Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 343 - 344

ZELOTES F. SUMMERS, prominent among the farmers and stock-raisers of Lincoln Township, is pleasantly located on section 19, about three miles from the new town of Furley, eight miles from Valley Center, and nine miles from Greenwich, thus having easy access to market, church and school. He came to this county in the spring of 1876, and settled on his present farm, which has been his residence a greater part of the time since, although for a time he was a citizen of Newton, and also resided in Valley Center one year, and four years in Illinois. He was also a year in the Indian Territory, where he had contemplated going into the stock business, but not being satisfied with the prospects, returned to this section, where he has been contented to remain. He still owns his residence property in Valley Center.

     Mr. Summers was born in Madison County, Ohio, April 20, 1853, and was the youngest of seven sons and three daughters, the offspring of Dr. Andrew and Elvila (Dillo) Summers, who were natives of Virginia, whence they removed to Madison County, Ohio, at an early period in its history. From the Buckeye State, in 1856, they migrated to Illinois, settling first in DeWitt County, thence removing to Tazewell County, where they remained three years, and from there went into McLean County. In the latter the father followed his profession as before, and there spent his last years, his death occurring in August, 1880. The mother of our subject is still living, and continues a resident of McLean County. Nine of their children lived to mature years. Of these seven are now living and are residents mostly of Illinois, Missouri, Indian Territory and Kansas.

     Our subject was reared to farm life, and under the instruction of his father, who was a man of good education, pursued his early studies successfully, and later was graduated from the graded schools of McLean County, Ill. Upon leaving school he followed teaching nearly two years in McLean County, and also taught one term subsequently in Butler County, this State. In the fall of 1875, he purchased of the Santa Fe Railroad Company the northwest quarter of section 19, Lincoln Township, this county, upon which he removed in the spring of the year following, and there commenced the improvements which have constituted his farm one of the most desirable in this part of the county. One of its most notable features is a fine apple orchard, and Mr. Summers also planted 100 peach trees, which yield bountifully, and from which he realizes a handsome income. The farm is stocked with graded Hickory, Bay and Hambletonian horses, in the breeding of which Mr. Summers has attained quite a reputation. Being so largely interested in farming and stock-raising, he has little time to give to politics, but is the stanch friend of temperance, and votes with the Prohibitionists.

     The deceased wife of our subject, to whom he was married in McLean County, Ill., in 1882, was formerly Miss Ida May Garst, who was born in Clarke County, Ohio, Oct. 23, 1862. Mrs. Summers was the fourth of her parents' nine children. Her father was Michael Garst, of Clarke County, Ohio, and served in the late war. The mother, Miss Mary E. Bailey, in her girlhood, died when her daughter Ida May was a young girl ten years of age. The father is still living, and continues his residence in Ohio, taking care of an invalid brother. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Summers settled in Stanford, McLean Co., Ill., where our subject for a time made his headquarters, while he engaged as a traveling salesman for the lightning-rod firm of Brook & Somers. On coming to this county, they settled on the land which Mr. S. had purchased, and to which he has since given his close attention. Mr. Summers is the father of two bright little ones: Pearl, born Sept. 5, 1884, and Garst, Feb. 6, 1887. The devoted wife and mother departed this life on the 9th of February, 1887, aged twenty-five years. Mr. Summers is now keeping house, and has both of his children at home on his beautifully located farm.

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