The Mystery of Jesse T. Moreman

In Wilderness Road Volume 26, Issue 4, Page 98, Sherry Lee, a volunteer at the Bullitt County History Museum, wrote an article about the Benjamin Summers house and property that had been recently sold and is to be developed. The house is one of the oldest in Bullitt County, Kentucky that is still standing.

Barbara Bailey, another volunteer at the Bullitt County History Museum, and a friend went by the property to check the progress of the demolition or renovation of the house. The house had been stripped down to possibly the original log structure. Walking around the house they noticed that a gravestone was being used as a step to the front porch. The gravestone is cracked and the inscription is-

An alert went out to the members of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society to solve the mystery of Jesse T. Moreman and why his gravestone was at the Summers house.

In my research I found that a Jesse T. Moorman had been buried at Cave Hill Cemetery on November 29, 1893 in Section E, Lot 161. Further research of Cave Hill Cemetery records shows that Dr. B. F. Summers and Lucy Moorman Summers were also buried in this lot and that Dr. B. F. Summers, Mary Summers and Benjamin Franklin Summers, Jr. were all moved to Cave Hill Cemetery on November 29, 1893. The names of Benjamin Franklin Summers, Jr., Mary Summers and Jesse T. Moorman are inscribed on the back of the monument for Dr. B. F. Summers and Lucy Moorman Summers, but there are no dates. Pictures of the original Jesse Moreman gravestone and the back of the Summers’ monument can be found on Find A Grave Memorial # 164138303. These pictures were submitted to Find A Grave by Daniel Buxton, also a volunteer at the Bullitt County History Museum.

If Jesse Moreman was originally buried at the Summers place and later moved to Cave Hill Cemetery with the rest of the Summers family, I surmised there must be a connection. More research found that he was a brother to Lucy Moreman Summers and they were the children of Jesse P. Moreman of Hardin and Meade County, Kentucky. There is a lot we do not know about Jesse Moreman, but if his gravestone had not been found we may not have known about him at all.

Researching Jesse Moreman we have found some interesting information on Dr. Benjamin Franklin Summers and Lucy Moreman and their descendants. We would appreciate any information on the original location of the Summers’ family cemetery and who else was buried there. And as always, we would appreciate any additions or corrections to the information in this article.

1. DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN2 SUMMERS (BENJAMIN1) was born May 30, 1810 in Bullitt County, Ky., and died August 23, 1854 in Bullitt County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Kentucky Section E, Lot 161, Grave 6. He married LUCY CATHERINE MOREMAN January 11, 1842 in Hardin County, Ky., daughter of JESSE P. MOREMAN. She was born January 29, 1823 in Hardin County, Ky., and died October 28, 1893 in Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Kentucky, Section E, Lot 161, Grave 1.

Notes for DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SUMMERS:

Dr. Benjamin Franklin Summers was the son of Benjamin Summers and Volinda Beckwith. We do not know where or with whom he may have studied medicine. He may have practiced medicine in Big Spring, Kentucky, a small community at the point where the counties of Hardin, Breckinridge and Meade join, and in the northern part of Bullitt County, Kentucky.

Some researchers have Dr. Summers with two wives before Lucy Moreman, but we have not verified if this is the same person.

Benjamin F. Summers inherited the family home and 333 acres after the death of his father, Benjamin Summers, in 1844. When Dr. Summers died he left the house and property to his widow and family. On April 19, 1886 Lucy Summers sold the property to John Foster of California. John Foster sold the property to James Cochran on November 20, 1890. On July 17. 1923 R. G. Cochran sold the property to Laura Elizabeth Link Frick. Elizabeth and her husband, Ben Frick, sold the property to Frank Christman on October 28, 1938. All County Realty LLCX purchased the property from Donald Christman on June 25, 2010. The property was then sold to Dogwood Homes Realty Group.

According to Bullitt County, Kentucky death records Dr. Summers’ date of death was August 23, 1854, but the inscription on his gravestone gives the year as 1853. (Find A Grave Memorial #106781055)

Notes for LUCY CATHERINE MOREMAN:

Lucy and her family's name has been found as Moreman and Moorman.

Some researchers have Lucy Moreman's birthplace as Meade County, Kentucky. It did not become a county until 1824, a year after her birth. She may have been born in a part of Hardin County that later became Meade County.

"January 18, 1894-Lucy Summers, nee Moreman, aged 70 years, died in Louisville, Kentucky at residence of her son-in-law, Emery Johnson, October 28, 1893, native of Hardin County, Kentucky; daughter of Squire Jesse P. Moreman, being one of ten children ( five sons, five daughters); married Dr. B. F. Summers, Bullitt County, Kentucky; four surviving children, several deceased. Burial Cave Hill Cemetery." (Genealogical Abstracts from Reported Deaths, The Nashville Christian Advocate, 1894-1896, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 2002)

Children of DR. SUMMERS and LUCY MOREMAN are:

• i. 2 JULIA T. SUMMERS, b. July 31, 1845, Bullitt County, Ky.; d. June 16, 1922, Pulaski County, Arkansas.

• ii. MARY SUMMERS, b. Abt. 1847; d. August 18, 1852, Bullitt County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Kentucky, Section E, Lot 161, Grave 6.

Notes for MARY SUMMERS:

Date of death for Mary Summers from the Bullitt County, Kentucky death records. It gives her age as 5. The gravestone at Cave Hill Cemetery does not give any birth or death dates for her.

• iii. 3 LUCY CATHERINE SUMMERS, b. June 06, 1848, Bullitt County, Ky.; d. July 07, 1914, Jefferson County, Ky.

• iv. 4 BEVERLY MOREMAN SUMMERS, b. October 02, 1850, Bullitt County, Ky.; d. November 09, 1918, Jefferson County, Ky.

• v. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SUMMERS, JR., b. February 22, 1853, Bullitt County, Ky.; d. Bef. 1860 with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Kentucky, Section E, Lot 161, Grave 6.

Notes for BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SUMMERS, JR.:

Birth date for Benjamin Franklin Summers, Jr. is from the Bullitt County, Kentucky birth records and we have not found a death date for him. He does not appear in the 1860 census and the gravestone at Cave Hill Cemetery does not give any dates.

2. JULIA T.3 SUMMERS (DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN2, BENJAMIN1) was born July 31, 1845 in Bullitt County, Ky., and died June 16, 1922 in Pulaski County, Arkansas with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section E, Lot 161, Grave 4. She married JAMES FRANCIS WOOD October 05, 1869 in Bullitt County, Ky.. He was born December 03, 1844 in Morris County, New Jersey, and died January 29, 1930 in Pulaski County, Arkansas with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section E, Lot 161, Grave 8.

Notes for JULIA T. SUMMERS:

From the Arkansas Democrat, Little Rock, Arkansas, June 17. 1922, Page 3-"The funeral of Mrs. James Wood who died Friday morning was held Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the residence, 605 Rector Avenue, in charge of the Rev. P. C. Fletcher. The body was sent by P. H. Reubel and Company over the Missouri Pacific Saturday afternoon to Louisville, Kentucky. The pallbearers were K. Pemberton, N. H. Hughes, W. A. Royston, J. H. Hamilter, John Deason and C. Radcliff."

There is another obituary in the Arkansas Democrat on June 16, 1922, Page 17 that mentions that Julia was born in "Summerfield, Bullett County, Kentucky" and that she and her husband had moved to Arkansas in 1875. We do not know if "Summerfield" was a mistake by the newspaper or if that was the name of the Summers’ home here in Bullitt County.

Notes for JAMES FRANCIS WOOD:

From the Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock, Arkansas, January 20, 1930-"James Francis Wood, aged 82, died at 3:30 yesterday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Bently Cox, 605 Reuter Avenue. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 this afternoon at P. H. Reubel and Company. Chapel in charge of the Rev. W. A. Martin assisted by the Rev. John P. Lowry. The body will be sent to Louisville, Kentucky for burial."

Children of JULIA SUMMERS and JAMES WOOD are:

• i. LUCY SPENCER WOOD, b. August 20, 1875, Pulaski County, Arkansas; d. January 06, 1897, Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section E, Lot 161, Grave 7.

Notes for LUCY SPENCER WOOD:

According to Jefferson County, Kentucky death records Lucy Wood died in January 1897, but no day. Cave Hill Cemetery Records state that she was buried January 07, 1897.

• ii. 5 BEVERLY BECKWITH WOOD, b. November 08, 1879, Pulaski County, Arkansas; d. 1956, Arkansas.

3. LUCY CATHERINE3 SUMMERS (DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN2, BENJAMIN1) was born June 06, 1848 in Bullitt County, Ky., and died July 07, 1914 in Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 12, Lot 6, Grave 1. She married THOMAS JEFFERSON HUMPHREY(S) December 08, 1870 in Bullitt County, Ky.. He was born March 28, 1848 in Nelson County, Ky., and died February 25, 1925 in Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 12, Lot 6, Grave 2.

Children of LUCY SUMMERS and THOMAS HUMPHREY(S) are:

• i. 6 REBECCA (REBA) CARPENTER HUMPHREY(S), b. June 1871, Jefferson County, Ky.; d. March 07, 1946, New York.

• ii. LUCY CATHERINE HUMPHREY(S), b. July 28, 1877, Jefferson County, Ky.; d. July 1962, Duval County, Florida with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 12, Lot 6, Grave 7; m. ROSCOE JAMES DOSS, June 30, 1914, Georgia; b. March 30, 1884, Georgia; d. June 26, 1949, New Hanover County, North Carolina with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 12, Lot 6, Grave 6.

4. BEVERLY MOREMAN SUMMERS (DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN2, BENJAMIN1) was born October 02, 1850 in Bullitt County, Ky., and died November 09, 1918 in Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section M, Lot 118, Grave 11. She married EMORY GILBERT JOHNSON Abt. 1879. He was born July 23, 1849, and died July 27, 1903 in Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section M, Lot 118, Grave 14.

Notes for BEVERLY MOREMAN SUMMERS:

From The Courier Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, November 11, 1918, Page 9-"Johnson, Saturday, November 9 at 5:30 P. M. Beverly S. Johnson, widow of the late Emory G. Johnson, in the 69th year of age. Funeral from the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Henry M. Johnson, 1617 Windsor Place, this Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Interment at Cave Hill Cemetery.

Child of BEVERLY SUMMERS and EMORY JOHNSON is:

• i. 7 ELLA MONKS JOHNSON, b. July 28, 1883; d. August 21, 1972, Jefferson County, Ky.

5. BEVERLY BECKWITH WOOD (JULIA T.3 SUMMERS, DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN2, BENJAMIN1) was born November 08, 1879 in Pulaski County, Arkansas, and died 1956 in Arkansas with burial in Brearly Cemetery, Yell County, Arkansas. She married (1) ROBERTSON HORACE BOOKER, SR. October 08, 1903 in Pulaski County, Arkansas. He was born July 24, 1880, and died November 27, 1937 in Pulaski County, Arkansas with burial in Mount Holly Cemetery, Pulaski County, Arkansas. She married (2) Arthur Bentley Cox Abt. 1925. He was born December 22, 1876 in Arkansas.

Marriage Notes for BEVERLY BECKWITH WOOD and ARTHUR BENTLEY COX:

We have not found a marriage date for Beverly Wood Booker and Arthur Cox. Arthur Cox divorced his first wife, Lillian Pierce December 20,1924 in Pulaski County, Arkansas. Beverly possibly divorced Robertson Booker about the same time. We have found Beverly and Arthur Cox in the 1930 and 1940 census, in city directories for Little Rock, Arkansas and his World War II Registration. The common factor is 605 Rector Avenue, the same address in the obituaries for her parents, Julia Summers and James Francis Wood.

Child of BEVERLY WOOD and ROBERTSON BOOKER is:

• i. ROBERTSON HORACE5 BOOKER, JR., b. November 24, 1905, Arkansas; d. January 08, 1965, El Paso County, Texas.

6. REBECCA (REBA) CARPENTER HUMPHREY(S) (LUCY CATHERINE3 SUMMERS, DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN2, BENJAMIN1) was born June 1871 in Jefferson County, Ky., and died March 07, 1946 in New York with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 12, Lot 6, Grave 5. She married ROBERT WALLER OWEN(S) December 21, 1898 in Jefferson County, Ky.. He was born April 1873 in Kentucky, and died August 30, 1940 in New York with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 12, Lot 6, Grave 4.

Notes for REBECCA (REBA) CARPENTER HUMPHREY(S):

From The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, March 08, 1946, Page 27-"Funeral services for Mrs. Reba Humphrey Owen, widow of Robert W. Owen, former Louisville attorney, who died Tuesday night at her home in New York will be held at 2 P.M. today at Cave Hill Cemetery. Owen was district manager of Liggett and Meyers Tobacco Company before his death in 1940. Surviving Mrs. Owen is a daughter, Mrs. Homer Metzger, and a sister, Mrs. Roscoe J. Doss, wife of the vice-president of the Atlantic Coast Lines.

Notes for ROBERT WALLER OWEN(S):

From The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, September 02, 1940. Page 12-"Owens, Robert W., in New York City at 6 P.M. Friday, August 30, 1940. Survived by his wife, Mrs. Reba Humphreys Owens, daughter, Mrs. Homer Metzger ; one grandchild. Remains will arrive at 10:54 A. M. Sunday and will be taken to Lee E. Cralle and Company, 1330 S. Third. Funeral from Cralle's at 10 A. M. Monday, September 2. Interment at Cave Hill Cemetery."

Children of REBECCA HUMPHREY(S) and ROBERT OWEN(S) are:

• i. REBA HUMPHREY(S) OWEN(S), b. November 01, 1901, Jefferson County, Ky.; d. August 19, 1929, New York with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 12, Lot 6, Grave 3.

Notes for REBA HUMPHREY(S) OWEN(S):

From The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, August 20, 1929, Page 18-"Miss Reba Humphreys Owen, 27 years old, formerly of Louisville and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Owen of New York, died there Monday, according to word received here by Mrs. Henry M. Johnson, 1617 Windsor Place, a cousin of Miss Owen. The body will be brought to Louisville Wednesday after funeral services in New York, Miss Owen is a sister to Catherine Dale Owen, Louisville actress and Broadway favorite, who has been chosen as John Gilbert's leading woman to succeed Greta Garbo. She is survived also by her grandfather, Dr. B. F. Owen of the Cortland Hotel and by a cousin."

• ii. 8 CATHERINE DALE OWEN(S), b. July 28, 1903, Jefferson County, Ky.; d. September 07, 1965, New York.

7. ELLA MONKS JOHNSON (BEVERLY MOREMAN3 SUMMERS, DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN2, BENJAMIN1) was born July 28, 1883, and died August 21, 1972 in Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 30, Lot 205, Grave 4. She married HENRY MORTIMER JOHNSON June 03, 1908. He was born February 27, 1875 in Jefferson County, Ky. and died October 16, 1950 in Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 30, Lot 205, Grave 2.

Children of ELLA JOHNSON and HENRY JOHNSON are:

• i. HENRY MADISON JOHNSON, b. June 18, 1910, Jefferson County, Ky.; d. February 04, 1981, Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 30, Lot 205, Grave 5; m. RUBY IRENE STONE, May 23, 1932; b. October 13, 1913, Kentucky; d. March 18, 2006, Jefferson County, Ky.

Notes for RUBY IRENE STONE:

She married Dr. John D. Gordinier after the death of Henry M. Johnson.

• ii. EMORY GILBERT JOHNSON, b. November 15, 1911, Jefferson County, Ky.; d. August 14, 2002, Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 30, Lot 205, Grave 6; m. (1) HAZEL JACQUELINE MCLEAN, April 03, 1940, Jefferson County, Ky.; m. (2) ROSE MARIE DROPPELMAN, 1950; b. February 16, 1929; d. March 26, 2016 with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 30, Lot 205, Grave 10.

• iii. SAMUEL MEREDITH JOHNSON, b. August 13, 1914, Jefferson County, Ky.; d. November 11, 2011, Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 30, Lot 205, Grave 7; m. NORA E. DUVALL, May 1940; b. 1917, Grayson County, Ky.; d. November 05, 2007, Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 30, Lot 205, Grave 9.

• iv. LUCIAN LYONS JOHNSON, b. June 07, 1918, Jefferson County, Ky.; d. March 10, 1966, Jefferson County, Ky. with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ky., Section 30, Lot 205, Grave 3; m. MARTHA SUSAN FUGETT, January 11, 1941, Fayette County, Ky.; b. April 28, 1918, Fayette County, Ky.; d. April 22, 2010, Harrison County, Ky.

8. CATHERINE DALE5 OWEN(S) (REBECCA (REBA) CARPENTER4 HUMPHREY(S), LUCY CATHERINE3 SUMMERS, DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN2, BENJAMIN1) was born July 28, 1903 in Jefferson County, Ky., and died September 07, 1965 in New York with burial in the Old Tennent Churchyard, Monmouth County, New Jersey. She married (1) MILTON FENNIMORE DAVIS, JR. December 21, 1934 in New York, son of MORTIMER DAVIS and BESSIE HALL. He was born May 02, 1906 in Kansas, and died December 27, 1948 in Virginia with burial in the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery, Orange County, New York She married (2) HOMER PARANT METZGER June 05, 1937 in Maryland, son of SAMUEL METZGER and LILLIAN PARANT. He was born November 18, 1904, and died January 1980 in New Jersey with burial in the Old Tennent Churchyard, Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Notes for CATHERINE DALE OWEN(S):

From The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, September 09, 1965, Page 22-"Catherine Dale Owen, Louisvillian Dies, Known for Beauty-A Louisville born actress who was proclaimed 'one of the 15 most beautiful women in America' died yesterday morning in New York. She was Mrs. Homer Metzger, 62, the former Catherine Dale Owen. She played with the Malcolm Fassett Company in Louisville before going on the New York stage. She married Milton P. Davis, Jr., a New York broker, in 1934 and after their divorce in 1937 she married Homer P. Metzger, former Brown University football star. who survives. Mrs. Metzger was of the Old Brick Presbyterian Church, New York, and was active in charity work there. Survivors include a son, Robert Owen Metzger, a soldier stationed in Germany, and several cousins in Louisville. The funeral will be at 10:30 A. M. Friday at Old Brick Church, 91st and Park, New York. Burial will be in the family plot in New Jersey. There is a lot of information on the Internet about Catherine Dale Owen including pictures, filmography and stage appearances.

Marriage Notes for CATHERINE OWEN(S) and MILTON DAVIS:

From The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, December 16, 1934, Page 31-"Owen-Davis-The wedding of Miss Catherine Dale Owen and Mr. Milton F., Davis, Jr. of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, New York will take place at 8 o'clock Friday night, December 21 at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Waller Owen, at 316 W. 79th in New York. Gen. Milton F. Davis, Sr. will be his son's best man. The ceremony will be performed in the presence of the immediate family and will be followed by a buffet supper. The bride and groom will spend their honeymoon in Florida. From the Nevada State Journal, Reno, Nevada, March 18, 1937, Page 6-"Divorces Decreed-Catherine Dale Owen from Milton Davis."

Marriage Notes for CATHERINE OWEN(S) and HOMER METZGER:

From the St. Louis Dispatch, St. Louis, Missouri, June 07, 1937, Page 10-"Catherine Dale Owen Weds-Actress and Former Football Player Married in Elkton, Md-New York, June 07-Robert Waller Owen, father of Catherine Dale Owen the actress, announced today the marriage of his daughter and Homer P. Metzger, former Brown University football player, at Elkton, Md. Saturday afternoon. Miss Owen divorced Milton F. Davis, Jr. last March. Metzger was divorced from Dorothy Dear October 08. 1935. She married Edward F. Hutton, chairman of the board of Zonite Products Corporation, by whom Metzger is employed, on January 25, 1936."

Child of CATHERINE OWEN(S) and HOMER METZGER is:

• i. ROBERT OWEN METZGER, b. October 22, 1939, New York; d. October 06, 1995, Washoe County, Nevada.

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