Deed - Claiborne Parish, LA - August 4, 1869

"Before me, J. R. Ramsey, Recorder, personally came and appeared
William W. Summerhill of said parish...(who does) grant, bargain, sell
transfer and convey...unto W. A. Carr..(the above stated 240 acres)
being land held incommunity by said vendor, with his dec'd wife
Margaret Robins, and at the same time and place came and appeared
John H. Summerhill, Mary Summerhill & Sarah Summerhill, major
heirs of said Margaret Robins dec'd, wife of said W. W. Summerhill,
each of whom, declare that for the consideration hereafter set...they
grant, bargain, sell...unto said purchaser, their each undivided one
Sixth interest in the one half community interest of the land herein
described, owned by their said mother, Margaret Robins dec'd...
signed in my office in the Town of Homer, in presence of the
attesting witnesses, on this the 4th day of August A. D. 1869.
   Each of the vendors being unable to write from not knowing how
sign by making their ordinary marks.

W. x W. Summerhill
J. x H. Summerhill
Mary x Summerhill
Sarah x Summerhill
W. A. Carr

Wit: J. C. Meadors and ____ Young

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State of Arkansas - County of Pulaski - August 18, 1869

"Know all men by these presents that for and in consideration of the
sum of two hundred and eighty dollars receipt whereof is hereby
acknowledged, we, James Summerhill and J. J. Franklin Summerhill,
both residents of said county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, do
hereby bargain, sell...unto William A. Carr of the parish of Claiborne,
State of Louisiana, each of us our one undivided one twelfth interest
as heirs of our mother, Margaret Summerhill, dec'd...land lying in the
parish of Claiborne, State of Louisiana...This done, read and signed in
the presence of the subscribing witnesses on this the 18th day of
August A. D. 1869.  James Summerhill - J. J. F. Summerhill
Witness: R. A. Watkins

(Note: Signed with original signatures.)

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State of Louisiana - Parish of Claiborne - October 15, 1869

Know all men by these presents that for and in consideration of the
sum of One Hundred and Forty Dollars cash in hand paid...
I, George Washington Summerhill, do hereby bargain, sell...unto
William A. Carr, both of us now residing & being in the parish of
Claiborne, State of Louisiana, the following described land.  Viz:
All of my interest being a one undivided twelfth...lying in the
State of Louisiana, parish of Claiborne...done and signed in the
presence of the subscribing witnessess this October 15th A.D. 1869.
George Washington x Summerhill
W. A. Carr

Attest: Jas. W. Wilson & J. S. Young

Pvt. Jason J. Franklin Summerhill
Civil War Service - He was living in Claiborne Parish, LA
and enlisted in Monroe, LA 14 May 1862 in Co. G, 28th
(Gray's) La. Inf.

Note: From the Goodspeed Article:

"Mr. Summerhill is an earnest advocate of schools, and has served as
as director of his district, and of churches, of which he is a member of
the Methodist denomination.  He was a soldier in the late war, serving
under the Confederate flag.  Was in the battles of the Red River
campaign in Louisiana, and many minor skirmishes; was in the State
of Louisiana at the surrender, and from there at once returned home
and resumed his farming operations, which occupation he has
diligently followed since."

Pvt. James Jackson Summerhill

Civil War Service - He was living in Claiborne Parish, LA
and enlisted in Homer, LA - Co. G, 12th Regiment
Louisiana Infantry.  The company departed Homer
on April 1, 1862.
Prisoner of War - Captured near Nashville, TN,
Dec. 16, 1864.  Forwarded to Louisville, KY Jan. 4,
1865.  Transferred to Camp Chase, Ohio Jan. 6, 1865.
Paroled Camp Chase, Ohio.  Forwarded to Pt. Lookout,
MD Feb. 17, 1865 for exchange.
Feb. 28, 1865 he was admitted to C.S.A. Hospital,
Richmond, VA for Debilitas.  Furloughed for 30 days
on Mar. 6, 1865.
Picture courtesy: Kim Summerhill

Tidbits in regard to the
James Jackson Summerhill family
  from Leona White Piland
Note: Leona's husband, Wayne Stephin Piland, passed away
April 6, 2000.   He was a great guy with a terrific sense of humor.

"James J. Summerhill, on Sunday would saddle up his mule and ride to
settlements and preach the gospel but he was never ordained as a
minister.  During the week he was a farmer.

"Joanna Summerhill was very stylish.  She always wore black with
white choker collar, white gloves and white stockings (which she made of
hairpin lace), and a large picture hat.

"James J. died October 26, 1899, later Joanna married Mr. Humphrey
who was a sheep man.  At the death of Mr. Humphrey, Joanna took back
the Summerhill name.  She was known to everyone in the community as
Grandma Summerhill.

"Grandmother Summerhill did not want Ruth (her daughter) and Elmer
White to marry, so they planned to elope.  Elmer sent a little Negro boy
down to the house to tell Ruth that he was waiting and to meet him at a
certain place.  If he ran into Mrs. Summerhill, he was to tell her that he
was looking for his lost goose.  He did not see Mrs. Summerhill.  Ruth
met Elmer and they ran off to Lockesburg (AR) and were married."

Note: Leona White Piland is the daughter of Ruth & Elmer White.  Ruth was a
daughter of James Jackson & Joanna Elizabeth "Bettie" Adams Summerhill.

~An interesting family story in regard to the Ginger family~

   In 1983, I visited in the home of Bessie Summerhill Harcrow & her daughter
Dora in Broken Bow, OK.   Bessie welcomed me with her great warmth and
cute personality.  She was the daughter of Henry Bolivar & Dora Bell (Ginger)
Cornstuble Summerhill.  Dora Bell was married previously to a Mr. Cornstuble.

   Bessie related an incident in regard to her Ginger heritage that I wish to
include here for researchers.

   "My mother Dora's father John Ginger and his wife, Sarah Johnson Ginger,
were part of a wagon train.  They left Illinois, come through Missouri to
Arkansas and stopped at a little sawmill town to rest up and make a little money.

   On the trip, Mama (Dora Bell), married a Cornstuble and when John got
ready to move on from Arkansas, Mama and Cornstuble stayed behind.  He
(John Ginger) told them, 'You all take good care of yourself and we'll do the
same.'
   Mama said she last saw the wagon and team of horses going across a ferry.
She said she never did see them no more.  Mama believed they were waylaid
by robbers who killed them and took their team.  She said some time later,
their team was seen going across a bridge."
   And Bessie added, "It could be they (somebody) might have killed them
and put them in a shallow grave, took the team and went on 'cause it don't
look reasonable that they would have left them there like that."

Note: Dora Bell never heard from her parents again.

Dora Bell (Ginger) Cornstuble Summerhill
b 29 Dec 1861
d 23 Aug 1957 - 95 years old
bur Glover Cem, McCurtain Co. OK    

Sources for William W.

Sources of Jason J. Franklin

Sources for James Jackson

Sources for John H.

Mrs. Sue Murtishaw Research - 1981

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