Clark County OhArchives Obituaries.....Summers, Augustus N. May 19, 1927
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Springfield Daily News, Thursday, May 19, 1927
Springfield Daily News, Thursday, May 19, 1927

(On the front page of the newspaper – in bold letter)

Ex-Judge A. N. Summers Dies at Home

(Above a photo of Judge Summers is the following)
Former Supreme Court Justice Succumbs at Home in City

(Inside the paper)
Long Illness is Fatal to Former Chief Justice
Retired Jurist Succumbs at Residence, 1212 E. High St.
Seventeen Years Spent on Bench
Public Career Also Included Three Terms as City Solicitor

    Judge A. N. Summers, 70, a former chief justice of the supreme court of 
Ohio and considered one of the most able attorneys of the state, died at 6:15 
a.m., Thursday, at his home, 1212 E. High st., following a lingering illness of 
about five months.
    Judge Summers’ death is widely regretted and mourned not only in this city, 
but in other cities where he numbered a host of friends.  He was of a kind and 
genial personality, though retiring in nature.  He was noted as a keen jurist, 
one who was fearless in his decisions and yet fair and just.
    Funeral services for Judge Summers will be held at the residence at 11 a.m. 
Saturday.  Burial will be made in Ferncliff cemetery.  The Rev. Dr. Charles 
Ryan Adams, pastor of the Covenant Presbyterian church, will have charge and 
friends are invited.
    Pallbearers will be:  Judge Summers’ two sons, Thomas B. and Daniel; his 
brother, Harry F.; a brother-in-law, Lewis P. Matthews; his son-in-law, Henry 
Beckley; Robert Cartmell, Frank Connable and Fred Wallace.
    Judge Summers retired from the active duties of the bench Jan. 1, 1911, and 
since that time had devoted himself to the practice of law in this city with 
his partner, George A. Beard.  He enjoyed an extensive and lucrative clientele 
and was often called out of the city to assist in important cases.  He was one 
of the distinguished members of the Clark County Bar Association.
    He was born at Shelby, Richland County, O., June 13, 1856, the son of th 
elate Rev. and Mrs. Daniel Summers.  He spent his early boyhood on a farm and 
it was in the public schools of Shelby that he gained his preliminary 
education.  When he was 12 years of age, Judge Summers moved to Vandalla, O., 
with his parents.  He continued his studies in the public schools.  His father 
was a graduate of the Hamma Divinity School of Wittenberg College and it was 
his desire that his sons attend that institution also.  Together with his 
brother, Jacob, Judge Summers entered Wittenberg and both graduate in 1873.  
Judge Summers received the degree of bachelor of arts upon his graduation and 
two years later the degree of master of arts.  The brother became a minister of 
the Lutheran church and followed that calling until the time of his death.
    Following his graduation, Judge Summers decided that he wished to follow 
the profession of law and so began to read law with the late Samuel A. Bowman, 
who was at the time considered one of the leading lawyers of Springfield.  From 
the onset Judge Summers showed an aptitude for the profession and was admitted 
to the bar of Ohio in 1881.
    Shortly after his admittance he was made a partner in the firm with which 
he had studied law, and that firm then became known as Bowman and Summers.
    In 1885 he was elected city solicitor and by re-election he continued in 
that office three consecutive therms.
In 1894 he was elected judge of the circuit court of the second circuit, and in 
1900 was re-elected.  His service on the circuit bench was marked by fine 
judicial discernment and borad and accurate knowledge of law and precedent.
    The fine reputation which he gained on the circuit bench brought to him a 
distinguished recognition in his second term, for on Feb. 9, 1904, he was 
elected a justice of the supreme court of Ohio.  In order to assume this office 
he resigned from the circuit court.  In his seven years of service as a justice 
of the supreme court he made an admirable record that is now a part of the 
judicial history of the state.  He was elected chief justice of the supreme 
court Jan. 1, 1910.
    He was a staunch and effective advocate of the principles of the Republican 
party.
    He served as president of the Springfield County Club and was an 
enthusiastic member of the Phi Kappa Pal Fraternity of Wittenberg.
    He was married Nov. 17, 1887 to Miss Nellie Thomas, daughter of the late 
John H. Thomas.
    Judge Summers is survived by his widow and three children, Thomas Bonser, 
Daniel and Mrs. Henry Beckley, besides one grandchild, Addison summers 
Beckley.  Another daughter, Louisa, born May 13, 1890, died Oct. 22, 0f the 
same year.
Judge Summers was a polished and scholarly gentleman of refined tastes, strong 
native abilities and habitual diligence.  He was an accomplished advocate and a 
thorough lawyer, amply qualified in every respect to discharge the duties of 
high office, and was an honest and upright judge, a man of spotless integrity 
of character.  He was a progressive, public spirited citizen, enjoying the 
highest respect and esteem of all who knew him.
    Concerning the death of Judge summers, M. T. Burnham, president of the 
Clark County Bar Association, said:  “We will all miss Judge Summers.  He was a 
man of the blustering type, but quiet and unassuming.  He was genteel and 
upright and was a true friend.  One could always depend upon him and we admired 
his integrity and intelligence.  He was an exemplary man and a good lawyer, 
well liked by all of his associates.  His death is indeed to be regretted.”
    A memorial meeting for Judge Summers will be held in the Clark County 
common pleas court room at 11:45 a.m. Saturday by the Clark County Bar 
Association.
    A special meeting of the association was called at 11:45 a.m. Thursday 
morning in the court room by President Burnham to made [sic] arrangements for 
the meeting and to appoint committees for the funeral.
    A committee to draft resolutions for the memorial services was appointed.  
He also appointed committees for the funeral arrangements and floral 
offerings.  The resolutions committee consists of Chase Stewart, F. W. Geiger, 
George Beard, Judge Frank M. Krapp and J. F. Kitchen.  The committee for the 
funeral arrangements is composed of W. W. Keifer, Arthur Todd, George Dial and 
W. H. Griffith.  The three men appointed on the floral committee are W. Y. 
Mahar, H. W. Snodgrass and Harry C. Hull.
    The secretary of the association was instructed to inform the supreme court 
about Judge Summers’ death, and to notify the court of the memorial meeting 
Saturday.

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