| Notes |
- An excerpt from: " 'Soldiers and Citizens' Album of Biographical Record" Grand Army Publishing Company, 1888.
"Soldiers' Album of Personal Records," pages 284 and 285.
SETH SUMNER
"Seth Sumner, a farmer residing at Brillion, Calumet Co., Wis., was born Feb 25 1822, in Plymouth, Windsor Co., Vt., and is a member of G.A.R. Post No. 222, at Brillion. His father, Seth Sumner, was a native of Massachusetts and married Chloe Kingsbury. They became the parents of 14 children, all of whom died between infancy and the age of 56, except the son, who is represented in this sketch. He was reared to the calling of a farmer in the Green Mountain State, and in 1856 came to Wisconsin.
Aug 29, 1861, he enlisted in a regiment to be called the 1st U.S. Regiment of Mechanics and Fusileers, rendezvousing in Chicago(afterwards numbered the 56th Illinois) and the enlisted men to be credited to their respective States. As fast as they arrived at Chicago they were assigned to duty in building Camp Douglas and the barracks there, but on being mustered found they had been deceived and the State credit was not to be carried out. The officers attempted compulsion, and Company A, to which Mr. Sumner belonged, made a test; flatly refusing to muster as Illinois soldiers, and they were taken into custody. The matter was settled by an Order from the War Department, disbanding the regiment, and they were left without pay for two months and without money in most instances. Mr. Sumner was ill while there, from exposure, and almost entirely lost his hearing, and suffering also from lung troubles. He endeavored to enlist, successively in the 14th and 21st Wisconsin regiments, but was rejected by the examining surgeon to whom he offered $50 to pass him. He was enlisted previously at Manitowoc and was discharged Jan. 20, 1862 at Camp Douglas. While in the barracks, there was much sickness and death among the soldiers from measles and small pox.
On coming to Wisconsin, Mr. Sumner located, in 1857, at Brillion where he has ever since resided. He is a prominent landholder and a respected citizen. On taking possession of his farm, he built a sawmill, which was afterwards destroyed by fire involving a loss of four thousand dollars without insurance.
He was married Sept 2, 1846, to Roxana Burditt. She died April 10, 1856, leaving two children--Martha and Eliza; he was again married in February 1851, to Louisa Eastman, who died in 1870, leaving three children--Frances, Harrison and Edwin. Martha J., oldest daughter married Charles Petty, and they have five children--Bird, Jay, Adelia and a twin son and daughter. The former Roy, is living. The latter died at birth. Eliza second daughter, married Jacob Ward of Plymouth, Vt., and their children are three in number. Frances married Thomas Benham and they have one daughter. Harrison, a son, living in Vermont, is married and has two children, Edwin, youngest son, died in April 1887. **Mr. Sumner was married Feb 14 1876, to Charlotte DeLong."
**Omitted from BIO above: On 15 Dec 1867, Seth Sumner Jr. married for a third time, Lucy A. Green, widow of Benjamin Carr, in Calumet, Wisconsin.
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1822 - 1890 (68 years)
