News of Sumner 1902

** We will be cleaning tombstones at Moffett Cemetery 8:00 am Saturday morning Oct 30th. Please come down and help us preserve history one stone at a time. (We only stay an hour or so, so you will be home in time for RHHS Homecoming.)

Short history of Sumner:

The O & M Railroad was built through Lawrence County in 1854-55 running through what would eventually become the town of Sumner. The first lots sold were on February 3, 1854. The town itself was incorporated in 1858- 59 but the state of Illinois did not recognize it until 1887.

Jacob May built the first merchandise store to serve Sumner patrons in 1855. The first hotel in Sumner, called the “Mansion House,” was built in 1855 or 58. The first school building in Sumner was built in 1858 as was the first Post office. One half acre was purchased in 1859 for the Sumner Cemetery.

Presbyterians organized on June 9, 1878 and built their church in Sumner in 1881. Christians organized February 1, 1860 and the Christian church was built 1861. The Sumner ME church was built 1868 – 69. The Sumner Church of Christ was built 1873 – 75.

If you were a subscriber to the Sumner Press in 1902, you would have read the following news items:

• 25 persons took the St. Louis excursion Sunday on the train.

• L.R. Williams sold his farm of 80 acres in Petty known as the Isacc Leech place, to Chas. Westall for $2000.

• Lancaster and Grenat's delivery horse created a little excitement Thurs. afternoon by starting off without its driver, but was caught before going 100 yds. No damage to horse or vehicle.

• Tearing away T.L. Jones and Sons warehouse brought to light the old sign of N.B. Huff's shoe store on the other side of H.M. Wagoner's Marble Shop after being covered for 30 years.

• Miss Essie Moore, aged 18 yrs, daughter of Samuel Moore of Lukin died.

• The Sumner City Council appointed Early Beadle as City Marshal and passed a curfew ordinance.

• Mrs. Mary E., widow of Geo. W. Wise, a leading merchant in Lawrenceville for nearly 20 years previous to 1867, died in Knox County Indiana.

• John C Brown was at Conour's barn to buy 100 horses and mules.

• Nelson Y. and Clint McG. were arrested Monday on a complaint of W. Foss of Lukin for stealing chickens. There has been a great deal of fowl- lifting going on for some time, the chickens being disposed of at Olney, Berryville, Billett and St. Francisville.

• T.L. Jones and Sons Hardware store building is being moved west into Christy Ave in order to give room to a new brick building.