CUMMINGS, Samuel A. 1830 - 1923

CUMMINGS, CASE, STEWART

Posted By: Jane Adams (email)
Date: 4/19/2005 at 20:53:41

Added by Admin, June 2021 --

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Thursday, May 17, 1923
Front Page, Column 3

S. A. CUMMINGS DIED AT 3 P. M.
Was Born In West Virginia And Came To Jefferson County In 1843

Samuel A. CUMMINGS, 92 years old, one of Fairfield's company of honored pioneers, died this afternoon at 3 oclock at his home, 203 West Washington street. He had been ill for several weeks.

Mr. CUMMINGS was born near Lexington, West Virginia, December 16, 1830 and came to Jefferson county in 1843.

He lived east of the city and remembered well the gold rush in 1849, having walked as far as Batavia with a party containing relatives, when they started to California to seek their fortunes, driving oxen to heavy wagons on the trip across the plains.

Mr. CUMMINGS was the host at a notable dinner in celebration of nis ninety-second birthday anniversary, December 16. There sat down to that dinner six men whose ages totaled 551 years, the list of guests being:

Capt. B. F. Crail born near Wheeling, W. Va., March 19, 1828 and came to this county in 1859.

Cranmore Gage, born in Hartford, Vt., May 29, 1828 and came to Fairfield in November 1839.

S. A. CUMMINGS, born near Lexington, W. Va., December 16, 1830, and came to Jefferson county in October, 1843.

Eric Cory, born in Sweden, September 7, 1831 and came to the United States and Fairfield in 1857.

J. W. McLean, born near Chillicothe, Ohio, February 6, 1832 and came here in 1836.

W. M. Young, born near Indiananpolis, Ind., November 2, 1832 and came here in 1853.

The six men have lived in the county for 435 years, Cranmore Gage leading with a continuous residence of eighty-three years.

Capt. Crail the oldest of the six, came here sixty-three years ago and in 1849 brought a yoke of oxen and went across the plains.

Mr. CUMMINGS is survived by two grandchildren, Charles L. CUMMINGS, who lives on the old home place, his great-grandfather entered east of the city when he first came to the county, and by Miss Elizabeth Fern CUMMINGS. These are the children of William F. CUMMINGS, who died several years ago.

Mr. CUMMINGS' other children were: George, Charles and Fannie. The latter died a year ago last April. She had made a home for her father ever since the death of her mother July 1, 1879.

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Original posting by Jane Adams --

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Friday, May 18, 1923
Page 1, Column 3

S. A. CUMMINGS RITES TOMORROW
Will Be Held From Home At 2:30 In Charge of Rev. Thomson

The funeral services for Samuel A. CUMMINGS, who passed away yesterday afternoon at three oclock at his home, 203 West Washington, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 oclock from the home in charge of Rev. H. Sears Thomson of the Presbyterian church. Interment will take place in Evergreen cemetery.

The pallbearers will be Harry Lovell, Sylvester Liblin, Dr. R. C. Sayers, William L. Long, Chris Blough and Joseph E. Hickenbottom. Miss Cora Ball wil sing during the services.

Mr. CUMMINGS was the son of William L. and Sara CUMMINGS and was born December 16, 1830 in Rockbridge county, Virginia. When three years old his parents moved to Indiana, where they resided for ten years. In 1843 they came to Iowa, traveling all the distance of 300 miles with ox teams, and what in those days was called a family wagon. They crossed the Mississippi river at Burlington on a ferry boat. The father died not long after they came to Fairfield. March 1, 1846 they purchased what is known as the CUMMINGS farm, three miles southeast of Fairfield, where all of his life was spent until he moved to town in the fall of 1911.

He was one of a family of eight children, four girls and four boys, all of whom have preceded him in death. He was married December 8, 1864 to Miss Marie CASE. She passed away July 1, 1879, leaving him with a family of four children, the eldest being but 12 years old. The children were: Williamm F. Cummings, Fannie C. CUMMINGS, George H. CUMMINGS and Charles C. CUMMINGS, and all have preceded their father to the street beyond, leaving him alone in his old age, he being 90 years old when his daughter Fannie, upon whom he leaned died.

Up until his last illness of a few weeks ago Mr. CUMMINGS was a remarkably and well preserved old man and his memory was unusually keen for one of his age. Some time ago he provided this data and requested it be used in the giving of the history of his life after his death.

This data has been transcribed for genealogical purposes; I am not related to the subject.

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Added by Admin, June 2021 --

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Saturday, May 19, 1923
Front Page, Column 7

S. A. CUMMINGS FUNERAL TODAY
A Large Crowd Was Present At Rites of One of Fair-Field's Oldest Pioneers

The last rites for Samuel A. CUMMINGS, one of the city's prominent pioneers who died Thursday afternoon, was held this afternoon at 2:30 oclock from the late residence, 203 West Washington, and many friends were present to pay their last respects to this well known man.

The pallbearers were: Harry Lovell, Sylvester Liblin, Dr. R. C. Sayers, William L. Long, Chris Blough and Joseph E. Hickenbottom. Miss Cora Ball sang very sweetly during the services.

Mr. CUMMINGS was the oldest member of the Presbyterian church in the sense that he had lived the greatest number of years. W. M. Young is the oldest member in the sense of the greatest number of years as a communicant. Mr. CUMMINGS always counted it very interesting that he had heard every one of the thirteen ministers of the church. He remembered crossing the Mississippi river on a flat boat with 'Father' L. G. Bell, the missionary who started and became the first minister of the local Presbyterian congregation.

Mr. CUMMINGS has always been deeply interested in the life and growth of the local church and until shortly before his death was a constant attendant at the regular services and prayer meeting.

In conducting the funeral service, his pastor Rev. H. Sears Thomson spoke from the text in Proverbs 16:31 "The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness," and referred to the importance of the testimony carried by a Christian gentleman who had lived so many years as a faithful and consistent citizen and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Monday, May 21, 1923
Page Five, Column 3

PROBATE OF WILL

State of Iowa, Jefferson County, ss,

To All Whom It May Concern:

Notice is hereby given that an instrument, purporting to be the last will and testament of S. A. CUMMINGS, deceased, is now on file in the office of the Clerk of the District Court of Jefferson county, and that June 15, A. D., 1923 at 2 oclock p. m., it being in vacation of said court, has been set for proof and final hearing of same.

Witness my hand and the seal of said Court this 21 day of May, 1923.

C. W. IRELAND,
Clerk of the District Court
120-3t

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"The Weekly Ledger-Journal"
Fairfield, Iowa
Thursday, May 24, 1923
Page 3, Column 1

COUNTY CORRESPONDENTS

PACKWOOD
Mrs. B. T. Lutes, Correspondent

May 21

... Frank and Madge STEWART attended the funeral of their uncle, S. A. CUMMINGS at Fairfield Saturday. ...

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

Note: Buried in Lot Old.P.384 with wife Maria.