Henry Johnson Brodhead Cummings

CUMMINGS, MILLER, ROGG

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 9/19/2004 at 21:12:33

Henry J. B. Cummings, Winterset; born in Newton, Sussex county, New Jersey, May 21, 1831. In 1840 his parents removed to Muncy, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. Here he received his education in the common schools of the place, supplementing it with one year’s study in a private school. He then spent a year or two in the pineries of Lycoming county, most of the time in a saw-mill. He taught school for a short time, but it being distasteful to him, he abandoned it and in 1848 commenced the study of law. After reading for one year and a-half, having a natural taste for printing, he went, in 1849, to Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and made an agreement to learn the trade in the office of the Schuylkill Haven Map, he to commence as devil and to serve three years, but his name was to appear as associate editor. After about a year his uncle, Henry Johnson, a lawyer of large practice and great reputation, a prominent State senator in Pennsylvania during the civil war and now a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, purchased the office and the paper was edited and managed exclusively by his nephew; assisted by a brother who here joined him. This arrangement continued until the autumn of 1852, when he returned to Muncy and finished his law studies in the office of his uncle just mentioned and was admitted to the bar early in 1854.

Late in the year 1855, he started for Iowa, and crossed the Mississippi river on the ice January 1, 1856. He came directly to Madison county, settled in Winterset, and opened an office and commenced the practice of law. About this time the Republican party was being organized in the State; he joined with others in calling a public meeting to organize the county; the meeting was largely attended, but only eight persons would assist in the organization. Col. Cummings also aided in organizing Adair and Cass counties, and with others thoroughly canvassed these counties before the election. He was nominated by the Republicans of Madison county that year for prosecuting attorney, and was elected, holding the office two years and three months, at the end of which time it was abolished by the new constitution of the State. He held the office of mayor of Winterset two terms.

March 4, 1857, he married Miss Annie W. Rogg, of Muncy, Pennsylvania. They have one daughter, Laura J., wife of James W. Miller, one of the editors of the Winterset Madisonian. Mr. Cummings continued the practice of law until the breading out of the rebellion, when, after the firing on Fort Sumpter, a company of home-guards was organized in Winterset, and he was elected captain. Governor Kirkwood having notified him that it was desired that Madison county should furnish a company of men for the United States military service, captain Cummings immediately reorganized his company, and in July, 1861, acting under orders from the Governor, took his company to Council Bluffs, where it became company F of the Fourth Iowa infantry. After the battle of Pea Ridge, Missouri, in March of that year, his superiors in rank having been wounded, or absent, he fell into command as ranking captain of the regiment and commanded it on its march through southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, to Batesville. He continued with his company until, as part of General Samuel R. Curtis’ army, it reached Helena, Arkansas. On reaching Helena captain Cummings returned on sick leave, but bearing a letter from General Curtis to Governor Kirkwood, asking the latter to advance the captain in on of the ten regiments then forming; he was commissioned colonel of the Thirty-ninth Iowa infantry. After rendezvousing at Des Moines and Davenport, Colonel Cummings was ordered to report at Corinth, Mississippi, where he was assigned to the command of the prost; after having served three and a-half years, colonel Cummings was mustered out on January 1, 1865, and returned to Winterset.

In 1869 he purchased the Winterset Madisonian and has been connected with it since that time. In November, 1876, he was elected to Congress, carrying every one of the ten counties in his district, and having a majority of 8,000. In the House, he was a member of the committee on Claims, one of the most important and responsible committees of the House. His first speech in the House was made April 1, 1878, and it was in opposition to the payment of Southern war claims. It was widely copied and highly commended by the press of the State. He introduced the arrears of pension bill in the House, by which between one and on-quarter and on and one-half millions of money is distributed in Iowa. His most sanguine friends did not think he could carry it through.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1879" pages 532, 533
__________________________________________________

A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896

Transcribed and edited by Kent G. Transier, 02 Jan 2010

Hon. Henry J. B. Cummings, of Winterset, Iowa, and an ex-member of Congress from the Seventh Iowa district, was born in Newton, Sussex county, New Jersey, May 21, 1831. His father, Colonel Heman L. Cummings, was a native of Litchfield county, Connecticut, and a man of moderate means. His mother’s maiden name was Ann Garton Johnson. Henry was the oldest child. He had a brother, Louis Jerome, three years younger, who died in Winterset, August 1, 1856, of disease contracted by exposure while with General James Lee in efforts to make Kansas a free State. He was a young man of patriotic and noble impulses, of considerable culture and ability.

The subject of this sketch is a great-great-grandson of General Daniel Brodhead, who was one of the generals in the Revolutionary war, the friend and confidant of General Washington, by whom he was assigned to the command of Fort Pitt, now Pittsburg. General Brodhead was enabled to maintain peace with the Indians in western Pennsylvania and Ohio, in great part by the confidence they had in him. They made him one of their chiefs, and gave him the name of Great Moon. The subject of this sketch has a Masonic apron worn by General Brodhead in the lodge of which Washington was at the time Master, and a letter written by him to Washington.

In 1830 Heman L. Cummings moved with his family from New Jersey to Muncy, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and Henry received his education in the common schools of that State, supplementing it with a year’s study in a private school. He then spent a year or two in the pineries of Lycoming county, most of the time making a hand in a sawmill. Like many young men who have subsequently gone to Congress, he felt called upon to teach a public school; but two month’s experience convinced him that he did not excel as a pedagogue, and that ended his services as a teacher.

In 1848 he commenced the study of law, reading a year and a half, when, having a natural taste for printing, he went, in 1849, to Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he made an agreement to learn the trade in the office of the Schuylkill Haven Map, he to commence as “devil” and to serve three years; but his name was to appear as associate editor. About a year after his uncle, Henry Johnson, a lawyer of great reputation and a large practice, a prominent State Senator in Pennsylvania curing the Civil was, now deceased, purchased the office, and the paper was edited and manned exclusively by his nephew, assisted by his brother, who here joined him. This arrangement continued until the autumn of 1852, when Henry returned to Muncy and finished his law studies in the office of his uncle, just mentioned, being admitted to the bar early in 1854.

Late in the next year, Mr. Cummings started for Iowa, crossing the Mississippi river on the ice on the 1st of January, 1856. He went directly to Winterset, Madison county, and immediately opened an office. The anti-Nebraska party had carried Iowa in the autumn before, and early in the spring of 1856 the Republican party was being organized in the State. Mr. Cummings joined with others in calling a public meeting to organize the county. The meeting was largely attended, but only eight persons would assist in the organization. Mr. Cummings also assisted in organizing Adair and Cass counties, and with others, thoroughly canvassed these counties before the election. He was nominated by the Republicans of Madison county that year for Prosecuting Attorney, and was elected, holding the office two years and three months, at the end of which time it was abolished by the new constitution of the State. He held the office of Mayor of Winterset for two terms and was twice City Solicitor.

March 4, 1857, at Muncy, Pennsylvania, Mr. Cummings was married to Miss Annie Webster Robb, youngest daughter of William F. & Mary Robb, of the last named place; and they have one daughter, Laura Justina, who was married in November, 1876, to James W. Miller, who resides at Winterset.

Mr. Cummings continued the practice of law until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when, after the firing on Fort Sumter, a company of home guards was organized at Winterset, and he was elected Captain. Governor Kirkwood having notified him that it was desired that Madison county should furnish a company of men for the United States military service, Captain Cummings immediately reorganized his company and in July, 1861, acting under orders from the Governor, he took his company to Council Bluffs, where it became Company F, of the Fourth Iowa Infantry, Colonel G. M. Dodge commander of the regiment. While in camp there, at a meeting of the officers of the regiment, Captain Cummings was recommended to be commissioned Major; but as two field officers already appointed were Republicans, the Governor concluded it would be better to take a Democrat for the third office, and on that ground he declined to appoint Captain Cummings.

He continued with his company until, as part of General Samuel R. Curtis’ army, it reached Helena, Arkansas, in1862. After the battle of Pea Ridge, Missouri, in March of that year, his superiors in rank having been wounded or being absent, he fell in command as ranking captain of the regiment, and commanded it on its march through southern Missouri and northern Arkansas to Batesville. Captain Cummings readily acquainted himself thoroughly with the military rules and regulations, and this fact was recognized in his appointment several times as Judge advocate or important courts martial. He was a strict disciplinarian, considerate of his men, and one of the best drill officers in the service. A good trait of his character in the field was that he was always strictly temperate and never profane. On reaching Helena, Captain Cummings returned to Iowa on sick leave, but nearing a letter from General Curtis to Governor Kirkwood, asking the latter to advance the Captain in one of the new regiments forming. The Governor commissioned him Colonel of the Thirty-ninth Infantry. The regiment rendezvoused first at Des Moines and then at Davenport.

In November, 1862, Colonel Cummings was ordered to report at Corinth, Mississippi, where he was assigned to the command of that post. There he had charge of three regiments, the white refugees coming into the Federal lines, and the contrabands, the last being employed in running a cotton plantation. When he took the post it was considerably in debt, but he soon paid off that indebtedness and when he was relieved there were several thousand dollars in its treasury. The Colonel was regarded as peculiarly fitted for post duty, and had several important commands of that nature, among them at Culleoka, Tennessee; Athens, Alabama; Rome, Georgia; and, as above stated, at Corinth, Mississippi.

At Chattanooga his regiment joined the army advancing on Atlanta, and was the first that went through the Snake Creek Gap in the movement flanking Dalton. When the army reached Kingston the brigade to which his regiment belonged was stationed at Rome, Georgia, and remained there on the flank during the entire siege of Atlanta. It was also part of Sherman’s army that marched to the sea.

Having served three and a half years, Colonel Cummings was mustered out on the 4th of January, 1865, and returned to Winterset. In 1869 he purchased the Winterset Madisonian, and was connected with it until 1885. As a journalist he was a success. He seemed to know by intuition what the needs of his readers were and always had the ability to meet their wants to their satisfaction. As a writer his style is not ornate, but simple, clear and forcible.

In November 1876, he was elected to Congress in one of the strongest Republican districts, carrying every one of the ten counties in his district, and making a majority of nearly 8000 cotes over his Democratic competitor, Samuel J. Gilpin, Esq., with whom he held nearly, forty joint discussions. As a public speaker he is more logical than fluent. He makes no claim to be an orator, yet has good command of the language. Whatever is necessary he can say on any occasion, and say it well and forcibly. His manner is dignified and impressive, his words are always well chosen, and his ideas are expressed on the rostrum as clearly and forcibly as his editorials. He has the air of frankness and truth, and so impresses his hearers. In the joint canvass spoken of his friends were more than satisfied. While in Congress he served as a member of the committee on claims, one of the most important and responsible committees of the House.

The following extract from an editorial letter to the Des Moines Daily Register is given to show his standing as a Congressman: “ Our own member, Colonel Cummings, is making a good name for himself quietly and not slowly. He is a close student of the House and its rules, and is always in his seat. No one keeps better run of the business in the House, or has a clearer head in regard to any thing that is going on. He looks after details industriously, and in all department has already formed a popular acquaintance with the powers that be, - which is one of the wisest things that a Congressman anxious to serve his district can do. I predict that in caring for the interests of the district and in serving promptly and well all his constituents who have affairs here to attend to, Colonel Cummings will be found the equal of any man that the former fighting, but now Quaker, district of Iowa has ever had. In the House, too, he will be equally faithful and vigilant, and guard with jealous eye and intelligent zeal the public good. The Colonel and his amiable and entertaining wife have cosy quarters at the Ebbitt House, where Iowa people will always find a cordial welcome, and Seventh district folks meet the unaffected cheer and hospitality of home.”

April 1, 1878, the Colonel made his first speech in the House; it was in opposition to the payment of Southern war claims. The speech was widely copied and highly commended by the press of the State. As a citizen, Colonel Cummings stands well. He is always ready to take part in every enterprise for the public. He has been active and prominent in all measures for public good; his especial forte, in fact, is his executive ability.

He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, and has been for years active in the Grand Lodge of the State, being at one time chairman of the committee on foreign correspondence. He was selected to that body to prepare a Masonic digest for the State; has served many years as Master of his lodge, and has attained the rank of Knight Templar.

Prior to the organization of the Republican party he was a Whig. For a long time he has been one of the leaders of the Republican party in Madison county. His religious creed is that of the Presbyterian Church, to which both he and his wife belong. The Colonel has a high reputation for integrity, his word being a sure guarantee of performance. By careful and prudent management he has placed himself in comfortable circumstances. Personally he is five feet, nine inches and half tall, and weighs 225 pounds; his hair which was light when he was a young man, is almost white; his complexion is fair; and his disposition is cheerful and social.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen