Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-03-27

the usual struggles commenced between the
settlers and the aborigines, for the occupancy
of the country, and Mr. Summers was an active
leader and pioneer for the whites, in the various
campaigns undertaken for the removal OF the
Indians west of the Blue Ridge. When the
country began to receive some population, ne
married Mrs. Blake, by whom ne had hVe
sons and five daughters, Mrs. Hurst, Mrs
Deshins Mrs. Pratt, Mrs Saster, and Mrs.
Ballinger. As the culture OF tobacco, began 10
spread to this part Of the colony, ne became
builder of tobacco houses. They were framed
buildings forty feet square aud ten to the roof'
wcat her boarded and covered with roug boards,
commonly called clap boards. taking the mate
rial from the forest, erecting aud hnlshlog two
of those houses was the work oil himself anu
two negro men whom he owned, and had in-
s,ructed for all the working part OF the year,
Ia those days he considered this thriving
business. Hunting was his favorie employ
lnent, and iu his latter days, he took pleasure
in regaling his friends with anecdotes OF the
chase, his IudaD campaigns, and incidents OF
his early life. He seems to bave been Ike
Boone regardless of the acquisition OF land,
thinking the taxes, quit rents, &c, more bur
deusome than the lands would be beneficial ,and
which he illustrated by the refusal OF deed
from the patentee Of the land on which Alex-
andra now stands, and on which he resided, 10
exchange for bis tavorte rif.. he used to say
he did not know how he was to provide for his
family without his rife to kill game, but as to
land, it was 100 plenty to think Of buying it.
"Nlr. John SUNNI .rs lived to see Alexandria
become place of considerable commercial lm-
porlauce, aud frequently adVerted to his cabin
being the first building ever erected there, and
that the FIRST frame house put up at that place
was prepared and framed by himself and haul
cd to the site it was to occupy on his own land
above Through Hill.
"He was a man of very robust constitution,
broad in the chest, powerful 10 limb, and about
FIVE feet ten inches high. He was 100 far al.
vauccd 10 years 10 take part III the revolution,
but many of his dc>cendentS were 10 the army,
some as officers aud others IN the ranks. lie
retained his faculties TO the last and strength
in re,na1k kabe degree, and was appealed to
on all ouesti ,us of ltle and boundaries of the
early surveys. Within the last ten years OF
his li.e he was accustomed to walk from six to
eight miles a day vistiog his children, often
sccompanied by bis grand son. He exercised
freely on foot until within about year OF his
death, when he received fall which disIocat-
ed his hip, and was afterwards confined to his
bed, where the recital of the Liturgy and the
prayers OF the church occupied the time when
be was alone. He was remarkable for the
s,rcug,h Of his jaws and teeth. When up.
wards Of eighty years OF age observing hog
unable to crack a walnut, be washed it and
broke it between his teeth. They were free from
all disease, ard remained uotlII year or two
before his death, when many OF them gradua-
" loosened from the jaw aud fell out. These
he preserved aud directed 10 be uttered with
him. His last moments were calm aud un-
clonded. He bad been for some time patiently
awaiting the summons, and on the evening OF
his death had suppcd as usual, and was heard
huuming psalm Of the church aud recltlng
the evening prayers. A few minutes after.
wards it was discovered his spirit had taken its
fl ght to the bosom Of Its God.
1.-THE following notice Of his death is from the
Sth volume Of the American Museum, pub
lished III Philadelphia, for the year ll9O:,
Died Virginia. near Alexandria, MIR. John
Summers aged lO3 He has left desoeudeDts
to the fourth generation, amounting 'c four
hundred persous.