Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Emma Lee Sumner Guier -- Wife of a Farmer

 

Emma Sumner Guier

Emma Lee Sumner was born on January 26, 1875 in the Maple Grove community  of Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was the second of nine children born to Benjamin Miles Sumner and Henrietta Gabrella Bridges Sumner.  Benjamin Miles was a farmer and both he and Henrietta were natives of Trigg County.  Emma was a descendant of Drewry Bridges.

Emma’s siblings were Julia Louise Sumner, born in 1873 and married Starkie William Thomas; John Calvin Sumner, born in 1877 and married Lucy Ethel Lawrence; James Ottawa Sumner, born in 1880 and married Martha Miller Thomas; Durwood Floyd Sumner, born in1882 and married Lillie Jane Thomas, Elmer “Elmo” Thomas, born in 1885 and died at the age of nine; Nora Pearl Sumner, born in 1888 and married John Starkie Armstrong; Beulah May “Eula” Sumner, born in 1890 and married Joshua Light; and Mattie Maud Sumner, born in 1893 and married Starkie Thomas.

Emma grew up on the family farm in Maple Grove and attended the one-room Maple Grove School where she completed the eighth grade.

On November 22, 1891, Emma married Nathan Stanley Guier in Dover, Tennessee.  Nathan was born on October 20, 1867 in Trigg County, the youngest son of Nathan Tart Guier and Martha Mitchell Guier.  Nathan was a farmer and both he and Martha were natives of Trigg County. 

Nathan was known as “Little Nath” as he was so much younger than his brothers.  He attended the old Guier School which was located on the family farm.  After their marriage, Nathan and Emma lived on his family farm where Nathan farmed with his father.  After his father’s death, he purchased his brother’s interest in the farm and he and Emma lived on the farm until his death.

Unfortunately, Nathan died at the age of 31 and Emma was forced to raise her family alone.  She continued to live on the family farm after Nathan’s death, but rented the land to her father until after the children were grown.  She became a very strong, efficient, organized, and independent woman. She ran a very orderly life in an extremely well-run home.  Emma always had time to help other people, nursing the sick, sewing for neighbors and helping family members.  The last years of her life were spent in Toledo, Ohio where she lived with her oldest son and his family.

Emma and Nathan were the parents of four children, Frank Elmer Guier, born in 1893 and married Eula Franklin Thomas; Amos Ira Guier, born in 1894 and married Ambie Lois Bridges; Jesse E. Guier, born in 1896 and died at the age of 17 with pneumonia; and Mallie Mae Guier, born in 1898 and married Carey Thomas Vinson.

Nathan died on August 26, 1899 at the age of 31 at his home of typhoid fever.  He was buried in the old Tart (now Guier) Cemetery.  Emma died on June 25, 1936 at the age of 61 at the home of her son in Toledo, Ohio.  She was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery in Trigg County.



Nathan Guier

 


Emma tombstone

 

Nathan tombstone


LINEAGE:  (Emma Lee Sumner was the daughter of Benjamin Miles and Henrietta Gabrella Bridges Sumner.  Henrietta was the first child of Drewry and Peachie Ann Tart Bridges.  Drewry was the fourth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)


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