CUMMINGS, William C. 1829 - 1916

CUMMINGS, CHILCOTT, CUNNINGHAM, BEATTY

Posted By: Bill Rathbun (email)
Date: 3/5/2004 at 23:17:04

The Fairfield Daily Journal, Tues., Jan. 18, 1916, Page 2, col. 2,

WM. CUMMINGS DEAD AT SALINA, AGED 87. William CUMMINGS, one of the oldest residents of Jefferson County, died at eight o’clock Monday evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Asa CHILCOTT, one and a half miles northwest of Salina. Last Wednesday, Jan. 12, he celebrated his 87th birthday. Death was due to rheumatism, from which he had been a great sufferer for the past 25 years. For the past ten years he had been scarcely able to feed himself.

Mr. CUMMINGS was the son of William L. and Sarah CUNNINGHAM CUMMINGS and was born near Lexington, Va., as were his brothers. About 1833 the family moved to Indiana and in October 1843 came to Jefferson County, Iowa. He is survived by two brothers, Samuel A. and J. E. CUMMINGS, both of Fairfield. Four sisters and one brother preceded him in death. In the early ‘50’s he was married to Miss Margaret (Mary Martha) BEATTY who died about fifteen years ago. Two children survive: James Horace and Mrs. Asa CHILCOTT. Mr. CUMMINGS had for many years been a member of the Salina Presbyterian Church.

On April 8, 1850, Mr. CUMMINGS, having caught the “gold fever” started to walk to California. He walked all the distance from Fairfield to San Francisco, which he accomplished in a little over five months. After spending about a year on the Pacific coast, he returned via the Isthmus of Panama, across which he walked. From there he took ship to New York and then returned to Fairfield. The funeral services will be held from the home near Salina Wednesday at ten a.m. Burial will be in Evergreen (sic - Old Fairfield City Cemetery) cemetery in Fairfield.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot 1, West half.