From: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, Pages 338 & 341
F. Cummings, who started out to earn his own living when a youth of fourteen years, is now a substantial farmer of Mitchell county, living on section 13, St. Ansgar township, where he owns an excellent farm property well improved.
He was born March 20, 1861, in Dane county, Wisconsin, a son of Charles and Asenath Cummings. The father was born in Canada but emigrated to the United States, settling in Vermont when thirteen years of age. There he lived for twelve years, and in Orange county, Vermont, he met and married Asenath Page. He afterward removed to Dane county, Wisconsin, and in 1856 first visited Mitchell county, Iowa.
In 1863 he took up his permanent abode in this state, and in 1869 settled upon the farm which is now the home of his son, W. F. Cummings, in Mitchell county. His remaining days were passed upon this place and his labors resulted in transforming it into a valuable and well improved farm property. He died on the 27th of March, l897, when he was in the seventy-second year of his age, his birth having occurred December 25, 1825.
In his family were eleven children: Charles P., a resident of Stewartville, Minnesota; Lucy J., the wife of De Forest Seeley, of Mitchell county, Iowa; Laura, the wife of Albert Page, of Dane county, Wisconsin; Myron, a resident farmer of Mitchell county; Rosa, deceased; W. F.; Alta, the wife of J. S. Edge: Hattie H.; H. F. and H. E., who are twins and are upon the home farm with their brother, W. F.; and Nettie, who is deceased.
W.F. Cummings was but two years old when brought by his parents to Iowa. He pursued his education in the common schools of St. Ansgar and worked upon the home farm from an early age. In fact, he has concentrated his time and energies upon agricultural pursuits since reaching the age of four teen years, and is now a most progressive and enterprising farmer, having a valuable tract of land which responds readily to the care and labor which lie bestows upon it. In addition to cultivating the home place, he is a stockholder in the Little Cedar Lumber & Grain Company and also in the Osage Creamery Company.
In 1893 Mr. Cummings was united in marriage to Miss Clara A. Bird, a native of Batavia, Illinois, who was brought to Mitchell county during her early girlhood. By her marriage she has become the mother of eleven children, William C., Ray F., Gilbert, Ellen, Jessie, Edward, Violet, Oliver, Rena, Martha and Ralph. This is a notable family record, for the circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death and all are still at home.
Mr. Cummings is a republican in his political views. He has not been a politician for office's sake or self-aggrandizement, but he has served on the school board as a director and was its secretary for thirty-eight years, proving a stalwart champion of the cause of education by his efforts to advance the standards of the schools. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen. Practically his entire life has been spent in this state, where he has lived for fifty-five years, and he has therefore been a witness of the vast changes which have occurred, transforming the district from a wild prairie region into one of rich fertility with all of the advantages and opportunities of modern civilization.
Transcribed by Gordon Felland, June 2004