Last Updated on October 18, 2011 by
Adolf Sumerlin, editor and attorney at law, Mattoon; born in Keosauqua, Iowa, Aug. 24, 1851; moved with his parents, Rufus and I. A. Sumerlin, to a farm in Scotland Co., Mo., in 1859; his father having embarked in the newspaper business in Memphis in 1860, he commenced learning the printer’s trade; in 1865, he moved to Shelbyville, Ill.; in 1869, he conducted the reportorial department of the Shelby Leader, which his father had purchased in 1865; in. the same year, commenced reading law with Thornton & Wendling; moved with his parents to Springfield, Mo., in April, 1871, and after completing his law studies in Phelps & McAbel’s office, was admitted to practice in the courts of Missouri in October, 1871; moved to Mattoon, Ill., in September, 1872, and with his father purchased the Mattoon Commercial; they continued to run the paper together until August,1876, when the paper was purchased by the Mattoon Commercial Printing Co., who appointed A. Sumerlin editor; at present, is editor of the Commercial and practicing law.