885. Several others have taken premiums at fairs in adjacent counties, and Mr. Sumner may well feel that no one in the county is his superior in this respect.
The subject of our sketch was married to Sarah Ashby, Feb. 22, 1849, who is the daughter of David and Ruthanna (Gaddis) Ashby, who were old settlers in this county, where they both died. She was born Dec. 2, 1829, in Clinton County, Ohio, and is the mother of ten children, the names and dates of whose births are as follows: James, born Nov 17, 1849; Ashby, Sept 27, 1852, died Nov 11, 1857, at the early age of five years; Wilshire, Jan 17, 1855, died Nov 22, 1857; Lettice, Jan 12, 1858, is the wife of Loren Brown, and resides in Seward County, Neb.; Anna, Apr 5, 1860; Bowater, Apr 9, 1864, and deceased Oct 3, 1867; Nancy, March 28, 1867; Robert, June 21, 1870; David, Nov 14, 1872, and one who died in infancy, Aug 27, 1862.
Mr. Sumner is an extensive owner of landed estates, his farms including 610 acres, all fenced, cultivated and improved; 80 acres of this is timber. His home buildings consist of a neat and substantial frame house, besides barns, sheds, cribs and out buildings of all kinds, all in good repair. He is a liberal minded man, believing in the principal rather than party, and is one of the most respected citizens of that section. In politics he is a Republican. Mrs. Sumner is a member of the United Brethren Church."