Summers Family - The Family Lines of Isaiah Josiah Summers and Noah Summers

Contributed by Daniel Gregory, Mary Castle
and Charli Summers

©1999
Updated ©2000, 2001

Thanks to Sandy Key and Mary Lou Reed who contributed information for the family of Noah Summers. Thanks to Charli Summers for the additional information on the children of Major Summers and Caroline Hunter.

Isaiah Josiah Summers Family Line

Isaiah Josiah SUMMERS b. abt. 1800 NC. Married to Catherine b. abt. 1800 born possibly in VA. Isaiah is listed in the 1840, 1850 and 1860 Sumner Co. TN Census records.

Known children of Isaiah Josiah SUMMERS and Catherine are:

  1. Commodore SUMMERS b. 1823/1825 NC, married 1st on 27 July 1842 in Sumner Co. TN to Keziah "Ann" BRILEY. Commodore married 2nd on 26 Feb, 1880 in Sumner Co. TN to Susan HONEYCUTT.
  2. Malinda SUMMERS b. 1826. Married on 11 Nov 1847 in Sumner Co. TN to J. Green SUMMERS (son of Noah SUMMERS and Mary "Polly" BRILEY). Known children are: Levi, Mary, William H. and Jesse.
  3. Martha Jane SUMMERS b. 1830. Married on 8 Oct 1858 in Sumner Co. TN to James RIGSBY.
  4. Josiah John A. SUMMERS b. 1834. Married 1st to Martha SUMMERS (daughter of Noah SUMMERS and Mary "Polly" BRILEY). Married 2nd on 17 Aug 1877 in Sumner Co. TN to Nancy E. MORRIS.
  5. Elizabeth L. "Betsey" SUMMERS b. May 1836, d 6 Mar 1883 Sumner Co. TN. Buried at Briley Cemetery. Married on 23 Feb 1858 in Sumner Co. TN to Jessie SUMMERS (son of Noah SUMMERS and Mary "Polly" BRILEY).
  6. Isaiah SUMMERS b. 1840.
  7. Caroline SUMMERS b. 1841.

Commodore SUMMERS (son of Isaiah Josiah SUMMERS and Catherine) b. 1823/1825 NC. Married 1st on 27 July 1842 in Sumner Co. TN to Keziah "Ann" BRILEY b. 1823. Married 2nd on 26 Feb 1880 in Sumner Co. TN to Susan HONEYCUTT b. 1848. Commodore is listed with his wife and children in the 1860 Sumner Co. TN Census records. In 1899 Commodore is listed on the pauper apporpiations (page 513, district 15).

Known children of Commodore SUMMERS and Keziah Ann BRILEY are:

  1. Mary Victoria SUMMERS b. 15 Aug 1846 TN, d. 15 Dec 1913 Sumner Co. TN. Married on 20 Jan 1863 Sumner Co. TN to Frances Marion HARPER b. 4 July 1836, d. 28 Jan 1912. Mary and Frances are buried at Link Cemetery. Children are: Steven 1864 - 1929, George 1865 - 1866, James 1867 - 1950, Marshall 1869 - 1931, Nancy 1872 - 1919, Sarah 1876 - 1905, Robert 1878 - 1955, Lovie 1882 - 1966, Amanda 1885 - 1958 and Mary Jane 1889 - 1962. (See Harper Family information). Note from Denise Wilson. Mary Victoria who married Francis Harper was one eyed, though the story of surrounding that is unknown.
  2. William Taylor "Bill" SUMMERS b. 15 May 1847 TN, d. 14 Jan 1929 Sumner Co. TN. Married on 4 Sept 1869 in Sumner Co. TN to Rhoda A. "Sis" "Texana" ATCHERSON b. 18 Jan 1851, d. 12 July 1928 Sumner Co. TN. William and Rhoda are buried at Halltown Cemetery. They had nine children: (note: names of children from Denise Wilson)
    1. Jake
    2. Tommy
    3. Mary F.
    4. Bertha who married Leslie Crafton
    5. Alice H.
    6. Henry married S. E. Whiting
    7. Charles M. married Hattie Brown
    8. Mary F. married J. W. McGlothlin/Jake Atcherson
    9. William H.
  3. Major G. SUMMERS b. 1852 TN, d. 1932 Sumner Co TN. Married 1st on 20 Apr 1870 in Sumner Co. TN to Caroline V. HUNTER b. 1857, d. 1899 Sumner Co. TN. Married 2nd on 11 Mar 1903 Sumner Co. TN to Annie SMITH. Major and Caroline are buried at Link Cemetery.
  4. Sarah SUMMERS b. 1854 TN.
  5. Inman B. SUMMERS b. 1857 TN. Married 1st to Mary Jane HUNTER. Married 2nd on 22 Feb 1879 in Sumner Co. TN to Susan SADLER. Note: The following was contributed by Linda Read Chesser (Chessers@aol.com). ..Inman Summers married my great-grandmother Mary Jane Hunter (marriage records list her last name as Honeycutt which is incorrect). Mary Jane was born between 1858 and 1859. When she married Inman she was mistreated and promptly locked in a cabin without much to eat or wear. The sheriff was summoned and she sued in court for a divorce and the restoration of her last name "Hunter". After this was all final, she married 1879 my great-grandfather William Oliver Read or "O. Reed" as it is listed on the 1878 map. Inman then married the Sadler woman..."
  6. Elijah/Elisha Tennessee "Tennie" SUMMERS b. 1859, d. Aft 1920. Married R. M. HUNTER. Married Ella COOPER. They had ten children: (note: names of children from Denise Wilson)
    1. Minus Lee
    2. Charlie
    3. Mattie
    4. Annie
    5. Essie Mae
    6. Arthur
    7. Loula
    8. Elijah Duncan
    9. Bertha
    10. Frank Marion
    11. William McKennley "Kenlis"
  7. John Andrew Jackson SUMMERS b. May 22, 1863, d. Mar. 27. 1944. Married on 28 May 1882 in Sumner Co TN to Laura Florence BRILEY.
  8. Rosa B. SUMMERS b. 1865.
  9. Eleanor SUMMERS.

Major G. SUMMERS (son of Commodore SUMMERS and Keziah Ann BRILEY) b. 1852 TN, d. 1932 Sumner Co TN. Married 1st on 20 Apr 1870 Sumner Co. TN to Caroline V. HUNTER b. 1857, d. 1899 Sumner Co. TN. Married 2nd on 11 Mar 1903 Sumner Co. TN to Annie SMITH. Major and Caroline are buried at Link Cemetery.

Known child of Major SUMMERS and Caroline HUNTER are:

  1. William Morgan SUMMERS b. 1871, d. 1951. Married to Missouri Ann "Elizabeth" Melavine Millner PIERSON (1875-1956). Married to Lulu GRAY. Children are: Leslie, Bluford and Charlie; possibly married Annie.
  2. Sarah A. SUMMERS b. March 1872; d. abt. 1908. Married 10 Oct 1891 in Sumner Co. TN to Benjamin Protus PEARSON. Sarah died from pellagra. Benjamin is buried at Link Cemetery, Sumner Co., TN no marker.
  3. John Ellis SUMMERS.
  4. Laura SUMMERS married BLACKBURN. 2 children; m. Jim Woodall.
  5. Earnest William SUMMERS married Nobie GROVES. Children John William, Carl Douglas, Leroy, Donald Ray, Jerry Wayne, Gary Glen, James Edward and Ollie Bernice.
  6. Pauline SUMMERS.
  7. Frances SUMMERS.
  8. Mary SUMMERS.

Children of Sarah A. SUMMERS (daughter of Major SUMMERS and Caroline HUNTERS) and Benjamin Protus PEARSON are:

  1. John G. b. June 1894.
  2. Hender Etter b. 8 Apr 1895, Portland, Sumner Co., TN; d. September 24, 1977, Bowling Green, Warren Co., KY. Buried at Maple Hill Cemetery Sumner Co. TN. Married 1st to Hubert LEGGE, married 2nd to W. Frank LEGGE. W. Frank LEGGE is buried at Link Cemetery Sumner Co. TN.
  3. Russell b. August 1899.
  4. Mary Elizabeth b. 22 Sept 1904, Sumner Co., TN; d. 19 Aug 1981, Bowling Green, Warren Co., KY; m. (1) Unknown CRABTREE abt. 1922; m. (2) Sidney O. REDFERN abt. 1928.

John Andrew Jackson SUMMERS (son of Commodore SUMMERS and Keziah Ann BRILEY) born May 22, 1863 in Sumner Co. TN. Died Mar. 27. 1944 in Sumner Co. TN. John married on 28 May 1882 in Sumner Co TN to Laura Florence BRILEY (daugther of Stephen Howard Briley and Emily). Laura was born on August 15, 1862 probably in Robertson Co. TN and died on June 23, 1951. After the death of John, Laura married Tom GOODMAN. John and Laura are buried beside each other in the Jake Link Cemetery, Sumner Co. TN. They just received a marker this year (2000).

Click here to view a photo of John Andrew Jackson Summers and Laura Briley.

Daniel Gregory contributed the following: ".. here is a story my grandmother, Mamie Ruth (Summers) Gregory remembers as a child hearing from her grandfather, John Andrew Jackson Summers."
"Grandpa said he was born during the Civil War. His mother (Kizah Ann) had severe arthritis and was confined to a bed. When she gave birth to John she had been in the bed already for a period of eight years. Once during the Civil War, federal troops occupied their home. They didn't bother grandpa's mother, since she was ill and confined to her bed. Ann died when Grandpa was 12 years old. She was confined to her bed for 20 years.

Another fact is my grandmother told me that her grandpa had once had a very serious illness and was given opium for the pain. Opium was sold over the counter as aspirin at that time. He became addicted, with no one thinking it was drug abuse or any such notions, he quit in 1916. He and his wife had been Church of Christ members but in his old age John was converted to the Jehovah's Witnesses. It hurt his family deeply, still he truly believed and anxiously awaited his "Watchtower" magazine that the group periodically sent to its members. John died on March 27, 1944."

Children of John Andrew Jackson SUMMERS (son of Commodore SUMMERS and Keziah Ann BRILEY) and Laura Florence BRILEY are:

  1. Eldon Summers bornin 1886 and died in 1957. He married Lee Mooneyham. He is buried in the Jake Link Cemetery in Sumner County, Tn.
  2. Alice Summers born August 14, 1889. She died on November 20, 1967. She is buried in the Old Halltown Cemetery in Sumner County, Tn. Her first husband was Sam Arthur Biggs who was born on Oct. 24, 1876 and died on April 8, 1943. Her second husband was Sam Poole.
  3. Johnny Abner Summers was born on April 2, 1891 and died on December 4, 1955. He married Rosie Lee Mooneyham who was born on April 19, 1901 and died ?.
  4. Lucy Summers married Frank Osteen on 18 April 1915. They had their first child on Feb. 18, 1916 and a second one in June 1917. Lucy died on December 4, 1918.
  5. Oscar Summers born 1892 and died in 1930. He never married. He is buried in an unmarked grave beside the marked grave of his brother, Jaby D. Summers, in the Jake Link Cemetery in Sumner County, Tn.
  6. Jaby Denning Summers born August 10, 1898 and died on February 19, 1972. He married 1st to Maybelle Roberts on April 28, 1917 and second to Betty Draper.
  7. Dewey Summers was born in 1902 and died in 1927. He lies in an unmarked grave in the Jake Link Cemetery in Sumner County, Tn.

  • Jaby Denning Summers (son of John Andrew Jackson SUMMERS and Laura Florence BRILEY) born August 10, 1898 and died on February 19, 1972. He married Maybelle Roberts (daughter of John Walter Roberts and Minnie Mae Hester) on April 28, 1917 in Sumner County, Tn. Maybelle was born on March 10, 1905 and died on November 10, 1987. Jaby and Maybelle divorced later in life. He went on to marry Betty Draper and she went on to marry Tom Street. Later Jaby and Maybelle both divorced their second spouses. The two remarried one another on May 6, 1967. Jaby and Maybelle are buried beside each other at the Jake Link Cemetery in Sumner County, Tn.
    Children of Jaby Summers and Maybelle are:
    1. Jaby Mitchell b. 12 Jan 1919, d. 19 Feb 1972. Buried at the Old Brush Cem in Sumner Co. TN.
    2. Lena Belle b. 14 Feb 1921, d. 6 Feb. 1981. She had three husbands in her life time: Harris Lee Short (a native of Sumner Co. who died in WWII), Bill Shoop, and Rusty Land. Lena and her 3rd husband, Rusty Land, perished in a fire in Reno, Nevada.
    3. Mamie Ruth b. 25 July 1928 in Sumner Co. TN. On May 4, 1946 she married Horace Wayne Covington. They had one son. Horace died of illness on Nov. 5, 1950. On June 2, 1951 Mamie married Flavil Odell Greogory who was born Nov. 28, 1919 and was the son of Wesley Odell Gregory and Maggie Harriett Dudney. Mamie and Flavil had two children.
    4. Edward Joseph b. 7 Sept 1936. He moved to Phoneix, Arizona as an adult and he ran a fruit stand. He married Joyce Freeman. He died on Feb. 28, 1998.

      Noah Nathaniel Summers Family Line

      Noah SUMMERS is the son of Thomas SUMMERS who was born in 1780/1782 in Guilford Co NC and died on 5 Oct 1854 in Franklin Co, IL. Thomas married on 3 Dec 1804 in Sumner Co. TN to Priscilla SUMMERS b. abt 1780/1786 NC d. aft. 1860.

      The grandfather of Noah SUMMERS is not yet confirmed. Some information indicates that his grandfather was Joseph E. SUMMERS (son of Jackson SUMMERS) b. 1749/1754 Yorkshire England (another source says born in Kent Co. DE), d. 1839 Scott Co. IL. Joseph married 8-2-1774 Guilford Co NC to Mary JACKSON b. abt 1755, d. bef. 1832 in Bucks Co. PA. However, others believe his grandparents were James SUMMERS and Lavinia GILLESPIE.

      Noah Nathaniel SUMMERS born abt. 1809. (son of Thomas SUMMERS and Priscilla SUMMERS) was married on 13 Aug 1827 in Sumner Co. TN to Mary "Polly" BRILEY (marriage records says Polly). Mary "Polly" BRILEY was born 1810, d. 13 Oct 1875. Mary was the daughter of William BRILEY b. abt 1785 in E. TN and Piety? b. abt. 1785 in E. TN. Note: This information was handed down to Sandy by her grandmother). Noah Summers is listed in the 1840, 1850, and 1860 Sumner Co. TN Census records. Noah moved to Franklin Co. IL after 1860, where he died in 1893.

      Known siblings of Noah Nathaniel SUMMERS are (not in order of birth): Harper, James Madison, John Edward, Alexander, Elias, Joseph, Nancy E, Peter Frank, Thomas, William K., Robert C., and Braxton Parrish.

      Known children of Noah Nathaniel SUMMERS (son of Thomas SUMMERS and Priscilla SUMMERS) and Mary "Polly" BRILEY are:

      1. J. Green SUMMERS b. 1828 Sumner Co. TN. Married on 11 Nov 1847 in Sumner Co. TN to Malinda SUMMERS (daughter of Isaiah Josiah SUMMERS and Catherine). Known children are: Levi, Mary, William H. and Jesse.
      2. Martha SUMMERS b. 1832 Sumner Co. TN. Married to Josiah John A. SUMMERS (son of Isaiah Josiah SUMMERS and Catherine).
      3. Jessie SUMMERS b. 1837 Sumner Co. TN. Married on 23 Feb 1858 in Sumner Co. TN to Elizabeth L. "Betsey" SUMMERS (daughter of Isaiah Josiah SUMMERS and Catherine)
      4. Caroline SUMMERS b. 1842 Sumner Co. TN.
      5. Ortemilia SUMMERS b. 1844 Sumner Co. TN.
      6. L. SUMMERS b. 1851 Sumner Co. TN
      7. Harriett SUMMERS b. 1854 Sumner Co. TN

      John Logan SUMMERS [son of Jessie SUMMERS (son of Noah SUMMERS) and Elizabeth Besty SUMMERS (daugther of Isaiah Josiah SUMMERS)] was born on 6 Feb 1863. He died 9 Nov 1943 in Sumner Co. TN. John married on 22 June 1884 in Sumner Co. TN to Louella BRILEY d. 23 June 1910 Sumner Co. TN. John Logan is buried at Briley Cemetery on the Leon Durrett farm in the Clearview Community, with his wife and parents.

      John and Louella had four children:

      1. Rob Summers
      2. Gilbert Summers (died in his twenties).
      3. Jessee Summers who married on 14 Dec 1919 to Lena Link (daughter of John Henry Link and Alice Jackson).
      4. Earnest Summers born 1890, died 1960. He married 1st on 26 Apr 1915 to Cora Link (daugther of John Henry Link and Alice Jackson). Cora was born 26 May 1891. He married 2nd to Ona Walker. Earnest and Cora had two children: 1. Alice E. Summers b. 1817 who married 1st to Earl Greogry and 2nd to Jack Jacobs (one child Dean Jacobs). 2. Ruby Lucille Summers b. 1914, d. 1987, she married Onie E. Poole.

      Daniel Gregory writes "...My grandmother is the grandaughter of John Andrew Jackson Summers and Laura Briley."

      What is the connection between Isaiah Josiah Summers and Noah Nathaniel Summers? Is it possible they are siblings or cousins?


      See a photo of Andrew Jackson and Laura Florence Briley Summers

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