Sumner Township was first settled in the fall of 1854, with lumbering as the primary industry. George S. Bell, one of the early settlers, established a sawmill and store, and the settlement was initially named "Belltown." In 1868, the village was formally laid out and renamed "Estella," and later changed to "Sumner" in 1869 when a post office was established. The first school was built around 1855, and although several schools were destroyed by fire over the years, the current community center was constructed in 1949. The Sumner Hotel, built in 1863, became a central landmark in the village, serving as a place for travelers and locals until it was destroyed by fire in 1924.

 

Throughout the early years, Sumner had a variety of businesses including a sawmill, hardware stores, a photography studio, and blacksmith shops. A meat market operated only in winter months until a neighboring butcher, Harve Sperry, began supplying fresh meat year-round. As the town grew, other businesses like a wagon shop, saloons, and a general store helped support the community. A key local figure, Dr. Frederick Graham, served as the town's only doctor from 1891 until 1917. Four churches played an important role in the community, with three remaining active today. The town's economy continued to be centered around lumbering, but other industries, including agriculture, also contributed to the area's development.

 

In the years following the 1968 Centennial celebration, the town continued to develop. The Centennial Committee helped establish Sumner Centennial Park along the Pine River, a popular spot for community events and fishing. The town also expanded by purchasing Elm Hall Park in 2002. The Sumner School closed in 1981, and the former school property was repurposed as the Sumner Township Community Center. Today, the township, with a population of around 2,000, has a primarily agricultural economy and a few small businesses. The village features Wilson's Grocery, a post office, and the community center, while the nearby village of Elm Hall is home to the smallest post office in the United States.