History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Samuel W. Summers

by Benjamin F. Gue

SAMUEL W. SUMMERS was born in Virginia, in 1820, and in 1842 removed to Iowa, locating in Van Buren County. He had studied law and was admitted to the bar but had a hard struggle to make a living at his profession at that early day when there was little business and less money. He finally removed to Ottumwa where he was more successful. In January, 1863, he was appointed colonel of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry which was sent west to operate against the Indians. His headquarters were most of the time at Omaha and his regiment did not have an opportunity to see much hard fighting and was mustered out in 1865.