Summerhill, James Alexander
b 14 Sep 1820 Granville Co. NC
d 18 Oct 1891
Sequoyah Co. (IT) OK
bur Thompson Cem
m 27 Jul 1843 Wilson Co. TN
Sypert, Sarah "Sallieann" E.
b 24 Dec 1825 Wilson Co. TN
d 21 Oct 1885
Sequoyah Co. (IT) OK
bur Allison Cem

Sarah was called Sallieann.  She was born in Wilson Co. TN, the first child of
Robert Bell & Priscilla Davis Sypert.
This picture is in the possession of a daughter of Bonney Dewey, son of Grant.
Grant's children told me the picture hung for years over the fireplace in Grant's
home.  In fact, they took me to the house, still standing, and pointed out the spot
over the mantle.  

James & Sallieann's Family History
(As I Know It)

James Alexander was born in Granville Co. NC, the first born of
William Jr. & Lethe/Letha Cardwell Summerhill.  On these pages I will refer to him
as the family did, 'Alex.'   When William Jr. moved his family to Wilson Co. TN late fall
of 1828 or early 1829, Alex was only eight or nine years of age.  In Wilson Co. in 1834,
William Jr. purchased acreage on Barton's Creek and continued to purchase land through
the 1840's, buying in the small town of Lebanon.  He mastered the art of brickmaking.
Alex was also listed as a brickmaker in 1850.

William Summerhill, Jr.

NOTE: "...the Summerhill's built the first brick house in Wilson County.  Myrtle
tells me that the Summerhill brick house stood on the Lebanon Square where the
bank now stands."
                                      ~Lillian Jones Crews

At age 22, Alex married Sallieann, 27 Jul 1843, and they are shown on the 1850
Wilson Co. Census with three sons: Thompson, George and William.
1 Mar 1852, his father and Zachariah Tolliver sold Alex ten acres in the Tenth District,
probably the land where he was residing.  Sometime between the time Alex married and
the 1850 Census, William Jr. moved his family into neighboring Rutherford County and
into the Town of Murfreesboro.  Alex continued to reside in Wilson Co. but only for a
short time as he is shown living in Rutherford County on the 1860 Census.  By this
time he and Sallieann had seven boys; T. A., G. W., W. C., L. C., R. E., J. A. & Lawrence.

This writer believes that Alex and family were living in Rutherford County when
William Jr. died in 1857.  In Nov. 1856, William Jr. gave Power of Attorney to Alex,
probably because of serious illness, yet he continued to conduct business having
purchased a house and lot in the City of Murfreesboro 25 Mar 1857.  He died
Intestate 16 Jul 1857.

Alex, being the oldest child, helped his mother Lethe/Letha with the estate.  There
is much litigation in this regard as William Jr. was considerably wealthy having much
acreage and a blacksmith shop.  He owned a lot on the Shelbyville Turnpike and a
lot across the road.  He owned a lot on Depot Hill adjoining the Depot lot, he owned a
50 acre tract of cedar land and a 190 acre tract of land which he claimed title to.  It's
incomprehensible to this genealogist that he didn't leave a will.

In August 1858, Alex purchased acreage in District 17 from D. H. Sneed.  On
11 Jan 1868 he lost this land originally purchased from Sneed.  He did own slaves
having sold two on 18 Jun 1860.

The following story has been handed down through the
Lawrence Sypert Summerhill family.

"James Alexander owned a large plantation in Tennessee before the Civil War and
went on a friends bond for $40,000.  When the War broke out, the friend couldn't pay
so James did.  He sold his own land to make the note good."
~Ann Summerhill Taliaferro

Ann said that story always came up when the family conversation got around to
whether or not a man's word was good.  Being an only child, Ann listened to
numerous discussions between her relatives during her growing up years.

But the story could account for Alex losing his land in 1868.

Having heard that Alex was a Mason, in 1981 I inquired to the
Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Tennessee, Nashville.

Our Summerhill's in Rutherford County probably suffered much during the
Civil War era.  The story goes that Alex stood in his yard and watched some
of the fighting.  It could be true because the Battle of Stones River was
fought near Murfreesboro in 1862.  I quote from a park brochure:

"This was farm land and forest.  Barns and farmhouses dotted the landscape.  Split
rail fences divided cotton and corn fields...a land that provided a living for families.
The fighting was so intense, 13,000 Union and 10,000 Confederates were killed or
wounded.  The Battle of Stones River marked the beginning of the end for the Proud
Army of Tennessee...During the 4 years of war, the community was occupied continually
and alternately, by Union and Confederate forces."

In 1870, Alex and Sallieann still lived in Trimble District of Rutherford County.
Two daughters had been born since 1860 and the only family members not
present were Thompson and William Clinton.  Both of these had moved on to
Hempstead County, Arkansas.  Thompson had married and William Clinton was
possibly pursuing the unknown.

A couple of years later, Alex picked up his roots and migrated to Arkansas.  The
Civil War had vanquished life as he had known it.  These were trying times that bared
men's souls as their once beloved lifestyle was no longer obtainable in familiar
surroundings.  I surmise he went to Arkansas because two of Sallieann's brothers
were successful in Hempstead & & Howard Counties; the Nashville and Centre
Point areas.  William Clinton Sypert owned merchandise stores and Robert
Stephen Sypert was Constable of Nashville for over 30 years.

"I'm reminded of another story I've heard concerning the move from Tennessee
to Arkansas.  Sallieann drove a wagon with the children in it.   I always thought
that was so brave."
                                                      ~Ann Summerhill Taliafero

Alex and Sallieann settled in Howard, a county joining Hempstead.  They're shown
on the 1880 Census in Nashville Township.  Only the two daughters were still at home.
Sallieann affiliated by letter with Ozan Baptist Church in Bingen, Hempstead Co. AR.  She's 
listed on their old church records which do not show the date.  But her death date is shown
as 1885.  I've visited the church, viewed the priceless old records, and made photographs.  
Alex didn't tarry long in Arkansas, though.  His son Buford Legran "Grant" had migrated to
Indian Territory, Oklahoma so I suspect Alex followed him.

I've researched records in Sequoyah Co. OK and Crawford Co. AR.  Van Buren, AR
records were destroyed by fire so nothing much could be found there.  I haven't researched
in Indian Records and have only pertinent information sent me by other researchers.

I can't say enough in regard to Grant's children who opened their homes and their
hearts to me.  All of them are deceased now but I still have the wonderful memories.  They
tried to give me their entire family history and I will long remember their kindness.

"James Alexander Summerhill's land was up from the Bluff Toll from Grant's land.  (Grant's land
was in Indian Territory and Alex' was in Arkansas.)  James owned land all the way to Macedonia.  The
land was about one half mile above where Opal Fears lives now.   He owned the old Snow and Fears place,
probably owned the whole mountain."
                                                                   ~Thomps Anderson Summerhill, Grandson of Alex & Sallieann

Sallieann died 21 Oct 1885, a few short years after arriving in the Arkansas - Indian
Territory area.  The two daughters, Eurettia and Sallie Quixanna, were the only children
unmarried when she died but it's doubtful they still lived at home.

"Aunt Quixie married John Ward and only stayed with him about a week.  They lived in a one room
log cabin about a mile and a half from her mama and daddy, James and Sallieann Summerhill.
She left John Ward, went back home and got Eurettia and they went to Muskogee."
                                                ~Naomi "Nome" Summerhill Winstead

Click Here For Alex & Sallieann's Children

After Sallieann died, Alex moved in with Grant and family in Sequoyah
County.  He died there 18 Oct 1891.

So Alex is buried in Arkansas and Sallieann is buried in Oklahoma.

Nome is gone now from that little country home tucked away in the peaceful hills of North
Arkansas, but I will ever remember the wondrous stories she told, so vivid and picturesque.  
Some of her remembrances will live on upon these pages as I pass the mantle, admonishing each
of you to tell and retell them to your children and grandchildren.   No act of love can be greater
than instilling in our seed the heritage from whence we came. 

Click Here For The Robert Bell Sypert Family

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

PHILIPPIANS 4:7 King James Holy Bible

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