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Below is a family biography included in The History of Dyer County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Frank Summers, M. D., of Dyersburg, was born in Bullitt County, Ky., April 30, 1853. His grandfather, Benjamin Summers, was born June 12, 1771, and emigrated from Maryland to Kentucky in 1791, and there died in August, 1844. John B. Summers, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born July 4, 1799. The earlier part of his life was spent in mercantile pursuits, but later in life he was engaged in farming. He was twice married, his first wife being Susan Amanda Merrifield, who was born July 19, 1809, and died March 9, 1836, and was the father of twelve children. His second wife, Mary Jane Kirkpatrick, was the mother of ten children, of whom Frank was one. She was born in Kentucky, September 5, 1814, and died April 16, 1863. After the death of his parents, Frank lived with his uncle, Samuel C. Bealmear, in Nelson County, Ky. At the age of twenty-one he began the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. J. A. Larrabee, of Louisville, Ky., and in 1875 he entered the Hospital Medical College of that city, from which institution he graduated in February, 1877. He then located at Boston, Nelson Co., Ky., where he remained until 1884, when he came to Dyersburg. He has a thorough knowledge of his profession, and is fast growing a large and lucrative practice. On June 6, 1882, he married Dixie B. Dawson, a native of Dyer County, born in May, 1863. She died November 27, 1884, having borne one child— Angus Clark, who was born October 19, 1884, and died December 25, of the same year.

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This family biography is one of 128 biographies included in The History of Dyer County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Dyer County was included within The History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley & Lake Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley, and Lake Counties of Tennessee

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