George W. Summers
Encyclopedia
George William Summers was an attorney, politician, and jurist from Virginia
(now West Virginia
).
Summers was born in Fairfax County, Virginia
, where his father served in the House of Delegates for four terms. His family moved to Kanawha County
(later Putnam County
) in 1814. Summers, having graduated from Ohio University
in 1825, was admitted to the bar in 1827 and opened a law practice in Charleston
.
In 1830, Summers was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates
and served from 1830 to 1832 and 1834 to 1836. Later in 1840, Summers was elected as a Whig
to the U.S. House of Representatives serving in the Twenty-Seventh and Twenty-Eighth Congresses. He was defeated for reelection in 1844.
Summers was a delegate to the 1850 Virginia Constitutional Convention but failed to win the governor's race in 1851. Summers became a circuit court judge for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. Summers represented Kanawha County
in the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861. He was an ardent opponent of Virginia's secession from the Union and in March 1861 hoped, with associates, to call a border state convention in Nashville
or Frankfort
to forestall the looming conflict.
Summers died in Charleston on September 19, 1868.
In 1871, the West Virginia Legislature
honored Summers by forming Summers County
from portions of Fayette
, Greenbrier County
, Mercer County
, and Monroe County
.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
(now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
).
Summers was born in Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
, where his father served in the House of Delegates for four terms. His family moved to Kanawha County
Kanawha County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 200,073 people, 86,226 households, and 55,960 families residing in the county. The population density was 222 people per square mile . There were 93,788 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
(later Putnam County
Putnam County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,589 people, 20,028 households, and 15,281 families residing in the county. The population density was 149 people per square mile . There were 21,621 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
) in 1814. Summers, having graduated from Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
in 1825, was admitted to the bar in 1827 and opened a law practice in Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
.
In 1830, Summers was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
and served from 1830 to 1832 and 1834 to 1836. Later in 1840, Summers was elected as a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
to the U.S. House of Representatives serving in the Twenty-Seventh and Twenty-Eighth Congresses. He was defeated for reelection in 1844.
Summers was a delegate to the 1850 Virginia Constitutional Convention but failed to win the governor's race in 1851. Summers became a circuit court judge for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. Summers represented Kanawha County
Kanawha County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 200,073 people, 86,226 households, and 55,960 families residing in the county. The population density was 222 people per square mile . There were 93,788 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
in the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861. He was an ardent opponent of Virginia's secession from the Union and in March 1861 hoped, with associates, to call a border state convention in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
or Frankfort
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
to forestall the looming conflict.
Summers died in Charleston on September 19, 1868.
In 1871, the West Virginia Legislature
West Virginia Legislature
The West Virginia Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of West Virginia. A bicameral legislative body, the Legislature is split between the upper Senate and the lower House of Delegates. It was established under Article VI of the West Virginia Constitution following the state's...
honored Summers by forming Summers County
Summers County, West Virginia
Summers County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,927. Its county seat is Hinton. Summers County was created by an act of the West Virginia General Assembly on February 27, 1871 from parts of Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer and Monroe...
from portions of Fayette
Fayette County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,579 people, 18,945 households, and 13,128 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 21,616 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
, Greenbrier County
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,453 people, 14,571 households, and 9,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 17,644 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
, Mercer County
Mercer County, West Virginia
-External links:* * * * * * *...
, and Monroe County
Monroe County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
.
External links
- George William Summers in Union or Secession: Virginians Decide at the Library of VirginiaLibrary of VirginiaThe Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, is the library agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, its archival agency, and the reference library at the seat of government. The Library moved into a new building in 1997 and is located at 800 East Broad Street, 2 blocks from the Virginia State...
- History of Summers County