Sevier County UT Archives Biographies.....Sumner, C. J. 1890 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 29, 2011, 12:54 pm

Source: See below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

C. J. SUMNER.

    Honored and respected by all, no man occupies a more enviable position in
the commercial and business circles of southern Utah than C. J. Sumner, who is
yet a young man but by capability and persistent energy that has been the
outgrowth of laudable ambition has reached a point of leadership among the
merchants of his section of the state. He was born in Preston, England, in 1890,
a son of James and Elizabeth (Whitesides) Sumner. His father was converted to
the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in 1892 came
with his family to Utah. He was a weaver in England and followed that trade
after crossing the briny deep to the new world.

    C. J. Sumner acquired his early education in the common schools of Utah and
afterward attended the Brigham Young University at Provo. When he left that
institution he accepted the position of accountant with the Galigher Machinery
Company of Salt Lake City and afterward entered the employ of the Mountain
States Telephone & Telegraph Company, with offices in Salt Lake City. In 1913 he
was appointed manager of the company's branch at Richfield and thus his destiny
became identified with that of the town in which he has since made his home.
Soon after his removal to Richfield the recognition of his capability led to his
appointment to a position in the James M. Peterson Bank, where he continued
until he was made manager of the James M. Peterson Company, wholesale and retail
general merchants. After a brief period he was elected president of the company
and still presides over its destinies. The James M. Peterson Company has the
largest mercantile establishment in southern Utah, their trade extending over
Sanpete county to the state of Arizona, while the sales amount to more than a
quarter of a million dollars annually. The immense stock carried by the company
has a value at all times of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The
purchases are most judiciously made and the house maintains the highest
standards in its personnel, in the line of goods carried and in the treatment
accorded patrons. The management has ever recognized the fact that satisfied
patrons are the best advertisement and everything is done to please the
customers. The business of the house has grown along substantial lines and its
further development will undoubtedly be attributable in large measure to the
progressive methods of Mr. Sumner. The business premises of the company are
located on Main street, between Center and First South, and embrace an area of
twelve thousand square feet. Even the large store, with additional warehouses,
has been found inadequate to properly conduct the increasing business and the
company is now contemplating the construction of a large building in another
location. Mr. Sumner is also the vice president of the James M. Peterson Bank,
the only member of the Federal Reserve System In the county.

    After the outbreak of the war Mr. Sumner was chairman of the fuel
administration board for the county. In 1917 he went to Camp Lewis preparatory
to going to an officers' training camp, but those in charge there soon
recognized his business ability and transferred him to Washington, D.C., where
he did duty in the war risk insurance department of the war department until
demobilized in 1918.

    In 1914 Mr. Sumner married Miss Edithe Peterson, a daughter of James M.
Peterson, one of the early residents of Richfield, and they now have one son,
Scharf Sayre. Mr. Sumner is a member of the Commercial Club and a prominent
representative of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has long been
recognized as an important factor in the upgrowth of city and county, his aid
and influence being always given on the side of advancement and improvement. He
is actuated by a most progressive spirit and few young men of his years have
attained to a position of leadership as he has done. It is true that family
connections have been of benefit to him, but his native and acquired ability
qualified him to assume the heavy responsibilities which came with the
management and control of the wholesale and retail mercantile interests and the
assumption of his duties as vice president of the bank. He studies carefully
every business situation and manifests the keenest discrimination in picking out
those things which are most essential to successful control of business. He is
making the concern of which he is the head one of the most important commercial
interests of southern Utah.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from

UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME IV
CHICAGO-SALT LAKE: THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1920


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