| Notes |
- Obit:
Summer.--Peter Summer was born near Metamora, Ill., April 11, 1843, where he grew up to young manhood. His father emigrated from Strasberg, France, in a sail-boat, requiring three months to cross the ocean, and located west of Metamora, where the whole family was reared. He was one of nine children; two brothers and two sisters preceding him. Three brothers (Joseph, Jacob, George) and one sister (Anna) survive him. His father also found time to minister to the spiritual wants in the community in which he lived, being one of the first settlers to locate in that district. There were no school privileges then as we have them now, so he received only a limited amount of training in the public schools.
On Jan. 16, 1870 he was married to Bena Smith, to which union were born nine children; namely, George, John, Chris, Joseph, Peter, Jacob, Anna, Benjamin, and Emanuel, all of whom survive. The death of the father causes the first break in the family circle. He also leaves thirty-two grandchildren, four having preceded him in death.
While yet a young man he united with the Mennonite Church, and in 1888 was ordained to the ministry, in which capacity he served as long as his health permitted. He retired from the farm five years ago, moving to Washington, Ill., where he lived until his death. Until four years ago he knew not what sickness was, but since then he has been gradually failing, and passed quietly away June 5, aged 79 y. 1 m. 24 d. Funeral services were conducted at the residence by A. L. Buzzard and at the Evangelical church by J. E. Hartzler (text, Job. 14:14), June 8. A large gathering had the privilege of listening to a message full of proof that a man shall live even though the physical body does die.
P. D. Summer.
“Another command that came from the Bible is ’Thou shall not swear.’ Peter did not close his “o” in Sommer on an important document. People told him to go to the county seat and ‘swear’ to the correct spelling. He refused, and his descendants, including me, have their name spelled with a ‘u’ Summer.” [4]
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1843 - 1922 (79 years)
