Love during the War

John Bender Sumner

Biography

Pvt John Sumner served in the United States Civil War.

Enlisted: 20 May 1861

Regiment(s): Co. "G", 7th Missouri Infantry

Corp John Sumner served in the United States Civil War.

Mustered out: 14 Jan 1866

Regiment(s): Co. "H", 11th Missouri Infantry

John Bender Sumner was born June 17, 1834, to Samuel S and Elizabeth Grimes Sumner in Lawrence County, Il. He was shown living with his widowed mother on the Lawrence County Illinois Census in 1850 helping his 20-year-old brother James and his 54-year-old mother Elizabeth care for the family farm in Lawrence County. His mother died when he was 17.

John was a 25-year-old carpenter, one of 13 of Simpson Sumner’s hotel occupants in Sumner in 1860. Many of the Sumner family sons, brothers and cousins of Sumner, Illinois became Civil War soldiers, some in Illinois infantries and some in Missouri infantries.

Civil War Record

John joined Co G of the 7th Missouri as a private for three years May 20, 1861, at Sumner. He was mustered in July 12 at St Louis Arsenal in Missouri. He was listed on the muster roll as a 27-year-old carpenter, 5’7” tall with grey eyes, sandy hair and light skin. During the battle of Vicksburg, he was wounded but able to return to duty. He re-enlisted as a volunteer at Vicksburg January 1, 1864; he had been paid last August 30, 1863, and had been advanced $30.63 on clothing, thus was paid no bounty or premium at reenlistment.

The muster-in- roll stated he was to have a 30- day furlough to his home state. That furlough to Sumner, Illinois was issued March 22, 1864. In May and June of 1864, he was at Four Mile J&V RR Bridge, Mississippi; he was due the 3rd installment of $400 bounty. The July and August muster roll of Morganza, Louisiana listed the 3rd installment of $400 bounty still due. The September and October 1864 rolls, at Vicksburg listed 3rd installment of $400 bounty still due.

John was promoted to Corporal and transferred to Co H 11th Missouri at Nashville, Tennessee December 14, 1864. The November and December muster roll listed the 3rd and 4th installments of veteran’s bounty still due. By March and April 1865, apparently some of this had been paid as the muster roll lists bounty due $100. The July and August muster roll lists $50 bounty still due.

When John mustered out at Memphis, Tennessee, his last pay had been June 30, 1865. He was due $12.31 for clothing and was paid $260 bounty and still due $140 when he mustered out January 15, 1866.

John married Samaria Ann Lindley December 28, 1865 in Lauderdale, Mississippi. Her family had moved to Mississippi from Indiana; her father was from New York, and her mother was born in Donegal, Ireland. Her father had died a week before Sherman and his men arrived in their county. The Lindley family were Union sympathizers pulled in all directions by the war. Samaria’s mother, Martha, welcomed the Union troops but soon after, they raided her farm anyway. Martha went to General Sherman for relief and left with him when he returned to Vicksburg. Samaria had two older sisters who were married to Confederate soldiers. Her mother and the minor children went to Indianapolis and stayed the remainder of the war with her two brothers and sister. Her sister’s son was Union General Robert Sanford Foster. The Lindley family returned to Meridian after the war.

John Sumner was at that time with the Army of Occupation stationed at Demopolis, Alabama located on the Tombigbee River which was a major means of transportation in those days. A Confederate veteran and friend of the family, C W Henderson co-signed the bond of marriage for John and his Southern bride, Samaria. Mr. Henderson was the co-owner of the county newspaper, The Lauderdale Republican.

Life After the War

After John mustered out, he and his wife returned for a time to his hometown, Sumner Illinois. The 1870 census of Sumner lists him and his wife, Annie farming there with a 2- year- old daughter Lilly Mae and a 5-month-old son Walter William. A daughter Martha Dorcas was born in 1872. Several relatives of the Sumner family went West to California and Oregon.

Family members indicate John moved his family sometime in the mid 1870’s. Children born there were, a son James Franklin in 1876, a son Oliver Lindley in 1877, a daughter Lulu Mariah in 1879 and a son John Winfield in 1882. John and his wife, Annie were living in Plainsburg, Merced County, California when John registered to vote August 6, 1888.

John filed for his military pension on March 13, 1890, from California. The 1896 voter’s registration of Plainsburg, Merced County, California lists John, and his son James Franklin. The 1900 census of Mariposa, California lists John, a farmer and his wife, with children John and Lulu at home.

John Bender Sumner died February 18, 1904, and was buried at White Rock Cemetery, Mariposa, California. His gravestone reads “John Bender Sumner, Illinois, Missouri Infantry Volunteers, C Co 7th Reg, H Co 11 Reg, U S Army, Civil War, June 17, 1834, Feb 18, 1904.”

His widow filed for her pension May 4, 1904. She died a little over two years later on October 8, 1906 and was buried by her husband.

Thanks to Joyce Brunson for her research as a volunteer with the Lawrence County Hsitorical Society.