CUMMINGS, Samuel A. - 1890 Bio (1830-1923)

CUMMINGS, CUNNINGHAM, CASE

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/2/2007 at 19:53:58

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 597-598

Samuel A. CUMMUNGS, who is engaged in farming on section 33, Buchanan Township, has been a resident of Jefferson County for forty-seven years, during which time he has identified himself with its best interests and aided not a little in its advancement and progress, especially in transforming the wild land into tracts of rich fertility. He was born in Rockbridge County, Va., December 16, 1830, his parents being William and Sarah (CUNNINGHAM) CUMMINGS, who lived many years in the Old Dominion where the husband and father followed the carpenter's trade. About 1833, he started for the West, making a location in Parke County, Ind., where he engaged in farming some ten years and in 1843 loading his household effects into a wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen he left for the land beyond the Mississippi. After some twenty-three days of travel he arrived in Jefferson County in October, 1843. The family spent the winter in a little cabin and the following spring commenced preparations for making a home. Mr. CUMMINGS planted a crop two miles north of Fairfield but had done little else toward developing a farm when he was called to his final rest, dying on the 4th of September, 1844, at the age of fifty-eight years. In the spring of 1846, his widow and children purchased a claim of one hundred and fifteen acres on section 33, Buchanan Township. Mrs. CUMMINGS ever remained true to his memory and died on the 5th of September, 1884, having lived a widow for forty years. They were parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters, and with the exception of the eldest none have been taken away and the youngest is now fifty-eight years of age. The parents were members of the Presbyterian Church and their deaths proved a loss to the entire community.

The early life of our subject passed uneventfully. He attended the subscription schools for a short time but during his youth remained mostly at home caring for his mother and his sister's children, so that he had the care of a family long before he had one of his own. When the war broke out he felt the greatest desire to enter the service but he could not be spared as the members of the family needed his services. On the 8th of September, 1864, he led to the marriage altar Miss Maria J. CASE, the wedding being celebrated in Fairfield. The lady was born in Ohio, January 7, 1838, and during her girlhood accompanied her parents to Jefferson County. Four children were born of their union -- William F., Fannie M., George H. and Charles C. The mother of this family died on the 1st of July, 1879, within ten minutes after being taken with congestion of the lungs. She was a most estimable lady, a member of the Methodist Church and had the love and respect of the entire community. Mr. CUMMINGS, for some thirty years has been connected with the Presbyterian Church in Fairfield and in all possible ways has aided in its advancement. He cast his first Presidential vote for the Whig candidate in 1852, and since the organization of the Republican party has been one of its supporters. On the 1st day of January, 1890, he entered upon the duties of the office of Township Trustee and is proving an efficient and capable officer. As a farmer he is practical, yet enterprising and progressive and his home farm, comprising one hundred and fifteen acres, is well provided with good buildings and all necessary improvements. He also owns a controlling interest in a one hundred and sixty acre farm in Dallas County, Mo. He has now made his home in Jefferson County for the long period of forty-seven years and is accounted one of its most worthy and upright citizens.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.