Biography of J. F. Summerhill - Conway Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Cathy Barnes Date: 21 Jun 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Goodspeed Publishers, 1891. page 116 J. F. Summerhill, one of the leading planters of Point Remove Township, Conway County, was born in North Carolina October 24, 1833. His parents, Wilkerson and Margaret Summerhill, were natives of North Carolina and South Carolina, respectively. To this worthy couple were born seven children, six of whom are living. From North Carolina Mr. Summerhill, Sr., and family moved to Georgia in 1839, where they remained for twenty years, and in 1859 immigrated to Alabama; the next year then went to Louisiana, where they made their home till 1870, when they came to Clark County, Arkansas, and made their home till he was called to his eternal home in February, 1881. He had been preceded to that haven of rest by his wife, who had died in 1858. They had both been active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Our subject was reared on the farm, and obtained a such limited education as the country schools afforded, and at his majority began for himself, by working at farm labor. On November 24, 1856, he married Mary Adams. She was a native of Alabama, and four children were the result of this union, one of whom (William) died October 13, 1877. Mrs. Summerhill died August 4, 1886, and on October 3, 1889, he was married to his present wife, Bettie Hughes. Mr. Summerhill is an earnest advocate of schools, and has served as director of his district, and of churches, of which he is a member of the Methodist denomination. He was a soldier in the late war, serving under the Confederate flag. Was in the battles of the Red River campaign in Louisiana, and many minor skirmishes; was in the State of Louisiana at the surrender, and from there at once returned home and resumed his farming operations, which occupation he has diligently followed since.