Anna W. (Robb) Cummings (1908)

CUMMINGS, MILLER, ROBB

Posted By: Cay Merryman
Date: 7/24/2004 at 15:11:24

Unknown Newspaper
April 1908

Annie Robb Cummings - Mrs. H. J. B. Cummings died last Friday morning and the funeral took place from the home, Sunday afternoon. The death of this estimable lady was not altogether unexpected. Failing health may be said to have begun several years ago and while the disease was not clearly defined, its course was continuous and the end inevitable. She passed through a critical condition some twenty years ago, when for several winters, Mr. and Mrs. Cummings lived in Florida. The change of climate resulted in a partial convalescence. It was not till within the past few weeks that her case became serious and it is thought that her solicitude for her husband, who has been confined to the house most of the time during the past two years, hastened her demise.

Mrs. Cummings was born in Pennsylvania, Sept. 26, 1832; she was one of a large family, all of whom passed away before her. Her maiden name was Annie Robb and she was married to H. J. B. Cummings, March 4, 1857. They came to Winterset the same year, and together with the few pioneers who still remain, endured the hardships and privations incident to that time.

Mrs. Cummings was a lady in the true sense of the word and was noted for her hospitality, religious piety and kindness to the poor. She was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church for fifty years and did much to build up that organization and make it influential and a power for good in the community. She will be greatly missed in Winterset and especially by her companion and daughter; her neighbors and those who have profited by her kindness will long cherish her memory. there were present at the funeral a number of relatives from Creston and Des Moines; the members of the Grand Army Post turned out in a body and a large concourse of acquaintances were present on the occasion. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. S. Corkey, assisted by Dr. McCaughan.
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The Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, April 16, 1908
Page 1

A PROMINENT WINTERSET LADY PASSES AWAY

Fifty One Years a Resident of Winterset

The death of Annie W. Cummings occurred at her late home in this city Friday morning at 5:30 after an illness of twelve weeks, which was without pain or suffering. The infirmities of advanced age together with the natural wearing out of her physical strength were the direct cause of her passing.

Mrs. H. J. B. Cummings was born in Muncy, Pa., September 27th, 1832. Her maiden name was Annie W. Robb. Although the family was large, composed of eleven children she received a most careful training and had all the advantages for education and polite rearing enjoyed by the best families in that community at that time. She early became a member of the Protestant Episcopal church and was distinguished for her piety, ardent religious zeal and industrious activity in promoting the temporal and spiritual enterprises of the church. These traits which distinguished her in youth, remained throughout a long and busy life, increasing and intensifying as opportunity and exercise enabled her to employ them in their use. There was a wide field for usefulness opened to her when she came to Winterset as there was no well appointed church organization at that time and it was largely due to her Christian devotion, along with others, that Winterset has became a city of churches, and made the particular denomination to which she belonged one of the leading ones of the community. There being no Episcopal church in Winterset at that early date, she with her husband united with the Presbyterian church which had been started a few years previous with a membership of ten. Thus for over fifty years she continued loyal, faithful and exemplary in her church relations.

Our readers will remember that a little over a year ago the fiftieth wedding anniversary occurred at the Cummings home. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings were married March 9th, 1857, and immediately started to Winterset, which was destined to be their happy home for so many years. They had a hard struggle for a long time, resulting in reverses at times but in the main toward success and competency. In these struggles Mrs. Cummings was a help meet in the true sense of that term and no one who has achieved signal success in the battles of life more fully appreciated or frankly admitted than Mr. Cummings that the result was largely due to the faithful and unselfish efforts of his wife. They were companions in fact as well as in name. IT was ever a model home a frugal home and a hospitable home; while the worthy host and hostess always treated guests with affability and politeness, and this was noticeable even in rough pioneer days, what was even more noticeably and commendable they were invariably affable and polite to one another.

During the stirring and perilous times of the civil war in which Mr. Cummings performing a long and faithful service, Mrs. Cummings was with him much of the time, undergoing to a large extent the dangers and privations of army fare and army life.

This in the vicissitudes of pioneer life, in time of peace and in the more trying vicissitudes of war they shared the same lot, took part in the same conflicts and rejoiced together in the same triumphs. There are those who will read this sketch only to be reminded of the thrilling reminiscences so commonly related at the Cummings home.

When Mr. Cummings went to Washington to take his seat in the House of Representatives, Mrs. Cummings went with him of course and the people of this congressional district were honored by her presence there no less than they were by his faithful service. Whoever from Winterset had the pleasure of visiting Washington at that time will not soon forget the assistance so kindly extended to them in seeing the sights and forming acquaintances. Mrs. Cummings was not too proud to greet the humblest nor to common to move with the most select.

Some time after Col. Cummings had completed his term of service at Washington and the family had settled down again in their comfortable home, Mrs. Cummings’ health began to fail. The husband left his business, his friends and his home and went with her to Florida and there for several winters they made their home, hoping in that genial climate health would return. A parent never was more tender and solicitious about the welfare of a child than was the husband about his invalid wife during these critical years. Happily these careful ministrations resulted in Mrs. Cummings’ partial restoration to health and for the past decade they have been living a happy and contented life. During the past year or two, Mr. Cummings has been somewhat affected and it is thought that her worry and solicitude concerning his well-being had much to do in precipitating her demise. She has been infirm, however, for several years and the “time of her departure” would soon have arrived at any rate, and it is befitting that in the manner and time of her going everything was in harmony with her long and unselfish life. There remains but one child, Laura J., now Mrs. J. W. Miller.

The funeral services occurred at the home at two thirty Sunday last, conducted by Rev. J. S. Corkey; interment at the Rock City cemetery.

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