CUMMINGS, Judge Albert H.

CUMMINGS, SYLVESTER, BECKER, GRIFFITH, BLAKE, LEWIS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/2/2014 at 13:48:44

HISTORY of CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
WHEELER, J.H. Vol. II. Pp. 615-16. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

BIOGRAPHY ~ JUDGE ALBERT H. CUMMINGS

The various public offices of which this well-known citizen, Judge Albert H. Cummings, of Cerro Gordo county has been incumbent indicate the sure quality of the confidence and esteem reposed in him in the community that has so long represented his home. He is now referee in bankruptcy for six counties in northern Iowa, Cerro Gordo, Worth, Franklin, Butler, Hancock, and Winnebago. To this position he was appointed in 1898 and he has proved a most efficient and popular official. He is also engaged in the real estate business, wdth offices in the Adams building, in Mason City, where he has maintained his residence since 1871.

Albert H. Cummings was born in Newport, Orleans county, Vermont, on the 17th of February, 1849, and is a scion of one of the old and honored families of New England. The original American progenitors settled in Massachusetts in the early colonial epoch, being of English lineage, and from that historic, old commonwealth representatives of the name later made settlement in New Hampshire and Vermont. Lorenzo Cummings was born at Keene, New Hampshire, and in his youth he learned a trade but his principal vocation was that of farming. He died in Vermont at the venerable age of eighty-eight years, in the highest regard of all who knew him. He was a stanch Abolitionist in the days prior to the Civil war and he united with the Republican party at the time of its organization, while he was one of the first to espouse the cause of the Prohibition party, to which he gave his allegiance until the time of his death. Both he and his wife were devout and zealous members of the Baptist church and in which he was a deacon. In the state of Vermont was solemnized the marriage of Lorenzo Cummings to Miss Seraphina Sylvester, who was born at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia county, that state, and who likewise was a member of a family that was founded in New England, in the early Colonial days. Both paternal and maternal grandfathers of the subject of this review were found enrolled as valiant and patriotic soldiers in the Continental line in the war of the Revolution. The genealogy of the Sylvester family is traced back to stanch Scottish origin and the greater number of its representatives in America have been identified with the great basic art of agriculture. Lorenzo and Scniphina (Sylvester) Cummings became the parents of three sons and three daughters and of the number one of the sons and one of the daughters are deceased. Ellen became the wife of James M. Becker and they came to Mason City, Iowa, in 1870. Mr. Becker became one of the influential pioneers of Cerro Gordo county and here he continued to reside until his death. His widow still maintains her home in Mason City. Lucy L. is now the wife of J. G. Griffith and resides at Mount Carroll, Illinois; and T. S. Cummings still maintains his home at Newport, Vermont.

The honored subject of this review, Mr. Cummings, was reared to maturity in the old Green Mountain State, to whose common schools he is indebted for his preliminary education, which was supplemented by attendance in the schools of New Hampshire. In the latter state he began reading law and later he continued his technical studies at Mason City, Iowa, where he took up his residence in 1871, as already noted. In the autixmn of that year he was admitted to the bar and he continued in the active practice of his profession in Mason City until 1902, when he sold his practice and turned his attention to the real-estate business, in which he has since been engaged. In politics he accords stanch and intelligent support to the Republican party and he has been called upon to serve in various public offices of importance and responsibility. He was made mayor of Mason City in 1893 for four years, served six years as city solicitor, was incumbent of the office of justice of the peace for twenty-three years and for twelve years he was a valued member of the board of education. He was appointed to his present important office in 1898, as already stated, and it is interesting to record that he has been incumbent of some public office since 1879. He has long been known as a representative member of the bar of his county and his success in his profession was of an unequivocal order. Mr. Cummings has been affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1871 and is a charter member of the lodge of Knights of Pythias in Mason City, where he also holds membership in the lodge of Benevolent and Protective Order of EUCs. His wife is a consistent member of the Baptist church and is active in various departments of its work.

On the 19th of April, 1873, at Newport, Vermont, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Cummings to Miss Idella C. Blake, who was born and reared in that state, where the family was founded in the pioneer days. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings have two children, Juna, who is the wife of Dr. Charles B. Lewis, a representative physician and dentist of Ottumwa, Iowa, and Albert B., who is a resident of Chicago.

NOTE: Judge Cummings died in 1936. Idella C. (Blake) Cumminsg was born in 1851, and died in 1931. They were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City IA

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014