John William Summers "Obit"

I have never seen such a difficult family to trace - a widespread common name and few records. But what makes it particularly difficult is to determine what to accept and what to mistrust. Unsourced trees, conflicting data, impossible dates, and now questionable obits. The following obit has been posted on the internet, but is it reliable or was it just invented based on "accepted information"? No source (newspaper) is given, the obituary is written the way modern obits are written and seems far too detailed, particularly for the time.  Was it published in 1889 or was it created recently by a family historian. I vote for the latter, particularly since my request for its origin has gone unanswered. I have no complaints about an obituary being written well past the death of an individual, as long as it is presented as such.

 

OBITUARY - John William Summers

WINCHESTER - JOHN WILLIAM SUMMERS, 63 years 11 months 21 days, passed away on July 26, 1889 at his home from complications of a stroke suffered two years earlier. He was born August 5, 1825 in Logan County Kentucky to William and Jane Ross Summers. He was brother to Joseph, Elvira, Polly and Jane. On September 21, 1848, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ann Peek his loving wife of 41 years. She survives. He was preceded in death by his parents and sons Joseph L and Samuel P. He is survived by ten children. They are, Jane Lawson, Flora Ellen Howard, Charles H (Elizabeth), Thomas (Laura), George L (Ida), William (Lillie), Alice Headrick, Lottie Todd , Frank (Nicholina) and Ludella Seymour.

Mr. Summers was a member of Pioneer Lodge, No. 70, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and abided always in the principles of friendship, love and truth. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was honest, correct and fair in his dealings with his fellow man. He taught two terms of school at Harts (Sandy precinct). During one of these terms the Mexican war broke out. He left his school and went forth at his country's call, a volunteer, and served faithfully through the struggle. He received an honorable discharge (which is still preserved as a memento by the family) came back and finished teaching his term of school. In 1875 Mr. Summers was elected a member of the board of county commissioners. He served two terms. Mr. Summers was considered one of the best financiers ever in charge of the county's affairs. He also served as magistrate at Winchester for twelve years. Mr. Summers was a business man and farmer in and around the Winchester area.

John will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather.

Services were held at the Methodist Episcopal Church with burial in the family plot at the Winchester cemetery

And now I have finally stumbled across the truth. An internet copy of this has been found ending with the statement "This is a composite obituary created from several different documents located in the Scott County Illinois archives." In other words, it has all the reliability of a researcher's tree. None. I would like to thank the author for revealing the source, yet people continue to cite this "Obituary" as if it were contemporary to the time. It is not. In the absence of verbatim copies of all the documents used in its composition, it cannot be trusted. But who is listening?