His father was Matthew Sumner and his mother was Letitia Bender. He married (1st) to Catherine ?.

He was married (2nd) on 8 Jun 1823 in Lawrence Co, IL Sally Laws.

He was married (3rd) on 27 Mar 1832 in Coles Co, IL to Elizabeth Barham.

(Date calculator: Death 25 Dec 1867 minus died at age 83Y 10M 20D = Birth 5 Feb 1784)

Benjamin Sumner, a native of North Carolina, was the first permanent settler in the Christy township, Lawrence county, Illinois. He was a native of North Carolina and came in 1817, and on the 25th day of October of that year entered the NE quarter of section 14, where he erected a small round log cabin. He had a wife and two children, Seley who died young, and Samuel who was born in Georgia, in 1815, and is still living on section 10, near Sumner. He was three times married. Simpson and Sullivan Sumner, of the town of Sumner, and Mrs. William Musgrove, children by the second marriage, are still living, and are among the old residents. Seven children of the third wife are yet living.

About 1827, Mr Sumner built an incline ox grist and flax mill on his premises. This was the first mill built in the township. He afterward kept a small general store on his place. He was a careful, industrious farmer, never spending any time in hunting or sporting of any kind. His industry was rewarded by large acquisitions of land which before his death, occurring on Christmas day, 1878, he divided among his children. At one time, when Mr Sumner was away from home, his wife Elizabeth, who was an expert in the use of the rifle, shot a deer, and had it dressed and put away, on his return.

- Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois: Historical and Biographical (1884)

Contributor: Remember (49379130)

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Suggested edit: Children

Seley Sumner (1813 - 1828)

Samuel Sumner (1815 - 1906)

Starkey Sumner (? - ?)

Sandy Burrus Sumner (1820 - 1847)

Simpson William S Sumner (1824 - 1901)

Sophia (Sumner) Musgrove (1825 - 1903)

Simeon Sumner (1828 - ?)

Sullivan Sumner (1830 - 1909)

Sylvania Sumner (1833 - 1833)

Susanna A (Sumner) VanScyoc (1833 - 1914)

Schuyler C Sumner (1834 - ?)

Steuben Sumner (1837 - 1911)

Sarah Bulger (Sumner) Musgrove (1839 - 1855)

Sabrina (Sumner) Abell (1842 - 1932)

Smiley Sumner (1843 - 1911)

Sophronia (Sumner) Brock (1846 - 1886)

Contributor: RememberForever (49379130)