Born John Henry
Sumerow, he was commonly called by his middle name "Henry" after the
German fashion, though he also appears as John or John H. in some records. He was born near Lincolnton in Lincoln County NC, to Michael
Summerow and Catherine Klein, in 1794. He was the second of nine children. This
connection is established through his father's will.
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The will of Michael
Summerour, written July 16, 1831 states, in part: "my son Henry Summerour,
who lives in Tennessee, a power of attorney to sell 275 acres in Sumner Co.,
Tnn.; he was to have half the proceeds of the sale as his legacy but I understand
that he has made a very bad sale of it. he is to keep the whole of the proceeds
of said sale of land as his share of my estate and he is to have (no) more out
of my estate."
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Henry's family had pioneered the area of Lincoln County NC along the Catawba River valley. They creating roads, churches and schools where there had been nothing but wilderness. So, Henry was not intimidated by the
prospect of settling a new land when he took the opportunity to move to the
westernmost reaches of civilization, in the partially settled middle section of
the new state of Tennessee.
 |
About 1820, Henry Summerow moved from just north-east of Lincolnton, North Carolina
to Rutherford County, Tennessee. |
Henry moved to
Tennessee shortly before 1820, to sell the tract
of land that his father owned in Sumner County, Tennessee. He sold the land in Sumner County, Tennessee which is two counties north of Rutherford County where he settled down and married. Michael mentions this transaction
in his will, saying that he understood that Henry had not made as good a bargain
for the land as had been hoped, and that Michael wanted Henry to have the
proceeds from that sale for his inheritance.
Henry must have
liked what he saw in Tennessee, because he decided to stay. One probable reason
for this decision was the fact that, while staying in Rutherford County, he met
his wife, Minerva T. Day. They were married in Rutherford County on 9 Sep
1820.
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There is a
Rutherford County, TN Marriage Record that confirms this marriage:
Summerraw,
Henry & Day, Minerva Sept 9, 1820
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Their growing family
can be found in census records for several decades, first in Rutherford and
then in Lauderdale County Tennessee.
 |
This shows a stand of cypress trees in a park along the Mississippi River.
Henry's original land grant would have been dense
with old growth cypress forest. |
1830 Census Rutherford, TN
"Henry Sumrow" 3 m under 5, 1 m 5-9, 1 m 30-39, 1 f 5-9, 1 f 20-29; Slaves 1 f under 10, 2 f 10-23, 1 f 55-99
 |
| Henry Sumerow in the 1830 Federal Census, Lauderdale County, Tennessee. |
The 1830 Census also shows that Henry owned slaves. It lists in the household one female slave over 55, two female slaves 10 to 26 years of age, and one female under 10. Though it is possible that the females 10 to 26 years old may have been employed in helping to farm the land, but with his eldest son being only eight years old, it is certain that Henry would have been doing the bulk of the farm labor to feed the family. Yet, somehow they managed.
Over the years Henry and Minerva had the following children:
1) James H. Sumerow b. 1822 Rutherford, TN, d. 27 Dec 1852 Lauderdale, TN m. Sarah E. Wright 26 Nov 1852 Lauderdale TN
2) Mary E. Sumerow b. 13 Jul 1824 Rutherford, TN, d. 8 Jun 1895 Lauderdale, TN m. James C. Alsobrook 12 Sep 1848 Lauderdale, TN
3) Jesse M. Sumerow b. 1826 Rutherford, TN, d. 2 Nov 1875 Lauderdale, TN m. Sarah E. Wright Sumerow (widow of deceased brother James) abt 1853 Lauderdale, TN
4) Henry Thomas Sumerow b. 1829 Rutherford, TN, d. 9 Sep 1884 Lauderdale TN, m. 1st Ellen Smith, 2nd Missouri Jackson both in Lauderdale TN
5) George Henry Sumerow b. 28 Jul 1830 Rutherford, d. 4 Mar 1913 Merit, Hunt, TX m. Elvira Jane Smith 23 Nov 1854 Lauderdale TN
6) William C. Sumerow b. 1833 Rutherford TN, d. aft 1860 Lauderdale, TN m. Matilda Rucker abt 1857 Haywood, TN
7) Benjamin Franklin Sumerow b. 1837 Lauderdale, TN, d. bet Apr and May of 1870, m. Minerva T. Day 9 Sep 1854 Rutherford, TN
8) Martha Emma Sumerow b. 1838 Lauderdale, TN, d. aft 1870 Lauderdale, TN m. 1st John Rucker 16 Mar 1857, 2nd Benjamin M. Hall bef 1863 census, 3rd W. H. Flippin 17 Jun 1864 all in Lauderdale, TN
9) Robert W. Sumerow b. 1848 Lauderdale, TN, d. aft 1910 Hunt, Texas m. Nancy Warren 7 Jan 1867 Dyer, TN
10) Eleanor C. Sumerow b. unknown, d. bef 1854
11) Robert P. Sumerow b. unknown, d. bef 1854
12) Predonia Sumerow b. unknown, d. bef 1854
13) Virginia Sumerow b. unknown, d. bef 1854
14) Eugenia Sumerow b. unknown, d. bef 1854
The last five children's names appear on the back of Henry's grave marker as having predeceased him. This tells a sad tale of the loss that John and Minerva suffered in their life together. But they also succeeded in raising nine children to adulthood.
In the mid-1830s, Henry obtained a grant of over fifteen hundred acres of land in the westernmost reaches of Lauderdale County, Tennessee, along the Mississippi River. He purchased this land using the money his father had given him as an early inheritance. From this wilderness of thick cypress forest, they created a large plantation in the newly opened territory where they raised farm crops to feed their family and cotton as a cash crop.
1840 Federal Census
Lauderdale, TN
"Henry
Somero" 1 m under 5, 2 m 5-9, 2 m 10-14, 1 m 15-19, 1 m 40-49, 1 f under
5, 1 f 15-19, 1 f 30-39; Slaves 1 m under 10, 2 f under 10, 1 f 10-23
 |
| "Henry Somero" in the 1840 Census in Lauderdale County, Tennessee. |
The 1840 Census also lists slaves in Henry's household. However, they were a female 10-26 years of age, along with one male under 10 and two females under 10. One of the questions asked on this census was "How many people are engaged in agriculture?" The answer listed for Henry was 2 people. Since the eldest son, James, was 18 years old in 1840, those two people would have been Henry and James. The one adult female slave would have been employed in domestic labor. With so many mouths to feed, it would have been quite a struggle to maintain the family.
In 1850, the three eldest children had managed to move out on their own. The family is still found in Lauderdale County, Tennessee.
 |
| "John H. Sumrow" in the 1850 Census, Lauderdale County, Tennessee. |
1850 Census District
6, Lauderdale, TN
"John H.
Sumrow" 56, Farmer, land valued at $3500, born NC
Manerva T. Sumrow
44, born VA
Henry T. 21 TN
George 18 TN
William 17 TN
Franklin 13 TN
Martha 10 TN
Robert 2 TN
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The following deed
records indicate the extent of Henry's land purchases:
Lauderdale County TN
Deeds
Grantee
|
Grantor
|
Type
|
Acres
|
Bk
|
Pg
|
Sumerow,
Henry
|
G. L. Rutherford
et al
|
Deed
|
86 1/3a
|
A
|
143
|
Sumerow, Henry
|
J. Rutherford
|
Deed
|
99a
|
A
|
145
|
Sumerow, John H.
|
Thomas Hewitt
|
Deed
|
79a
|
B
|
62
|
Sumerow, John H.
|
G. L. Rutherford
|
Deed
|
200a
|
B
|
391
|
Sumerow, J. H.
|
M. Alsobrook
|
Deed
|
1080a
|
C
|
549
|
Sumerow, Jno H.
|
G. L. Rutherford
|
Deed
|
135 1/2a
|
D
|
120
|
Grantor
|
Grantee
|
Type
|
Acres
|
Bk
|
Pg
|
Sumerow, Henry
|
Margarett Hafford
|
Deed
|
74a
|
F
|
145
|
Sumerow, Henry
|
Chancery Court
|
Partition Deed
|
|
F
|
438
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 |
| Sumrow Creek at Halls, TN late August, 2011 |
The land that he
acquired was rich soil, and densely forested. It must have taken a great deal
of work to clear enough land to create a prosperous farm, but Henry set to work
and he succeeded. Henry's land contained three springs which fed a year-round creek.
This creek is still known today as Sumrow Creek, and it flows through the
nearby town of Halls. Henry farmed large crops of cotton on his land, and
enough produce to feed his growing family. He also kept a mill on his land and
made money on the proceeds of milling for his neighbors. The nearby Mississippi
River meant that his crops could be conveyed easily to market. It was a prime location.
Most farmers, in
those days, relied on the Mississippi River to transport their goods to market.
The common practice was to build a raft from native timber, then float the
crops down river to New Orleans to sell. Then the farmer either bought a horse
to ride, or walked the major thoroughfare back up to the north. This road
followed the Mississippi all the way
from New Orleans in the south, up to St. Louis in the north, and it
conveniently passed through one end of Henry's land.
 |
Part of original land grant of John Henry Sumerow
in Lauderdale County TN, still in possession
of one of his ancestors (in 2011), and still under
cultivation with a crop of cotton. |
Since Henry was
among those who created this thoroughfare, it is no wonder that the road was
conveniently placed. He participated in the decision making process to
determine where the roads in the area would be laid, and he participated by working on the crews
who created and maintained the roads. Once this roadway was in place, and began
to draw traffic, it would have not only made it easier to get back home after
selling his crops, but also meant that Henry could trade other goods with the
travelers. It is little wonder that Henry began to prosper in his new home.
Henry lived a full
life for his time, and died 5 Nov 1854 at his home near Double Bridges,
Lauderdale County, Tennessee. He was buried on his own land, in a plot that now
has a large tree growing in the middle of it. Just in front of his grave, his
daughter Mary Alsobrook and her husband are buried near the foot of his grave. The tiny cemetery that
formed around his grave is now known as Sumerow/Abernathy cemetery, since the
land was later sold to the Abernathy family, who were also buried there.
His grave marker
reads "Henry J. Sumerrow died Nov 5, 1854 Aged 62 years." Then it has
the following verse:
"Farewell my
wife and children all
From you a father
Christ doth call
Mourn not for me it
is for him
To call me to your
sight again"
On the back of the
tombstone, it lists the children who died before Henry had passed away:
Eleanor C. Sumerrow
Robert P. Sumerrow
Predonia Sumerrow
Virginia Sumerrow
Eugenia Sumerrow
Children of H. J.
& M. T. Sumerrow
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The following is a
faithful transcription of Henry Sumerow's Will:
The Last Will and
Testament of Henry Sumerow of Lauderdale County in the State of Tennessee:-
I give, bequeath and devise to my beloved
wife, Minerva T. Sumerow for and during her natural life or widowhood all my
two tracts of land, containing jointly about 850 acres, being the same which I
purchased form L. M. Campbell and from Robert Rutherford, Commissioner * c,
except those parts or portions hereinafter otherwise disposed of. Also all my
household and kitchen furniture. Also my buggy. Also my horses. Also all my
cows, except the young oxen, the old odd ox, and two cows and calves, also all
my hogs, except 5 gilt sows with pigs and 4000 lbs of pork out of the same when
fattened. Also all my farming utensils and implements of every description,
including my Fan Mill and wagon and etc. I also give and bequeath to her
absolutely all my present cotton crop, all my crop of corn and fodder on the
land above devised to her. Also all my wheat, also so much of my corn crop at
the place where I now reside as maybe necessary to maintain her family
plentifully, including all her stock and the fattening of her pork, until the
house on the land above devised to her is finished and completed, ready for her
to move into the same.
I also give and bequeath to said beloved
wife for and during her natural life or widowhood the following negroes, to
wit: Stephen, Delpha, Emma, Jenny, Susan and Jasper.
2nd: I give and bequeath all the above
described personal property left to my wife for life or during her widowhood to
my sons Jesse M. Sumerow, Henry T. Sumerow, George H. Sumerow, William C.
Sumerow, Benjamin F. Sumerow and Robert Sumerow and my daughters Mary Alsobrook
and Martha E. Sumerow and to my grandson Josephus Sumerow, son of my deceased
son, James Sumerow on the death or marriage of my wife which ever event shall
first happen to share and share a like.
3rd: I give, bequeath and devise to my son
Jesse M. Sumerow the tract or parcel of land he now lives on containing or to
contain one hundred and twenty two and one half acres, to be charged to him at
$400.00, which with $200.00, I have already advanced to him makes $600.00.
I also give bequeath and devise to my said
son, Jesse M. Sumerow another 122 1/2 acres of land out of the South East
corner of my above mentioned tract of land, Said tract of land to be so run out
as not to injure my new farm herein before devised to my wife for life or
during her widowhood.
4th: To my son, Henry T. Sumerow, I give
and bequeath and devise the tract of land on which he now lives, containing or
to contain 122 1/2 acres, also one cow and calf to be charged to him at
$400.00, which with $200.00 I have already advanced him makes $600.00.
5th: I give and bequeath to my son, George
Henry Sumerow one cow and calf with together with the tract of land devised to
Jesse M. Sumerow at $400.00, which I gave to the said George H. and which he
sold to the said Jesse and $200.00 in property advanced by me to the said Geo.
H. makes the sum of $600.00.
6th: To my son, William C. Sumerow, I
give, bequeath and devise 122 1/2 acres of land in the South West corner of the
above named tract of land in an oblong square, also five gilt sows with pigs
and fifty dollars in money to be charged to him at $600.00.
7th: To my two youngest sons, Benjamin F.
Sumerow and Robert Sumerow, I give bequeath and devise the tract of land
devised to my wife for life or during her widowhood to receive the same on the
death or marriage of my wife. Whichever event shall first happen to be equally
divided between them, to be charged to them at $400.00, each. I also bequeath
to each of them $200.00, making to each the sum of $600.00.
8th: I give and bequeath to my daughter,
Mary Alsobrook my negro girl slave named, Amanda, now in her possession and One
Hundred Dollars in money, making together with other property advanced by me to
her the sum of $600.00.
9th: I give and bequeath to my daughter
Martha E. Sumerow my negro girl slave, Clarissa, to be charged to her at
$250.00 and $350, in money making in all the some of $600.00.
10th: I give and bequeath unto my
grandson, Josephus Sumerow, son of James H. Sumerow, my deceased son, Four
Hundred Dollars in money which with Two Hundred advanced by me to this father,
James H. Sumerow, makes $600.00.
11th: I give and bequeath to my wife a sum
of money sufficient to complete the house on the land devised to her to be
expended under the direction of my Executors hereinafter appointed.
12th: I direct my Executors hereinafter
appointed to sell at public auction and convey the same, all the rest and
residue of my property real and personal and to collect all debts due me an
dafter paying all debts due by me and the necessary expenses and all the above
legacies to distribute the residue, if any there be, share and share alike
between my above named children and grand child.
13th: I hereby appoint Isaac M. Steel and
Jesse M. Sumerow, Executors of this my Last Will and Testament. I revoke and
make null and void all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made.
In Testimony of all which I have on this
30th day of October, 1853, hereto set my hand and Seal and publised and
declared this to be my Last Will and Testament.
Henry Sumerow, SEAL
Signed, Sealed
Published and declared in the presence and at the request of the Testator.
James A. Hackey
G. H. Hooper
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