REV. GEORGE W. SUMMER. In addition to looking after the spiritual welfare of his fellows, Rev. George W. Summer is also engaged in tilling the soil in Shannon County, Missouri He was born on Current River, this county, in 1847, to Andrew J. and Adaline (Boyd) Summer, natives of Morgan County, Tennessee, where the father was born in 1815, and the mother some six or seven years later. They came to Shannon County when young and were married here and here spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in August, 1886. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, as is his widow who still survives him. Mr. Shannon was a lifelong farmer, and in politics was a Democrat. His father, John Henry Summer, was of German descent, followed farming and black smithing for a livelihood, and died in Tennessee, while his wife, who was born in South Carolina, died in Shannon County, Missouri To them six sons and two daughters were born, who lived to be grown, and all but one daughter made their home in this county. The maternal grandfather, James Boyd, came from Kentucky to Shannon County at a very early day, followed farming and hunting, and died here before the war. His wife also passed from life in this section, and they left behind them four sons and three daughters. Rev. George W. Summer was the third of eight children born to his parents: James, the eldest, was with Price during the war, was wounded in the fight at Glasgow, was captured and imprisoned at Alton, Illinois, and while there he volunteered in the Federal service and went to the plains, where he remained nearly two years (he has since been farming in Shannon County); Juritta, wife of Caleb J. Cox, of this county; Amanda is the wife of W. L. George; Frances is the wife of L. M. Banks; Emeline is the wife of William Stoops, of Texas County, Missouri; Sirena is the wife of James Cox, and Ella Rebecca is the wife of Sidney Cardwell.
The early life of Rev. G. W. Summer was spent in learning the details of farm work, his school days amounting to merely a three months’ term. On March 10, 1870, he led to the altar Miss Clarinda C., daughter of Robert and Martha McHenry, who came to this section from Tennessee in 1853, and here spent the rest of their lives engaged in farming, and reared a very large family. Mrs. Summer, who was born in Tennessee, has borne her husband eight children: James Columbus, John Andrew, Timothy Hamilton, Amanda Rebecca, George W., Nancy Jane, Sarah Adaline and Robert Marion. Since his marriage Mr. Summer has lived on his present farm in Spring Valley, which consists of 240 acres of as fine farming land as there is in the county, and on which is a very comfortable residence and good outbuildings of all kinds. He has always been a Democrat in politics, and his first presidential vote was cast for Greeley in 1872. He has served two terms as associate justice of the County Court from the Western District, was first elected in 1882, and again in 1886, serving four years in all. He has been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church for twenty-five years, has been a regularly ordained minister for three years, and is now pastor of the Christian Home Church, near Summerville. He is a very close and earnest reader of the Scriptures, and in the vineyard of his Master has done noble work. He is strictly a self-made man, is actively interested in all public matters, and can at all times be relied upon to give aid where it is most needed.