Ralph B. Sumner, farmer, of Middlesex County, Canada, is the son of Cyrus W. Sumner, and grandson of William Sumner, who was born in Keene, N. H., and who married Patience Johnson. To their union were born eight children—William, Clement, Nathaniel, Cyrus W., Mary, Betsy, Clara, and Cyntha (all dead). Mr. Sumner moved to Canada and settled in Oxford County, where he carried on the Cooper trade. His family moved to Blenheim, where Cyrus W. Sumner, father of subject, was born in 1803. William Sumner died in Haltou, near Milton. Cyrus W. was a farmer by occupation, and married Rebecca Sumner, daughter of William A. Sumner, who was an old settler on the 1st Concession of Westminster about 1816, and was a second cousin to Cyrus W. Sumner. The latter had moved to Middlesex County in 1819; was married there in 1835, and first took up a lot on the 13th Concession, London Township, but afterwards bought Lot No. 19, 1st Concession of Westminster, where his son now resides. Mr. Sumner was a hard-working man, and accumulated a good property. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and lived to be 77 years of age. He was known by all the old settlers as an honorable, upright man. His death occurred in 1880. Ralph B. Sumner, son of the above gentlemen, was born on the old homestead, and still sleeps in the same room in which he first saw the light of day in 1836. He received a good common school education, and has followed farming all his life. He was married to Miss Mary Root, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Lee) Root, and to them were born two children—Cyrus H.» and Amelia L. Mr. Sumner is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. Lodge, and he and Mrs. Sumner are members of the Congregational Church. He is a well-to-do farmer, and understands agricultural pursuits and keep- ing up the soil. He has 115 acres of land, and has one of the best and most pleasantly situated farms in the township. His great grandfather was a clergyman of the Church of England, and immigrated from Sussex to New Hampshire. Mr. Sumner has in his possession a six pound iron cannon ball which was fired across the Niagara river from Lewiston to Queenston in the War of 1812, and was picked up the next day after the battle by William Sumner, an uncle of the subject of this sketch.
