Daniel Sumrall (1845-1923)

Daniel Sumrall was born in Perry County, Mississippi on August 22, 1845 to the marriage of Benjamin Asberry Sumrall and Margaret McRae or Nicholson.

On June 11, 1864, at the age of 19, Dan enlisted in the Union Army.  He served as a Private in the United States Volunteers, Company H, 1st Regiment, New Orleans Infantry, Louisiana.

On December 3, 1868, Daniel Sumrall married Mary Rebecca Pouncey.  Dan and Becky settled in a portion of Marion County that later became Lamar County.

Prior to 1874, Dan purchased a grist mill, cotton gin and farm belonging to Arthur Lott.  He later added a store and established the Sumrall post office in the store.

When the community incorporated there was opposition to naming the community and post office Sumrall due to Dan's service in the Union Army.

The Post Master General refused to change the name of the post office and issued Order 48 in 1892 stating that the name of post offices should be the same as the towns and railway stations to prevent confusion in mail delivery.  In 1903, the incorporated community was named Sumrall.

Dan and Becky had the following children:

William Thomas
Mary Elizabeth
Frances
Annie Jane
Mary Margaret
Daniel Peter
Lillie
Berry Erastus
Earl Bethea
Addie
Hattie
Allie Mae

Daniel Sumrall passed from this life on November 26, 1923.  He is buried alongside his wife in the Dan Sumrall Cemetery, Sumrall, Lamar County, Mississippi.

It has been said that Daniel Sumrall left his descendants something distinctively his.  Those of us with red hair, fair complexion and a map of Scotland tattooed across the bridges of our noses know this to be true.

Daniel Sumrall, the red headed Scotchman, was my maternal great-great grandfather.