Aaron C. Sumner -- Migrant Farmer

 

Aaron and Martha "Mattie" Bridges Sumner

Aaron C. Sumner was born on December 20, 1855 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the son of Joseph Greenberg Sumner and Margaret Ann Colson Sumner. Although his death certificate states his middle name was Columbus, his great grandchildren believe that his middle name was Cornelius. His tombstone lists his first name as Aron, but all other records indicate the spelling is Aaron. Here again, his great grandchildren state the tombstone is in error and his name was Aaron.

Aaron grew to manhood on a farm in Trigg County and on December 21, 1875, at the age of 20, he married Martha Caroline Bridges in Cadiz, Kentucky. Martha or “Mattie” as she was called was the second of twelve children born to Orren Dates Bridges and Mary Elizabeth Hixon Bridges. She was born on October 20, 1850 Aaron and Mattie were the parents of five children.  Their first three children were born in Trigg County--Weston Columbus, born in 1876; Minnie Lee, born in 1880; and Lula Mae, born in 1882.  Their other three children were born in Howell County, Missouri—Hervie Otto, born in 1885; Lottie Belle, born 81 1886 and William Stanley, born in 1889.

Aaron became discouraged with living in Kentucky as the only job he could find was picking tobacco.  So in 1882 he packed up his small family in a covered wagon and headed west to Howell County, Missouri where he found a piece of land that he could homestead on. He settled on a small farm west of Cureall, Missouri and began planting oats, producing hay and raising sheep. He lived on that farm until his family was all grown.  After the children were gone, he sold the farm and he and Mattie moved to the state of Washington and then to Texas, but after a year they were not happy in these locations and they returned to Missouri where they purchased a farm six miles west of West Plains.

Eight years after they bought the new farm, Mattie died at their home on January 13, 1928 at the age of 75. Because she had taught at the Homeland School, her funeral was held in the Oak Grove School and she was buried in the Fowler Cemetery in Howell County.

After Mattie’s death, Aaron went to live with his oldest son, Weston Columbus Sumner, in Ganado, Texas.  A few years later he moved to Bristow, Oklahoma where he lived with his youngest son, William Stanley Sumner.  Missing his beloved Missouri, Aaron moved back to Caulfield, Missouri to live with his youngest daughter, Lottie Belle Sumner Story.

Aaron died at his daughter’s home in Caulfield on December 6, 1941 at the age of 82. His death certificate listed his cause of death as “senility”.  He was buried in the Fowler Cemetery next to his wife, Martha.

Tombstone of Aaron and Martha Sumner

LINEAGE:   (Aaron C. Sumner was the husband of Martha Caroline Bridges.  Martha was the second child of Orren Dates and Mary Elizabeth Hixon Bridges.  Orren was the first child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)