Children of Oliver Summerlin and Fannie Albritton

Just a reminder:  These posts are first drafts.  I have not included citations, but if you need a citation, please let me know.  P.S. Revised 2/26/12.  I left Ben out.


Children of Oliver Summerlin and Fannie Albritton


1.  Anna "Annie" Summerlin, 18 Aug 1873 - 2 Aug 1955.  She married John B. Moore on April 30, 1898.  John belonged to a farming family in Turkey, Sampson County.  In the 1900 census, they are living with John's parents, Walter and Anna.  The elder Moores have been married 31 years and have eight of eight living children.  John is listed as a house carpenter.  Their first child, Bedford Forest is six months old.  Annie and John have been married two years.  In 1910, John and Annie have been married 12 years and have three children:  Bedford Forest, b. 1900; John P., b. 1905; and Ernest, b. 1907.  John is operating a sawmill, and the own the farm where they are living.  The next household is John's parents.  John's brother, Walter L. is also working in the sawmill.  In 1920, John is working their farm, which they own.  Forest is 20, but no occupation is listed, and he is not in school.  I don't know if they are on the same farm as before or have taken over John's parent's farm.  Their neighbors are Claud Moore, Walter Moore the younger and Frank Moore.  John died of heart disease when he was 55, on 9 Feb 1928.  In 1930, Annie is living with her three sons, Forest, J.C. and Ernest, all operating the farm.  Annie died 2 Aug 1955, when she was almost 82 years old.  The cause was listed as pneumonia brought on by "general disability".

2.  Matthew Oliver Summerlin, 16 Apr 1876 - 11 Jun 1934.  In 1900, Matthew is a 24-year-old young man, single, still living with his parents (the norm at the time), work in vehicle repairing with his father Oliver.  In 1910, he is newly married to Carrie Jane Sutton, 28.  They live in the household with his parents, Oliver and Fannie.  Carrie Jane dies in 1913, and by 1918, Matt has married Leslie "Lessie" Perry, 26.  When he fills out his WWI Draft Card in 1918, he lists Lessie Perry as his person to contact.  His profession is "implement and auto dealer" (Summerlin Brothers).  In 1920, they have one child, Frances P., born in late 1918.  Matt is working as a merchant in a garage.  By 1930, Matt is not working, probably due to his lung problems.  He dies in 1934.  His death certificate indicates that he has suffered from chronic bronchiolitis (bronchitis) and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) since 1925.  He and Lessie had four children:Francis; Lessie, b.1921; Matthew O., Jr., b.1922; and Caroline, b.1925.

3. Benjamin Albritton Summerlin, 24 Apr 1878 - 11 Dec 1959.  In 1900, Ben is 22 and living with his parents.  He is "at school" on the census return, no job listed.  In 1910, Ben has been married to Katie Welle Kirby for two years.  They have a daughter, Lillian, almost 2, and a son William, almost 1. Ben is a rural carrier for the Post Office.   In 1920, they have three children - Lillian, 11;  Katie K., 7; and Benjamin Jr. 2.  I have not found out anything about William, yet.  Ben is now Postmaster of Mount Olive.  They live at 105 E. James, down the street from 206 E. James, where his younger brother G.E. is living.  In 1930, Lillian W., 21; Katie K., 18; and Ben, Jr. 12 are all still living at home and going to school.  Ben, 51, is now working in sales of auto supplies.

4.  George Edgar Summerlin, my great-grandfather.  I'll take him up in a later post.


5.  Thomas Bryan Summerlin, 1 Dec 1885 - 12 Feb 1936.  Tommie attended North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts - NC State in Raleigh - from 1907-1910.  His major was Textiles, he sang bass in the glee club.  He and Lula Williford were married in 1913.  In his 1918 draft registration, Thomas lists his occupation as Farm Implement [Sales Agent?]  In the 1920 census, there is no occupation listed, they are still living in Mount Olive, and Lula's sister Augusta is living with them.  She is a bookkeeper at the garage.  By 1930, Tommie and Lula had moved to a farm in Duplin Co.  They had two children:  Thomas Bryan Jr., b. 1915; and Oliver W., b. 1917.  Thomas committed suicide in 1936 at age 50.  Lula lived until she was 91, and died in Duplin General Hospital in 1974.  She had been living in Mount Olive during her widowhood.

Children of Oliver Summerlin

I'm having a hard time deciding what to write.  I have a lot of information, but not complete information about Oliver's children.  So for today, I'm going to summarize what I have on each child.


Children of Oliver and Elizabeth Britt
married 28 Jan 1853 in Duplin Co., NC

1.  Claudius "Claude" Summerlin, 6 Sep 1859 - 6 Aug 1927.  He was born in the Buck Swamp area of Wayne County, and died in Mount Olive, Wayne County, NC.  He took over the  blacksmith shop and buggy factory in about 1907 and it became Summerlin Brothers Buggy Factory.  At some point, Matthew O. Summerlin joined him.
    He married Flora Long about 1881.  I have discussed their lives in a previous post.  Their two living children were William Gains Summerlin, b. 1882 and Arthur King Summerlin, b. 1889.

2.  Mary Lavonia Summerlin, 6 Sep 1861 - 1 Sep 1938.  Married Edward M. Flowers in 1881.  They had ten children, six of whom were living in 1910. They moved to Wilmington between 1910 and 1920. In 1900, Edward was a horse trader; in 1910, a well driller; in 1920, in sales in Wilmington; and in 1930, again trading horses.  His son Albert lived with his grandparents, Oliver and Fannie Summerlin, in 1910.  In 1920, Albert was living in Wilmington with his parents, and was a bicycle salesman.  I have not yet researched their other children.

3.  Alice E. Summerlin, 7 Nov 1886 - 8 Jun 1837.  Although I can find no evidence of a marriage, Alice did have children.  In 1910, she was living in Mount Olive with her children Bessie (17), Fred T. (16) and Jessie E. (13).  She was working as a seamstress from her home in 1910, 1920, and 1930.  In the 1910 census, she declares she has had four children and four are living.  I have not yet looked for the one that is not living with her in 1910.  On his NC death certificate, Jim Walker of Duplin Co. is listed as Fred T. Summerlin's father.  However, I have not confirmed that Walker is the father of the other children or whether he and Alice were ever married.  I cannot locate census records from 1900, and there is a lack of information for 1890.  She listed herself as Alice Summerlin, single in the three censuses, 1910-1930.  It remains to be seen what the real story is.

4. Margaret Summerlin, b. in 1869.  She is a child of one in the 1870 census and fails to appear again.  Her mother, Elizabeth, also dies after 1870 and before 1872, when Oliver remarries.

Day 3 of Family History Writing Challenge

I skipped yesterday - very busy catching up on necessary stuff after suffering the local virus for a week.  However, I plan to double my output tonight - or possibly tomorrow if necessary.

Tonight, I wish to discuss the Summerlin Buggy Shop - Summerlin Brothers Buggy Factory

As we know, Oliver Summerlin was listed as Carriage repairer in the 1860 census, when he was 30 years old. He was subsequently listed in the census as Carriage Maker (1870), Buggy Manufacturer (1880), and Vehicle Repairman (1900).


From Claude Moore, history professor at Mount Olive College, and great grandson of Oliver, grandson of Annie Summerlin Moore:

"His wife died and in 1872 he married Frances 
Albritton, the daughter of Matthew Albritton (1813-1893) who was a carriage 
maker at old Waynesborough [Goldsboro] and later moved to Mount Olive."



In the 1891 American Carriage Directory, "Summerlin, O (light)" is listed for Mt. Olive under Carriage and Wagon Makers (p.415).  In 1903, "Summerlin, C. (rep.)" is listed  under Carriage and Wagon Makers and Repairers in Mount Olive (p.273).

In the 1902 North Carolina Year Book (pub. by Raleigh News and Observer), under blacksmith shops in Wayne County (p.563), O. Summerlin and C. Summerlin are listed.

In the 1912 North Carolina Year Book, Summerlin Bros. is listed under Plumbers (p.545)

Photo of Summerlin Bros Buggy Factory, 1907, courtesy of the NC Archives.  Originally published in Mount Olive Tribune Industrial Ed. 1907

SUMMERLIN BROTHERS

One of Mount Olive's Leading and Representative Industries, Manuufacturers of Buggies, General Repair Business, and Dealers in Machinery

A busines firm that has rapidly won the affection and regard of the people of the Mount Olive section is that of Summerlin Bros. This popular concern is composed of Messrs. Claud and M. O. Summerlin. For many years[Illustration]
SUMMERLIN BROTHERS BUGGY FACTORY AND REPAIR SHOPS, MT. OLIVE (see above)
they conducted business separately in Mount Olive, but about three years ago the old Summerlin building on E. Centre street was torn away and replaced by the present handsome and imposing two-story brick structure, and since that time the enterprise has rapidly grown and prospered. Summerlin Bros. manufacture first-class buggies, finding ready sale for them throughout a large territory in Eastern North Carolina. They do a large repairing business, and handle Mowers, Rakes, Hay Presses, Gasoline Engines, Cultivators, Harrows, Stalk Catters, Dise Plows etc., including everything in agricultural implements and farm machinery.

This firm succeeded in business their father, the venerable Mr. Oliver Summerlin, who is the oldest citizen of Mount Olive to-day, and a man who is respected and revered by everybody. The old Summerlin building, that was replaced by the new building, was one of the few old landmarks of the town.

It is seldom that you find men more genial, courteous and clever, or more broad-gauged than Messrs. Claud and M. O. Summerlin. They are gentlemen of broad business ideas and ample experience, and have administered the affairs of this enterprises in an able and progressive manner and richly deserve the success that has been their portion.

So I'm still behind with the writing because I started trying to look up more information online.  I'll try again tomorrow (Feb 5)