Kate Elizabeth Wagner Cummins

CUMMINS, WAGNER

Posted By: Jean Wenke, volunteer
Date: 3/6/2009 at 14:54:58

Kate Elizabeth Wagner, daughter of Benjamin and Margaret Sawyer Wagner, was born at Mount Pleasant, Iowa Sept. 4, 1856 and passed from this life at her home in Bonaparte, Iowa, Wednesday forenoon, Jan. 28, 1948, at the age of ninety-one years, 4 months and 24 days.

The Benjamin Wagner family moved from Mount Pleasant to a farm south of Bonaparte when Kate was about four years old. They were among the pioneers who helped in the building of this community.

Kate was married to Lewis Cummins and to this union was born one son, who died in infancy. Mr. And Mrs. Cummins spent many years on their farm south of Bonaparte, moving to town in 1920. Mr. Cummins died in January, 1936.

Aunt Kit, as so many called Mrs. Cummins, was a lover of flowers and her own windows filled with plants in bloom, at all seasons of the year were a joy to passers by. She lived an active, useful life, and until a few weeks ago was able to be up and around the house, taking care of herself and her flowers. She centered her affections on her great-nephew, Richard E. Wagner, who visited her often in his childhood; and she retained for him a mother's love.

She was the last surviving member of a family of eight children.

Funeral services were held at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, Jan. 30, in Bonaparte Presbyterian church, with Rev. McMican in charge. Burial was in Bonaparte cemetery.

From Dorothy Watson's scrapbook, Bonaparte, Iowa Library