Philip and Alice Sumner of Burden celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 5th, 1941 as their anniversary fell on Oct. 3rd. The children and grandchildren entertained with an open house for the occasion, which was attended by a host of relatives and friends. Philip and Alice Lundy were married in Hillsville, Virginia, in Carroll County, October 3rd, 1881 by Alice's father Elder William Lundy, who was a Baptist minister. Philip and Alice had nine children, all born in Virginia. Two died in infancy.

    The children were Cloyd, Sanders, Charley, Wyatt, Robert, Rufus, and Rhoda (Wesbrooks).

     The Sumners resided in Virginia until 1905, at which time they moved to Cowley County and purchased a farm home 5 miles southeast of Cambridge. They resided there for a number of years then moved to Arkansas for a change in climate for Alice's health where they lived for five years. They returned to the Burden vicinity April 17, 1921 and lived nearby until 1927 when they purchased a home in the southeast section of Burden. Grandma Alice died October 2, 1942, at age 81, one day prior to the the couple's 61st wedding anniversary. Grandpa Philip died September 28, 1949 at age 85. They are buried in the South Prairie cemetery southeast of Cambridge. Philip and Alice were not rich in monetary value but with their family and grandchildren they were blessed ten fold.

     They were hard workers making do with what they had, and thankful for that. Family picnic dinners were held outside the home on the lawn not using tables. The Sumners were always happy to see family members and usually invited them to stay for a meal. Families helped by bringing food.

     Grandma's meals were always delicious. She wasn't a fancy cook however everything tasted good. Grandma enjoyed baking soft molasses cookies and stored them in a lard can in the pantry. I don't think she ever said no to any grandchild who asked if they could get a cookie. In later years relatives asked about a recipe for the soft molasses cookies. Some didn't believe she used one.

     One of grandma's pleasures was her perennial flower garden - plants that come up every year.  I remember leaving many times with a bouquet of fresh cut flowers.

     Grandma Alice was one who liked to wear long cotton dresses and a large apron with a pocket that held her tin snuff container. We younger children were fascinated when she took out the (thing) from her cheek, dip it in the snuff tin, then place it back in her cheek. My grandparents were special because they were a hard working couple. My middle name is Alice, named after grandma Alice.

     Grandpa Philip was a blacksmith. His shop was located east of the home. Since I was young then I had no interest in what went on in the blacksmith shop however grandpa knew what to do when someone brought something to be fired in the hand turned forge then hammered out on the huge anvil.

     The Philip and Alice Sumner descendants and families hold reunions at the Burden Park on the Sunday before Monday Memorial Day in May, to keep in touch.

Rufus & Viola Sumner Family

    Rufus Samuel Sumner (1894-1974) and Viola Delight (Chambers) Sumner (1887 - 1976) were residents of Cowley County for most of their lives. Rufus was born in Carrol County Virginia to Phillip Wilburn and Alice (Lundy) Sumner who eventually settled in this area. Phillip operated a blacksmith shop in Burden for a number of years.

     Viola Chambers was born at Thayer, Nebraska to Robert and Edith (Parker) Chambers. The Chambers family later lived in the Cambridge and Burden area after several years in Arkansas. Rufus and Viola were married March 17, 1915 in Winfield and observed their 61st anniversary in 1976. The couple had ten children; Orin Robert, the oldest, died in 1971; Howard Wilbur, Arkansas City, Nita Alice (Sumner) Wilson, Burden; Rufus Junior, Topeka; Lois Edith (Sumner) Dennett, Winfield; Gene Clyde, Rogers, Arkansas; Aletha Ferne (Sumner) Titus, Mulvane; twins Ray Owen, Moline, and Faye lone (Sumner) Smith, Thayer, and Iris Lucille (Sumner) Howard, Thayer.

     For many years Rufus was employed as bridge foreman working out of the Winfield, as well as the Burden County Shops. Many of the concrete bridges he helped build are still in use.

     The family lived on the south edge of Winfield for six years during the later 20s. The street leading to Walmart's was on the edge of their property.

     The Sumner family were among the victims of the Winfield 1928 flood. Several pieces of furniture were lost or damaged by high water that got in the house. The family spent the night in other homes that night, before going back to the flood damaged home, and the job of cleanup. The family lived later in the Tisdale community and north of Burden.

     Feeding a growing family was not an easy matter but Rufus and Viola did it, growing garden produce and home canning and preserving. She knew how to make the most with what little there was.

     Viola was a member of the Cowley County Red Cross, giving First Aid classes, and assisting in local disasters. She was among those helping at Udall following the 1955 tornado.

     During his retirement years, Rufus worked as a carpenter, from shingling roofs to making small knick-knacks. He built numerous cabinets, closets, etc. Although he never completed his grade school, he understood figures in his work. He was also an avid fisherman, preferring local ponds to creeks.

     I, Nita (Sumner) Wilson, am the third from the oldest in the family of ten. None of us were born in a hospital. I was born southwest of Burden, when my father was working for Frank Weigle. I married Percy McCoy Wilson, February 18, 1940. We celebrated our 50th anniversary in 1990. We live six miles south of Burden, on the Herman Wilson family home place. We have a daughter, Martha (Wilson), her husband Larry Kelley, four grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.  A son, Robert Wilson died in 1963 at age 19.

Robert "Bert" Wilson family

Dr. Herman and Lucy Wilson