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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - PAGE 163-164
BURTON SUMNER has been long identified with the growth and development of Grant county, of which, with occasional brief intervals, he has been a resident for nearly sixty years. He has entered upon the seventh decade of his life with rugged strength and unclouded intellect, hale, hearty and well-preserved in both mind and body. He was born in Erie county, N.Y., Nov. 7, 1839, a son of Joshua and Anna SUMNER, natives of New York.
Joshua SUMNER, not wholly satisfied with his environment, came to Wisconsin on what may be said to have been a prospecting tour in the spring of 1843. Being satisfied with what he saw, and perceiving a bright outlook for the then sparsely settled territory, he selected a location at British Hollow, in the mining region of Southwestern Wisconsin. He sent word to his wife to meet him with their family, then consisting of six children (all yet living) - the youngest not being born until 1845 - to accompany him to their new home in a country whose resources had yet to be developed, whose forests were to be felled, and whose virgin soil was to be reduced to subjection. In the autumn of that year (1843) the family started on the toilsome, tedious journey. They traveled by water to Chicago (then a mere muddy, straggling settlement) and thence by ox-team to their point of destination, the husband and father meeting them at Chicago. After a residence of twelve years at the "Hollow" the family removed to Hurricane. In that township is situated Mr. SUMNER's farm, and at his home his father passed away in 1895, his mother having gone to her reward many years before. The children, four daughters and three sons, are Sarah, Elizabeth, Almira, Olive, Byron, Burton, and George W.
At the outbreak of the rebellion Burton SUMNER's veins were filled with patriotic fire, and in 1862, he enlisted in Company C, 25th Wis. V.I., commanded by the celebrated Col. (afterward Gen.) Jeremiah M. Rusk, who subsequently filled Wisconsin's gubernatorial chair. The record of the 25th is unsurpassed by that of any of the gallant regiments which left the State to fight, to suffer and to win renown in southern bivouac and on Southern battlefields. At the time of its being mustered in the regiment was ordered to proceed from La Crosse into Minnesota, which state was then being terrorized by Indian raids, and the men's first experience of actual danger came early in their term of service. The Redskins having been whipped into submission, the command proceeded to Columbus, Ky., and thence to Snyder's Bluff, on the Mississippi, where it constituted a part of the force deployed to prevent Gen. Joseph E. Johnston from attacking Grant in the rear or going to the relief of Pemberton, who was then hemmed up in Vicksburg. Climatic influence and bad water brought about an epidemic of malarial fever among the Northern troops, and Mr. SUMNER was one of the large number thus affected. In fact, so general was the scourge that at one time only fifteen members of his company were able to report for duty, while the percentage of sick men in other companies was little, if at all, lower. After the surrender of Vicksburg the 25th was ordered to Helena, Ark., whence they returned to Vicksburg in time to take part in the famous raid on Meridian, Miss., joining Sherman's army at Resaca, and fighting in all the hotly-contested battles around Atlanta. Immediately after the engagement at Jonesboro Mr. SUMNER was taken, broken in health, to the hospital at Marietta, Ga., returning to Atlanta about the time that Gen. Sherman set out for Savannah. Being unable, because of physical disability, to accompany his regiment, he - in company with many of his comrades - was sent home on a sick furlough. Having measurably regained his health he reported for duty at Madison, but owing to the interruption of communication with Sherman's army it was impossible to send the convalescents forward until three months had elapsed, the men meanwhile chafing at their enforced inactivity. Finally, news being received of the army's arrival at the Atlantic coast, he and his companions were at once sent forward, going through Hilton Head, N.C., to Broad River, where Mr. SUMNER, remained in the convalescent camp for a fortnight. He at length rejoined his regiment at Raleigh, and was received with a hearty welcome, Gen. Rusk himself taking the private by the hand and congratulating him on his return, saying, "We will have music now till you can't rest." The surrender of Johnston to Sherman put an end to further warfare in the Carolinas, and from Raleigh the victorious army proceeded on its long, toilsome march to Washington. The 25th participated in the grand review at the National capital, and was mustered out in June, 1865.
Mr. SUMNER was married in 1866 to Irena M. RICHARDSON, whose father, Harris RICHARDSON, married Lucy GORDON, whose birthplace was in Connecticut. Mr. RICHARDSON was born in New York, removed with his family to Ohio, and thence to southwestern Wisconsin, settling at Hurricane, Grant county, at an early date in the county's history. He died there in 1860, and his widow in 1866. Mrs. SUMNER is one of a family of five children, all of whom are yet living. She has borne her husband three children: Mary, George and Rosa.
Mr. SUMNER, as may be readily believed from the story of his life, is a man whom his fellow townsmen hold in deservedly high esteem. Genial, generous, industrious and upright, his friends are many, and he is most thoroughly respected by those who know him best. Lancaster has been his home since he first fixed his residence there, with the exception of his period of military service and the seven years between 1876 and 1883, when he and his family resided at Lac qui Parle, Minnesota.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck