John W. Summers

John W. Summers
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 4th district
In office March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1933
Preceded by	William L. La Follette
Succeeded by	Knute Hill
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
In office 1917
Personal details
Born	John William Summers (1870-04-29)April 29, 1870 Indiana, U.S.
Died	September 25, 1937(1937-09-25) (aged 67) Walla Walla, Washington, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Jennie B. (Burks) Summers
Children	Hope
Alma mater	Kentucky School of Medicine Southern Indiana Normal College

John William Summers (April 29, 1870 – September 25, 1937) was a U.S. Representative from Washington.

Born in Indiana, Summers attended the public schools. He was graduated from the Southern Indiana Normal College at Mitchell, Indiana, in 1889 and from the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville in 1892. He pursued postgraduate studies in the Louisville Medical College and in New York, London, Berlin, and the University of Vienna, Austria. He commenced the practice of medicine in Mattoon, Illinois. He moved to Walla Walla, Washington, in 1908 and continued the practice of medicine. He also engaged in agricultural pursuits and fruit raising. He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1917. Summers was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-sixth and to the six succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1933). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1932 to the Seventy-third Congress, and for election in 1934 to the Seventy-fourth Congress and in 1936 to the Seventy-fifth Congress.

He resumed former pursuits. Summers was married to Jennie B. (Burks) Summers (1867–1956), a member of the Christian Women's Temperance Union, as well as active member of many club, church and organizational groups. John W. Summers died in Walla Walla, Washington, on September 25, 1937. He was interred in Mountain View Cemetery, alongside his beloved wife Jennie, of many years.

Summers' daughter, Hope was a film and television actress, best remembered by TV audiences on TV's on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D., as Aunt Bee's gossipy best friend Clara Edwards (1960–71).

Sources

• United States Congress. "John W. Summers (id: S001067)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.