Elizabeth M. (Farrell) Cummings

CUMMINGS, FARRELL, MULLEN, HANNIGAN, HASSETT, JONES, FLAHIVE, FARRELLY, CALDWELL

Posted By: Angel Jepsen
Date: 5/27/2023 at 15:35:32

Published in Denison Bulletin of Denison, Iowa on Wednesday, September 9th, 1908, page 2

Obituary

Mrs. Cummings maiden name was Elizabeth M. Farrell. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Farrell and was born Feb. 26, 1865, at Kankakee, IL. She came west to Powesheik county, Iowa, with her parents when four years old, and in 1879, when 14 years old, they brought her to Crawford county, moving onto a farm north of Dunlap, in Boyer township. She was educated in the Dunlap schools and later went to Woodbine where she attended the Woodbine Normal school and fitted herself as a school teacher. She afterward taught two terms of school in Harrison county, then came back to Crawford county and taught in Boyer, Willow and Charter Oak townships. She went to Charter Oak, finally, taking a position as deputy postmistress while W. W. Cushman was postmaster there, and clerking in the store. It was while thus engaged, on December 14, 1887, that she quit active duties for herself and married H. J. Cummings. the wedding taking place in Dunlap and being the first Charter Oak couple to be married after the town was started. As a school teacher and as a lady she was popular and had a great circle of friends who though the world of her, and as a wife she held the esteem of all. The family continued to live in Charter Oak until 1897, when Mr. Cummings came to Denison as deputy sheriff under Henry Bell, later returning to the Oak [Charter Oak] and thence to Arion where Mr. C. still served as deputy under Sheriff Meehan, and in March of this year they came back to Denison, as Mr. Cummings had become a candidate for sheriff himself, and was ably assisted in his campaign by his wife’s good judgment and ability.

Mrs. Cummings leaves, besides the stricken husband, four children, Miss Rhea, the eldest, being now 17, and a graduate of the Dow City schools; Andrew, 14; Eileen, 10; and Peter J. a lad of four years. Their first born, a boy, Daniel, died when two years old, and was buried at Charter Oak. Deceased also has brothers and a sister, P. J. Farrell and D. J. Farrell, and Mrs. Annie Caldwell, all of South Omaha.

There were present for the funeral these brothers and sister, with their wives and husband, and also Mrs. Jessie Tollett of Marshalltown and Mrs. Annie Sizer of Renwick, Iowa, sisters of Mr. Cummings, and a half brother of the latter, Mr. Matt Watson of Renwick. Many friends were also present from Arion, Dow City, Dunlap, Charter Oak, Vail and other places where the deceased was so well and favorably known.

The floral contributions sent in as tributes to the wife and mother and friends were very beautiful. The Odd Fellows of Charter Oak sent a pillow of choice flowers, the Odd Fellows of the Dow City lodge and the encampment also sent emblems, and the Odd Fellows and Woodmen of Denison and numerous friends sent in bouquets which testified their esteem and sympathy. Arion friends, who did so much to alleviate the sufferings of the stricken family, also remembered the deceased with flowers that betokened their personal love and friendship.

In all these testimonials of love and affection for deceased there is yet conveyed but a part of the real feelings of the people toward her. Mrs. Cummings was so far above the average of women that she carried her friendships far from home and let her light shine into many hears and firesides. From the lads who years ago go their first lessons in school from her to the friends who knew her last and best, there is a feeling of deepest loss. Her bright mind and winning ways were a [illegible] used by everyone. Her [illegible] was her throne, and the handsome children that have grown and are growing up to call her blessed will ever testify to her high character and ideals. Where sickness and death came she was there ever ready to minister and comfort, and where good was to be done she was never called upon in vain. The world can ill afford to lose such noble characters, and it is thus that all do sincerely and deeply mourn the sudden death that took her away, and that all feel a deep and lasting sympathy for the loved ones left behind. May the bereaved family bear up strong and live to add luster to the life of the noble and blessed wife and mother.

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Funeral

Mrs. Cummings Killed. A Very Large Funeral
Mrs. Cummings Mourned By Hundreds Laid At Rest.

The funeral of Mrs. Cummings took place on Saturday morning from the Catholic church in this city where Rev. Father Farrelly officiated at high mass and delivered a deserved eulogy of the good woman who is gone. The casket containing the remains was banked with the most beautiful floral emblems that nature could bestow through the hands of loving friends. The pall bearers, Messrs. P. J. Port, Pat Mullen, J. T. Hannigan, Con. Hassett, J. H. Jones and M. Flahive, took the casket from the home so suddenly stricken and deposited it in the hearse for conveyance to the church, where the hundreds of mourning and sympathizing friends had gathered to pay a final tribute to the wife and mother thus torn away. The service was impressive, and after Mass had been conducted Rev. Farrelly gave a short sermon, paying high tribute to the character of deceased as a woman and as wife and mother whom he had known for many years. At the close of the services the cakes was again conveyed to the hearse and a mile of teams bearing sympathizing friends followed to the Catholic cemetery where the body was tenderly laid away forever.

Transcribed by Angel Jepsen

To learn more, there are several articles and postings throughout the pages of the Denison Bulletin and Denison Review relating to Mrs. Cummings' accident and death in papers published 9/9/1908.

Elizabeth M. (Farrell) Cummings Obituary
 

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