Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Summers, Ephraim 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 12:27 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

Ephraim Summers, of Fulton, and a pioneer of Whiteside County of 1838, was 
born in the town of Barnet, Caledonia Co., Vt., Sept. 4, 1812, and is the son 
of William and Emma (Pierce) Summers. He worked at the carpenter and joiner's 
trade, and was also engaged in farming. He was married in February, 1833, in 
Vermont, to Mary L. Dickson, daughter of John and Jane (Lindsey) Dickson. He 
came to Illinois in 1838 and made his home at Portland, this county, for 
awhile, but soon located at Sterling, to which place he removed his family 
from the East in 1840. He learned the blacksmith's trade in the West, and 
opened a shop at Sterling, which he continued till 1847. He then removed to 
Fulton, where he worked at blacksmithing till 1850, when he joined a party 
bound for the gold fields of California. He left Fulton April 9, crossed the 
plains and arrived at Hangtown, Cal., early in August following. He spent two 
years in the Golden State, and returned to his home via the Panama and New 
York route. In 1853 he engaged in the hardware business at Fulton, which he 
continued till 1857. He was elected Justice of the Peace several times, and 
served in all 20 years. In 1873 he was appointed United States Gauger and 
served as such two years, or until by a change in the law the office was 
abolished. He also held various local offices. Mr. and Mrs. Summers had seven 
children,—four sons and three daughters: Cloys, the eldest son, was a soldier 
of the late war, and is now a merchant of Fulton. He married Margaret Joyce. 
Morris died in infancy. Oscar married Lizzie Exley and is in partnership with 
his elder brother. Cyrus is single and lives in Indianapolis, Ind.   Sophia is 
the wife of Hiram Noble, of Fulton. Orilla is the wife of George Hartford, of 
Boone, Iowa; Mary is the wife of Herman Jordan, of Newton Township, this 
county. Mr. Summers gave up active business several years since, and is living 
in comfortable retirement with several of his children near by, and in the 
enjoyment of the highest respect and esteem of neighbors and friends. He is 
now with his eldest son. Mrs. Summers died July 23, 1879.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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