THE MYSTERY OF "METHUSELAH JOHN" SUMMERS
A few years ago, I came by a copy of my family history written by a grand daughter of my Enoch Summers. In the history, she stated that her great grandparents were John & Lois Summers. She further stated that John lived to be 116 years old & that he had fathered his last child at the age of 100! He had vowed to live long enough to see his daughter turn 16.
At first thought I was thrilled to find my Enoch's parents! And then I thought, "Ya right! This guy fathered a child at 100 & lived to be 116!" I was back to the drawing board searching, as I discounted this info!
Two years ago I came across an article written in the 1925 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly magazine:
Hmmmmm, this article sparked my interest! I checked the 1820 Delaware Co, IN census, & sure enough, John Summers is there! As it turns out, my Summers family moved from Montgomery Co, KY to Morgan Co, IN abt 1819. In 1820, Morgan Co was still part of Delaware Co. (Morgan Co was formed in 1822.) So anyone living in what is now Morgan Co in 1820, would show up in the Delaware Co census! Another hmmmmm!
In 1822, Enoch bought land in Martinsville, Morgan Co, IN with a John Summers:
SUMMERS Enoch 1 Feb 1822 13 2E 2 NW qtr 145.7
SUMMERS Enoch 7 Sep 1831 13 2E 4 W half of NE qrt 75.27
SUMMERS Enoch 24 Nov 1832 13 2E 21 E half of NE qtr 80
SUMMERS Enoch 24 Nov 1832 13 2E 21 W half of NE qtr 80
On 16 July 1824, Enoch & his siblings sold the property first listed above that Enoch had bought with John. John did not sign the deed, suggesting he had died & the children had sold his holdings in the property. No will has been found for John.
Enoch's youngest sister is Winna born abt 1808/09. She married Nathaniel Shields in Morgan Co, IN. This means she would be about 16 when the property was sold & John died. The old tale just might be true!
To further this story, I found this website, also telling of an aged John Summers! http://home.earthlink.net/~ntgreen/summerss.html.
If this story is true, then "Methuselah John" has got to have a gazillion descendants. There's GOT to be info on him out there someplace! If you have any comments or any new info, please let me know! mailto:katmens@cox.net