Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Summers, General Owen June 13, 1850 - January 21, 1911 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com January 25, 2007, 11:59 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company GENERAL OWEN SUMMERS. Seventeen years have passed away since General Owen Summers was called from this life, but while those who knew him as an active factor in the world’s work remain, his memory will be cherished and forever his name will be linked with the history of Oregon, particularly in connection with the military annals not only of this state but of the entire country. His birth occurred in Brockville, Canada, June 13, 1850, his parents being John and Elizabeth Ann Summers, who during his infancy removed to Chicago, Illinois, where the father engaged in the shoe business. During the cholera epidemic of 1856 the father, mother and one daughter passed away, leaving four small children to face the world alone. General Summers, then a little lad of but six years, was taken to a farm near Frankfort, Will county, Illinois, where he worked long hours at farm labor, receiving in return his board and clothing and the opportunity of pursuing his education in a little log schoolhouse for perhaps a three-months period during the year. Later he attended school at La Center, Lee county, Illinois, and was a youth of but fourteen years when he and three of his schoolmates put aside their textbooks to join the Union army. He had considerable difficulty in doing this, but after being refused six times by the enrolling officers at Dixon and the examining physician, a Pennsylvania Dutchman consented to become his guardian and grant him permission to enlist. Accordingly on the 1st of February, 1865, he was enrolled as a member of Company H, Third Illinois Cavalry, and immediately afterward joined his regiment in eastern Mississippi, while subsequently he was on active duty in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and the Carolinas, his entire record being an honor to the boys in blue who so staunchly and bravely protected the Union. Following the close of hostilities in the south his regiment was ordered to St. Louis, Missouri, where they were outfitted for an expedition against the Sioux Indians in Minnesota and Dakota, and it was not until December 11, 1865, that General Summers was mustered out and resumed farming in Lee county, Illinois. In 1871 he became a resident of Chicago, where at the time of the great fire of October, that year, he saved not only his own family but two other families, facing, however, great personal danger in so doing. While the city was being rebuilt he engaged in business as a contractor there and it was not until January, 1875, that he first saw Portland. He went to San Francisco and later returned to Chicago but after six weeks was again in San Francisco, where he resided for two years. For six months he was stationed at San Diego, California, as a government contractor and then returned to San Francisco, whence he came to Portland in January, 1879, and established a crockery store on First street. Six months later his brother-in-law, J. C. Olds, entered into a partnership with him and they conducted both a wholesale and retail crockery business under the firm name of Olds & Summers, success in substantial measure attending their efforts until 1886, when their building and stock was destroyed by fire. With characteristic energy and unfaltering determination, however, they opened another store on Yamhill, between First and Second streets, but later returned to their original location, where a three-story building had been erected, the firm of Olds & Summers occupying the ground floor and basement of the arcade. They found their quarters here inadequate, however, and in 1890 became established in a four-story building at Nos. 183-85 First Street. Five years later Mr. Olds disposed of his interest but Mr. Summers remained in the crockery trade as one of its foremost representatives in the northwest until 1900, when he sold out, thus terminating the most commendable and highly successful mercantile career. In the meantime General Summers was appointed United States appraiser of the port of Portland by the unanimous decision of the delegation from Oregon and filled that office for several years, save when he was on military duty in the Spanish-American war. He was still serving in that office at the time of his death. His interest in military affairs never ceased from the time that he had donned his nation’s uniform in the Civil war and while he was serving as a member of the state legislature in 1886 he was instrumental in securing the passage of a bill which resulted in the organization of the Oregon National Guard with three regiments. Had General Summers not been a prominent merchant and a leading citizen in other connections, his military service would alone entitle him to distinction as an outstanding citizen of Oregon. On the 21st of May, 1883, he organized the Veteran Guards, composed of former Civil war soldiers, and became first lieutenant of the company. This organization became a part of the National Guard in 1887 and he was elected lieutenant colonel of the First Regiment, while seven years later he was advanced to the rank of colonel. When the United States became involved in war with Spain in 1898 the Oregon troops were ordered to Portland and consolidated and with additional recruits constituted the Second Oregon Regiment of United States Volunteers, to the command of which Colonel Summers was appointed by Governor Lord. The regiment went into camp May 4, 1898, and on the 24th of that month sailed to the Philippines as the first expedition to leave the United States for war in a foreign country. Their record there was one of distinguished service and has been written as follows: “June 1st they arrived at Honolulu; June 20th, entered the port of San Luis de Apra, island of Guam; June 21st, Companies A and D disembarked to effect the surrender of the islands; June 28th, sighted Luzon; June 30th, anchored in Manila bay off Cavite; July 1st and 2d, troops landed; August 12th, ordered to Manila; August 13th, received the surrender of fifteen thousand Spanish troops, inside the walled city; August 14th, removed to barracks Cuartel de Espana, Calle Victoria, Manila, Company F remaining as palace guard; January 11, 1899, regiment began to leave Cuartel; February 5th, battle of Manila, and insurgents driven from their trenches; February 6th, fighting all day along the line, and capture of the water works; February 10th, battle of Caloocan; February 15th, more than one hundred prisoners captured by Company A; February 24th, Third Battalion engaged at San Juan del Monte; March 3d, fighting at Santa Ana; March 5th, Company C engaged on Mariquina road; same day, Company K engaged near San Juan del Monte; March 6th, Company G and Hotchkiss battery engaged insurgents on Mariquina road; March 7th, G and K engaged enemy near Mariquina; March 10th, entire regiment ordered to prepare for the front; March 13th, advance upon Guadalupe; March 14th, E and I crossed river and engaged enemy opposite Pasig, while B, D, L and M engaged from bluff overlooking Pasig; March 15th, E and I crossed river and engaged enemy one mile in advance of former position; March 18th, Company D sent to relief of Tagui; March 19th, B, D, E, I and L engaged in battle of Laguna de Bey; March 20th, regiment returned to Manila; March 22d, Company F and Third Battalion joined regiment; March 24th, marched to Caloocan; March 25th, battle of Malabon, captured seven lines of entrenchment; March 26th , entered village of Tinageros; April 11th, enemy attacked Marilac and Bocave camps; April 16th, attack on outposts east of Melinto; April 23d, cavalry engaged enemy north of Santa Maria; April 24th, Narzogara captured; April 25th, capture of Angot; May 1st, capture of San Rafael; May 3d, captured Baliuag; May 4th, captured Maasin; May 13th, captured San Miguel; May 17th, captured San Isidro; May 22d, telegram received ordering Oregon to Manila; May 23d, homeward bound; June 13th, First Battalion embarked on Newport and Third Battalion on the Ohio; July 13th, reached San Francisco; August 7, 1899, mustered out. During its term of service the regiment had participated in forty-two engagements.” Brigadier-General Lloyd Wheaton, writing to Colonel Summers, said: “The skill, ability and courage with which you have commanded your regiment is deserving the thanks of our countrymen; the bravery, determined courage and gallant conduct of the officers and men of the Second Oregon Volunteer Infantry prove them worthy successors of the men who fought at Shiloh, at Gettysburg and in the Wilderness. Their gallant conduct during the recent campaign in Luzon has reflected credit upon the state from which they came.” Major-General Lawton recommended Colonel Summers for promotion to the grade of brigadier-general of volunteers, and Wesley Merritt, major-general, U. S. A., at Manila, August 30, 1898, wrote the following letter: “Col. O. Summers, Commanding 2d Oregon, U. S. V.: Sir: -- I desire to express to you in very strong terms my appreciation of the manner in which you and your regiment performed the very difficult and delicate duties of acting provost marshal and provost guard during the time immediately following the capitulation of Manila. It gives me much pride and pleasure on the eve of my departure to recall the way in which I have been supported by all of my troops, and the cheerful fortitude with which they have endured the hardships of the campaign.” Another cherished document in the possession of the widow of General Summers was written by H. W. Lawton, major-general of volunteers, as follows: “Sir: -- Your regiment, having been relieved from my command, for the purpose of proceeding to the United States for muster-out, gives me an opportunity of which I am glad to avail myself of expressing to you and to the officers and men of your regiment, my high appreciation of their gallant and faithful service while they have been under my command. While I am glad the regiment is to return to their homes, I regret to lose so many good soldiers. When your regiment came to my command their reputation as brave and gallant soldiers had preceded them. Since you have been with me our work has been constant, arduous and dangerous. I learned very soon to place implicit confidence in your energy, judgment and courage, and the gallantry and bravery of your men and officers. You have nobly earned the reputation of being among the best soldiers of the American army. In saying farewell to the regiment, I wish you Godspeed and all the good fortune and prosperity that may and should come to you.” From a contemporary biographer we quote: “The quality of the men who composed the Second Oregon was indicated by a brief order of General Wheaton at Melinto: ‘Orderly, overtake those Oregon grayhounds on the road to Polo and order them to Melinto. Go mounted or you will never catch them.’ When, after the victory at Malabon, General Wheaton was asked, ‘Where are your regulars?’ he pointed to the Second Oregon, saying, ‘There are my regulars.’ They were more than once placed in positions where supreme courage was absolutely imperative, and never once did they falter or fall back. Their record is one of unstained honor.” Further honor was accorded the state troops in the senate joint resolution, which was concurred in by the house February 6, 1899, and which read: “Whereas, The people of the state of Oregon, regardless of party affiliations, are desirous of expressing their deep feelings of gratitude and their admiration for the courage of the Oregon soldiers who have so nobly offered their lives in defense of helpless humanity in avenging the loss of the Maine, in behalf of civilization, “Whereas, The hearts of some of our people are bleeding as the result of the loss by sickness or in battle of loved ones to them most dear; therefore, be it “Resolved by the senate, the house concurring, That the congratulations, admiration and confidence of the people of the state of Oregon be and the same are hereby extended to the Oregon soldiers in the Philippines, and that the sympathy of the people be and is hereby extended to the mourning friends of the heroic dead; “That the secretary of state be and he is hereby requested to transmit a copy of these resolutions to the commanding officer of the Oregon regiment at Manila, and that said officer be and he is hereby requested, upon receipt of such copy, to cause the same to be read to each company of his said regiment.” After his return General Summers was reappointed to the office of United States appraiser by President McKinley, assuming his duties September 1, 1899, and continuing therein until his death, which occurred June 21, 1911. He likewise resumed active connection with his commercial interests of Portland by organizing the Summers & Prail Crockery Company but sold his interest in that business in February, 1900. In matters of citizenship, whether of a local or national character, he was ever as true and loyal in days of peace as he was in times of war. Colonel Summers was married in Portland, July 23, 1880, to Miss Clara T. Olds, whose parents were Oregon pioneers of 1852. The only child of General and Mrs. Summers is Captain Owen Summers, who was born May 23, 1890, and whose military history rivals that of his distinguished father. Mrs. Summers certainly has reason to be proud of the military record of her husband and her son and she has long held membership in the Women’s Relief Corps. She likewise belongs to the Daughters of the American Revolution, Multnomah Chapter; the Native Daughters of Oregon; the Eastern Star; and to the First Unitarian church of Portland. Fraternally General Summers was a Mason, having become a charter member of Columbia Lodge, No. 114, F & A. M. He likewise served as commander of George Wright Post, G. A. R., and in 1886 was elected department commander of Oregon. He was a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge of Portland and also belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows as well as to the Commercial Club of Portland. In politics he was ever a stanch supporter of the republican party and his position upon any vital question was never an equivocal one. He stood firmly for what he believed to be right, whether on the field of battle or in the walks of private life. He is numbered among the nation’s heroes by reason of his defense of America’s interests and he was equally loyal to every principle and to every cause which he espoused. He passed away January 21, 1911, having fought a good fight and finished his course with high honors. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Pages 168-173 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/photos/bios/summers302gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/summers302gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 15.5 Kb