His father, Mr. Allen Summerlin, came to Coffee from Bulloch County, settled on Lot 20, and there reared his family, consisting of five daughters, Susan, Sophronia, Missouri, Roxy and Ann and four sons, Elisha, Joshua, Benjamin and James. He was in the Confederate War and, while on detailed duty, near the close, he was the victim of an assassin's bullet, shot from ambush in Seventeen Mile Creek in the eastern part of Coffee County. It was never definitely known who did the shooting. So that the subject of this memoriam was bereft of his father when he was but a lad.

He grew up to be a farmer -- a splendid farmer -- and loved to work in his fields and watch his crops grow, mature and ripen ready for the harvest. In his early manhood he intermarried with Mattie, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Kirkland, of Kirkland. To them were born eleven children--four daughters, viz., Minnie, Jennie, Bessie, and Susie and seven sons, viz., Jesse, Lemuel, Robert, Franklin, William, Randolph and Jefferson. Seven of these children survive him. Randolph was killed at Vera Cruz, Mexico, while on duty in the service of his country. There were also sixteen grandchildren.

Soon after the death of Randolph, Mrs. Summerlin went to her reward. She ranked high among the best of women.

With the coming of the Brunswick and Western railroad, Mr. Summerlin moved to and became a pioneer citizen of the now city of Willacoochee. He began a mercantile business in connection with the railroad agency. He was the first agent the railroad had at that point and served as such until it became necessary to have a telegraph operator which he was not.

He soon afterward built the hotel known as the "Summerlin House," and his wife catered to the traveling public for many years and to the time of her death. The hotel gained a prestige for excellency that remained with it during all these years. Her death was a sad blow not only to her husband and family, but the traveling public and to the city of Willacoochee.

In his young manhood he was a devout member of the Methodist church, took an interest in every thing religious, and was a liberal and cheerful giver to the cause and to every public interest. He was for many years the efficient superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School of Willacoochee.

In politics he was a Democrat-rigid and uncompromising. He never sought political office. He had one confidant besides his wife-David E. Gaskin. They were reared in the same community and were born companions all their lives. If he bad any secrets they were told only to his wife and Bud Gaskin.