Born: March 25, 1838, Wyalusing, Pennsylvania.
Died: May 10, 1918, Binghamton, New York.
Buried: Floral Park Cemetery, Johnson City, New York.
Sumner attended the Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania.
He pastored in a number of Methodist churches, including Wyalusing, Pennsylvania; Kirkwood, New York; and Binghamton, New York.
He was also well known as a traveling singing teacher, and in the 1880’s formed the Wyoming Conference Trio, a group of singing pastors.