My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Putnam County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Jonathan D. Summers was born in Randolph County, Mo., September 20, 1832. His father, Isaac Summers, was born in Virginia, in 1801, and accompanied his father, Simeon Summers, to Kentucky, in 1802. Simeon was an early settler of Kentucky, who moved to Indiana in 1814, and there spent his last days. Isaac grew to manhood in Indiana, and was there married to Rachel Cozad, who was born near Dayton, Ohio. Isaac moved from Indiana to Illinois, and from the latter State to Randolph County, Mo., about 1831. He moved from there to Macon County, and from there to Putnam County, in the fall of 1840, entering the land upon which J. D. now resides, which he improved and upon which he died in 1859. Of a family of four children, J. D. and his sister, Mary M., wife of Henry Johnson, of Putnam County, are the only survivors. Our subject came with his father to Putnam County when eight years old, at a time when Indians and wild animals inhabited the country. Here he arrived at maturity and was married three times, the first two ceremonies having been performed in Unionville. August 29, 1860, he was married to Catherine, daughter of Crawford Odam, and a native of Illinois, by whom he has had four sons and two daughters. One daughter was born to his second marriage. He is the father of the following named children: Martha (widow of Joseph Denslow), Maryetta (wife of James A. McKinley, of Putnam County), Simeon F., Ettie M., Jonathan D., Crawford O. and Benjamin C. Mr. Summers’ first wife was Cavy M. Weatherford, to whom he was married February 14, 1856, and who only lived a short time; the second wife was Martha Smith, daughter of Dr. Smith, of Iowa, to whom he was married December 24, 1857, and who died December 11, 1858. Mr. Summers sold goods in his neighborhood for one year, about 1856, and then moved his stock to Unionville, where he kept a general store until 1865. He was reared a Whig, but is now a Democrat, although he voted for both Lincoln and Grant. While in Unionville he served as postmaster from 1859 until the fall of 1864. He is now the owner of 360 acres of land, 200 fenced and well-improved, and lives in a comfortable residence, near which is an orchard of 400 apple bearing trees. He has been a member of the Masonic lodge at Hartford for about fifteen years, and himself and wife are Adventists.

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This family biography is one of 139 biographies included in the Putnam County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam, and Schuyler Counties, Missouri published in 1888 by Goodspeed Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Putnam County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Putnam County, Missouri family biographies here: Putnam County, Missouri Biographies

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