Joel Summerville,
Pennsylvania and Florida

Last update 24 March, 2006

Joel Elmer (or Joe E as he fashioned himself in later life) Summerville was born in Rimersburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania on the 30th of August, 1861. That is four months after the declaration of the Civil War. The Summervills had lived in that region of Pennsylvania since the 1700s, and were a large extended family.

It is always interesting, and often informative, to note history in relation to geneology. The period of Joe's life was one of huge social and technological change. Slavery ended, women were given the vote, and the labour movement was transformed from a socialist movement to one focusing on trade unions. There was the invention and deployment of the telephone and telegraph, electric systems, and petroleum-driven transport. The first petroleum well was drilled in Titusville PA in 1859, but the oil industry did not take off until the development of petrol-driven engines invented by Benz in 1879. In further historical context, Ohio was the birthplace of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (1874) and the Anti-Saloon League (1893) (Prohibition). This was partially a reaction to the rise of the brewing industry in the 1890s. Practical electricity production begin about the same time with the invention of AC power generation by Nikola Tesla, it's development by George Westinghouse, and the establishment of the first big AC dynamo at Niagra Falls in 1888. This change, and the development of mechanical refrigeration and extensive rail coverage, resulted in the conditions under which alcohol production went from a local level to an interstate industry. The period from the Civil War to WWI was also one dominated by the "labour wars" in the US, with the great train strike (for more) in 1877, in which state Militias were sent out to fight strikers, and some found they had more in common with the workers than the bosses. Federal troops were sent to put down the stike, and some found themselves facing state troops. This resulted in shifts that were to end armed state power, and allowed states to be militarily over-ridden by a Federal Government. Joe would only have been 16 then. But during his prime, he'd have known of the Haymarket Riot, Pulman Strikes, women's sufferage, and finally the development of the suppression of dissident thought under Attorney General Mitchel Palmer, the "Palmer Raids" (for more), and the punishment of "un-American" activity in a move that created a model for the McCarthy oppression. That occurred about the time Joe moved to Florida. Note that the first real affordable production automobile, the Ford Model T, was not produced until 1907.

Joel was the 4th son and 4th child of Joseph Addison Summerville. He was 4 of eight of mother Laura Sage. His father remarried after Laura died, and had another 9 children with Mary Scott. All together, he had 9 brothers and 8 sisters, the youngest born when Joel was 35. His childhood and parents will be covered elsewhere, and this page will essentially start from 1880, the year he married Hannah.

Madison township of Clarion County is not to be confused with the current town of Madison PA. Madison township is the area around Lawsonham, about two and a half miles south of Rimersburg.

The map below shows the outer suburbs of Pittsburg in the SW corner. Toward the NE, the road marked Huckleberry Ridge Rd appears to go south to where route 861 is indicated. That is approximately were Rimersburg is.

    In I880, Joel was living in Madison with his father and step-mother. his elder brother Thompson, and younger sisters Mary Amanda and Maggie Charilla, and the first of his half-siblings, Viola Catherine, and Anne Laura. I'm not certain where his youngest full sister Lizzie was. I'm presuming that his two oldest brothers had already left home.

    Thompson (20) and Joel (18) were both listed as Farmers, like their father. Of interest is the fact that the families recorded on the census sheet prior and after the Sommerville family were those of John and Mary Earley, John and Aimiee Scott, Robert Montgomery and his adopted son Frank Mortimer. Joel's daughter Ida Leona would marry William Earley, Joel married Hannah Flick, the daughter of Charles Flick and Mary Jane Mortimer and Joel's stepmother was a Scott.

    On nearby pages in the same ennumeration group, there were 2 Martin households, 7 Rankin households, 2 Scotts, 6 Mortimers and a couple of Stanford households.

    Hannah Flick, age 18, (census) was also living in Madison Township with her parents family. Her occupation is listed as a Millner/Dressmaker. There are two other Flick households on the same page. This is indicative of the fact that the Summervilles were reasonably typical in having lived in the area long enough that the extended family was not only extended but extensive. There are a number of surnames found commonly, in many households. Family tended to be a mesh instead of a tree.

    Joel married Hannah Flick that year, 1880, but in the later part of the year, after the census.

    1880

    Enum Dist 72; Sup Dist 10: Page 31; 17th and 18th Jun, 1880
    Madison Twp, Clarion, PA; Family 223     Scan

    Name Relation to head of Household Sex Age Marital Status Birthplace Fathers birthplace Mother's birthplace Job
    Sumerville, J.A Head M 47 M PA PA PA Farmer
    ", Mary C Wife F 23 M PA PA PA Keeping House
    ", Thompson B son M 20 S PA PA PA Farmer
    ", Joel E son M 18 S PA PA PA Farmer
    ", Mary A daughter F 15 S PA PA PA Keeping House
    ", Maggie C daughter F  13 S PA PA PA *
    ", Viola daughter F  3 S PA PA PA *
    ", Laura A daughter F 1 S PA PA PA *

    Enum Dist 72; Sup Dist 10: Page 07; 14th Jun, 1880
    Madison Twp, Clarion, PA;  Family 56   Scan

    Name Relation to head of Household Sex Age Marital Status Birthplace Fathers birthplace Mother's birthplace Job
    Flick, Charles Head M 76 M PA PA PA Farmer
    ", Mary J Wife F 55 M PA PA PA Keeping House
    ", John E son M 22 M PA PA PA Farmer
    ", Hannah C daughter F  18 S PA PA PA Millner/Dressmaker
    ", Charles son M 13 S PA PA PA Farmer
    ", Alice L daughter F 10 S PA PA PA *
    ", Anna M daughter F 8 S PA PA PA *
    ", Anna M daughter-in-law F  20 M PA PA PA Keeping House

    Unfortunately, I have yet to be able to get an 1890 census, but the 1900 census shows Joe and Hannah living in the Rimersburg Borough of Clarion Co.

    1900

    Enum Dist 26; Sup Dist 14: Sheet 14; 5th Jun, 1900
    Rimersburg Borough, Clarion, PA;  Family 60   Scan

    Name Relation to head of Household Sex Born Age Marital Status Birthplace Fathers birthplace Mother's birthplace Job
    Somerville, Joel E Head M Aug 1861 38 M 20 PA PA PA Rig Builder
    ", Hannah C Wife F Oct 1861 38 M 20 PA PA PA Keeping House
    ", Charlie A son M Aug 1882 19 S PA PA PA Labour
    ", Ila L daughter F  July 1883 16 S PA PA PA At school
    ", Jessie P daughter F  July 1885 14 S PA PA PA At school
    ", Elmer M son M Aug 1887 12 S PA PA PA At school
    ", Carl C son M Apr 1893 7 S PA PA PA *

    Joel is listed as born in Aug 1861 and Hannah as born Oct 61, both married 20 years. All of the children are living with them, and the census indicates Hannah had not had a child who had died. They are listed as renting a home (rather than a farm) and Joel is listed as being unemployed for 2 months. Joel is listed in this census as a "Rig builder" rather than "farmer". His son Charlie, then 19, is listed as a "labourer". All the other children as still at school. I am not certain what profession "rig builder" applied to. In 1900, there would have been oilfields north of Rimersburg, and there was mining in the area, but it may have referred to horse-drawn "rigs" rather than industrial ones.

    The family are listed under their "proper" names, though they are listed in later census' according to what they were called; eg, Joel became Joe, Elmer M became Merrill. The family surname is spelled Sommerville, or what looks like Sonnerville. In part, this may have been because Joel had a father and a brother who were both "Joseph Addison" and so there were already 2 Joes in his immediate family, and more in the extended one. Once away from Clarion Co, it would have made less difference.

    Joel was also listed in Beers as the proprieter of the City Hotel in Rimersburg. I'm not certain if this follows the modern US tradition of a "hotel" being a place of temporary residence, or the more English tradition of a "hotel" being a place where people gathered to drink, which also includes lodging. The latter is common in Canada, Australia, England, and older parts of the US. A hotel relates to a "hostel" or "public house" (pub). If so, the transition from hotel owner to policeman may relate to the advance of the Temperance movement.

    Ila Leona

    Ila Leona was 16 at this census point. In the next few years, at around the age of 20, she married William Austin Earley. Ila Leona remained in the Rimersburg area. She had two children, Claude (or Clyde) and Louise Phillips Earley. She died in the Brookville Hospital, Pennsylvania, on 02 December, 1959 and was buried in the Rimersburg cemetary. William lived until 1965, and remained in the area.

    An obituary appeared on page 7 of the Clarion Democrat, 8 Dec,1959:

    Funeral services for Mrs. Ila Leona Earley, 76, of Rimersburg RD 1, who died Wednesday evening in the Brookville Hospital following a lingering illness, were held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Miller Funeral Home, Rimersburg.

    Rev. J. C. Himes, pastor of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Wildcat, officiated at the service. Interment was made in Rimersburg.

    Mrs. Earley was born July 31, 1883, in Madison Township, Clarion County, daughter of the late Joseph and Hanna Flick Summerville. She was married to William Earley who survives.

    Surviving besides her husband are one daughter, Mrs. Carl (Louise) Phillips of Rimersburg RD 1; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother, Carl Summerville of Steubenville, O.; one sister Mrs. Jessie Teutoon of Ocala, Fla., and a number of nieces and nephews.

    One son, Claude, preceded her in death.

    A brief family history for the Earley's follows

    Ila Leona Summerville married William Easton Earley, possibly 15 April, 1904.

    William Austin Earley (08 Sept 1883 - 15 Jan, 1962)

    William was born in Washington Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, the son of Andrew Jackson Earley and Lavina Appeline Phillips

    He died in Rimersburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania and was buried in Rimersburg Cemetery, Rimersburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania

    Children:

    (1) Claude H. Earley (b. 1906, died before 1959)

    - m. Mary E ( )

    ( a) Dorothy P. Earley (6/21/1928 - 8/04/2002) SSN 167-22-0222

    born in Rimersburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania

    last residence listed as Beaver, Beaver County, Pennsylvania (source - SSDI)

    m. John J Prosper

    Obituary

    Dorothy P. Prosper, 74, of Center Township, is now at peace. She passed away Sunday, Aug. 4, 2002.

    Born June 21, 1928, in Rimersburg, Pa., a daughter of the late Claude and Mary E. Earley, she was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Roman Catholic Church, Center Township.

    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Earley, and a brother-in-law, Frank Calabria.

    She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, John J. Prosper; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Paul Cupp, Center Township, and Lorraine and John Kertesz, Harlingen, Texas; two granddaughters, Michelle and Bill Hand, Ellwood City, and Kristen Kertesz, Harlingen, Texas; a great-grandson, Justin Michael Hand; four sisters and three brothers-in-law and one brother and sister-in-law, Betty and Art Lantz, Delores Calabria, Priscilla and Paul Cain, Judy and Lou Liberati, and Jimmy and Patty Somerville, and numerous nieces and nephews.

    Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the MASTROFRANCESCO FUNERAL HOME, 21st and McMinn Streets, Aliquippa (724) 375-0496, where a service will be conducted Tuesday at 11 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11:30 a.m. in St. Frances Cabrini Church.

    Entombment will follow in Mount Olivet Catholic Mausoleum.

    -- Beaver County Times, 8/05/2002 - obit courtesy of Eric Martin, 2003

    (2) Louise Phyllis Earley (2/26/1925 - 12/21/1995) SSN 170-24-9694

    born in Rimersburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania

    married in Rimersburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania

    last residence listed as Sligo, Clarion County, Pennsylvania

    died in Clarion Hospital, Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania

    buried in Rimersburg Cemetery, Rimersburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania

    - m. 4/15/1944, Carl Charles "Cutty" Phillips (11/17/1919 - 8/05/1993) SSN 200-05-3918

    born in Corbettown, Pennsylvania, son of Charles K. Phillips and Julinna Kerestes

    veteran of World War II

    died in Butler VA Hospital, Butler, Pennsylvania of ischemic encephalopathy, last residence listed as Rimersburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, buried in Rimersburg Cemetery, Rimersburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania

    The Phillips' had 3 daughters:
    Leona Anna;
    Linda C; and
    Patricia Louise

    All married, and Patricia is the only one I know to have left the Rimersburg area.

    Sources for the Earleys are mainly from SSDI and Eric Martin.

    Departures from Rimersburg

    In the next decade, Charles, already listed as working, obviously moved away, apparently following a metal-working trade, as did Merrill. Both the girls had gone off with partners. By 1910 Merrill would be married, and while Charlie was not listed as married, in the next census he is listed as married for over 10 years and with a son aged 16. So, it appears most of the Joel's children married and left home in the decade between 1900 and 1910. I can find little about Jessie Pearl in the period after 1900 until she and her parents re-unite in Florida.

    With the scattering of his family, Joe and Hannah moved from the Rimersburg area, to Sharon, PA, across the border from Youngstown OH. I believe this would not have occured before Ila's marriage in 1904, or before Merrill moved out, which probably would not have been before 1906. So, the move to Sharon probably took place in the last few years before the 1910 census.

    In 1910 Joel, his wife, and Carl, then still only 17 were living in town. Joe is listed as a policeman. While Sharon is on the Ohio border, it is not particularly close either to Steubenville, or to Rimersburg, so can be counted as a bit of a physical departure from family. I don't know much about this phase of Joe's life.

    Ennumeration District 9182:
    The address appears to be: 16 French St, Sharon, Mercer, PA Scan

    Sharon is a town on the border of Ohio near Youngstown, and Joel (Joe) is listed as a policeman for the city. It appears Joe moved nearer to Ohio at this point, and then moved to Florida in the next few years.

    Name Relation to head of Household Sex Age Marital Status Birthplace Fathers birthplace Mother's birthplace Job place of work children
    Summerville, Joe E Head M 48 M 30 PA Eng PA Policeman City *
    ", Hannah Wife F 48  M PA PA PA none * 5 Children, 5 living
    ", Carl Son M 17 S PA PA PA none * *

    Joel and Jessie Pearl: Florida

    There was a greater departure sometime between 1910 and 1917, 1917 being the year Carl married Anna McAnsh in Ocala Fl. At that point, his parents had already moved there, though I am uncertain of the actual timing, or what precipitated the move. Presumably Jessie was have been there about the same time. She had a child, Carl Sowash, who was born about 1908, and her daughter Cecile Teuton was born in November 1918, which means she was probably conceived in February. It is therefore possible that Jessie moved with, or after Joe and Hannah, and met William Teuton in Florida.

    In 1920, Joe and Hannah are listed as living in Fort McCoy, Marion Co, FL, near Ocalla. This would be their last home, where they lived until death claimed them. Joe, at 58, is listed as a labourer. Living with them at the time is a 12 year old child, Carl Sowash, listed as "grandson". This is Jessie's son from a first marriage. I have no details about this, and can find no other records of Carl Sowash until the death of his mother when he is mentioned in her obituary. I also can find no record of Jessie, or William Teuton in 1920, though William supposedly lived his entire life in Marion County.

    In the 1930 census, Joel and Hannah are listed a bit later on the same census page that show Jessie and the Teuton family. They are listed simply as JE Summerville, his wife HC, both 68, and a great granddaughter, VI McManus, age 2 years and 10 months. She is listed as having been born in Florida. Her father is listed as "Canada English", while his mother is listed as from Pennsylvania. It is hard to know which grandchild was the parent. Charlie apparently had 2 boys, Fred and Lindy. Merrill only had one boy, Thomas. Carl's eldest daughter Hazel would only have been 12. Unless Ila or Pearl has a daughter I don't know of, I cannot figure out who this little girl's mother could be. Neither of them had any other children mentioned in their obituaries.

    In 1930, Jessie is listed as living in Ft McCoy. She is married to William Elbert Teuton, a native of Florida, and living with them are listed 3 children. I say listed because the transcriber wrote Jean, son, age 21, Cecil, daughter, age 11 and Aldyne, daughter, age 6. Jean is a misspellig of Gene and is Eugene E Teuton. Cecil would have been Cecile Lorraine, born 24 Nov, 1918. Aldyne would be Elsie Aldine, born 2 Nov, 1923.

    Gene is listed as having a mother born in Florida, while Cecile and Aldyne's mother was born in Pennsylvania. This would be consistent with re-marriage, with William having a first wife, Missy Sparkman, a Florida native. It is also consistent with Jessie living in the area for at least 12 years.

    Cecile and Aldyne were born to a second wife, Jessie Pearl. William is listed as having been first married at 25, while Jessie is listed as first married at 20. Thus she married a Mister Sowash around 1908, and Carl, who was 22 in 1930, was her son. She married William Teuton in or before 1918. William Sowash had three other sons. I am uncertain if all were Missy's sons, or whether some may have been Jessie's. The family tree looks like this:

    ________ Sowash m 1908 Jessie Pearl Summerville

    Carl 0. Sowash: (1 Jan, 1906 - 15 Jun, 1979) died in VA, SSN 261-84-0356 - (from SSDI)

    William Teuton (2/14/1879 - 11/30/1949) m Missy Sparkman

    (1) Douglas W Teuton (12 Nov, 1904 - Apl 1978) SNN: 261-32-3669: died at Pompono Beach, Broward, FL

    (2) Wallace E (25 May, 1907 - Mar 1967) SSN 264-12-1326

    (3) Eugene E (22 Aug, 1909 - Sept 1964) SSN: 263-22-0545

    (4)William J (14 Aug 1916 - Sept 1979) SSN 264-12-1636 died in Florida

    (5) Carl C (7 March, 1914 - Oct 1966) SSN: 265-16-0006

    William Teuton m Jessie Pearl Summerville

    (6) Cecile Lorraine Teuton (b. 11/24/1918 or SSDI lists as 23 Oct 1918 - May 1981) SSN 262-26-2085 died FL

    m Ben Daniel (20 Nov 1899 - Mar 1972) SSN 262-26-2085

    (7) Elsie Aldine Teuton (b. 2 Sept 1923 = July 1993) SSN 264-22-3516

    m J Turner, of Burbank.

    A few entries before the Teutons on the same 1930 census page, there is a listing for the McManus family. The head of family, HI (Hugh F McManus), is listed as Canadian English. He is living with a wife, also with the initials HI. (This may be bad transcribing) Mr McManus is listed as being 33, a machinist of pleasure boats. He is living with his father, CW McManus, who was born in Maine. His mother is listed as from England. He is listed as being first married at the age of 28, five years previously. His wife is 31, and listed as marrying at age 29, two years prior. She seems to be a second wife, which would mean that his first wife could have been the granddaughter of Joe and Hannah, who died shortly after childbirth. V is nearly 3 years old, born about a year before the second Mrs McManus married Mr McManus. It seems unlikely that a daughter of anyone but Jessie would have been married to Mr McManus. If Jessie had a daughter, as well as a son, then it is possible in terms of timing. It may also explain why the McManus family was living near Jessie and Joe.

    In 1920, the McManus father and son are listed as family 78 on the census, living near the Summervilles, who were household 71. Hugh F McManus is listed as 23, single, and from Maine. His father, Conrad W, is 68 and a carpenter, listed as from Maine, with a Scots father and an Irish mother.

    Merrill Summerville, Joe and Hannah's second youngest, died in Ohio in 1936. Joe died in Florida the following year, on the 17th Jan, 1937, at the age of 75. Hannah lived until 30 Dec, 1943, also dying in Florida.

    Obituary
    William Elbert Teuton - Ocala Star Banner 1 Dec 1949

    William Elbert TEUTON, age 80, a lifetime resident of Burbank, died yesterday after a short illness. Born February 14, 1869 at Burbank, the deceased engaged in farming and cattle-raising until his retirement a short time ago.

    He was member of the Methodist church of Pine and of F & A. M. Masonic lodge of Ft...McCoy.

    Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Jessie Teuton of Burbank: five sons, Douglas w. Teuton, Lake City; Wallace E. Teuton, Ocala: Eugene E. Teuton, Burbank; William J. Teuton, Quincy, Mass; Carl C. Teuton, Gainesville; one step-son, Carl Sowash, Palmetto; two daughters, Mrs Ben Daniel, Tampa, and Mrs. J. Turner, Burbank; one sister, Mrs. Emma Goolsby, Gainesville; also 14 grandchildren and two great-grand-children.

    Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 in the chapel of Pyles funeral home with the Rev. Leo F. King of Anthony officiating. The Ft. McCoy Masonic lodge will conduct services at the graveside in the Ft. McCoy cemetery, and lodge members will serve as pallbearers.

    (William E Teuton was the son of William J and Elizabeth Hill.)

    Obituary - William J Teuton
    Ocala Star Banner 22 Jan 1937

    Funeral Services for William J. TEUTON, eighty-seven, who died yesterday morning at the residence of his son, W.E.TEUTON of Burbank, will be held this morning at 11 o’clock.

    Mr. TEUTON was born in Gainesville, the son of the late Redding and Mary Sanders TEUTON, who were among the old settlers of Alachua County. He is survived by a son, W.E. TEUTON ; a daughter, Mrs. Emma GOOLSBY of Gainesville, twenty-one grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

    Mr. TEUTON has lived in Marion County sixty-seven years and was for many years in the cattle-raising business.

    The Rev. E.D Boyer will conduct the services. Sam R. Pyles has charge of the funeral arrangements.

    Cherry Hill has done an excellent geneology on the family, esp the Hill side. (http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:1825988&id=I532440026). I am indebted to her for these Obits.

     

    Anna McAnsh Maps Photo Gallery Carl Summerville

    A few housekeeping things.

    I don't like propietary things, and in particular, believe proprietary information is anathema to spreading knowledge and understanding. Hence, feel free to use my info, but I state that I do not want it used for profit. I have spent many many hours on it, and am happy to see others benefit. To paraphrase Michael Valintine Smith, "knowledge shared is knowledge multiplied". I do consider my work to be copywrite, and give permission for its use only where it remains in the domain of free information. Of course it would be nice, and ethical, if those using it acknowledged the source, and nicer still if you let me know.

    This information is
    NOT TO BE COPIED TO ANY FOR-FEE GENEALOGY SITE,
    such as Ancestry.com or Genealogy.com.

    Nor would I like it to be copied to Family Search or the IGA, (that means don't do it) mainly because those sites do not provide the evidence on which information is based, and are therefore prone to spread dis-information.