James Cummings,
car repairer for Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
Railway, North McGregor, was born at Port Glascow,
Scotland, Jan. 23, 1830, a son of William and Agnes
(Cain) Cummings, members of the Scotch Presbyterian
church. They had a family of six children; five lived to
be men and women. James, subject of this sketch, was the
eldest son and third child; when six years of age he
removed with his parents to County Antrim, North Ireland,
where he reamined until twelve, when his father died. He
then came with his aunt to America, landed at Quebec,
Canada, thence to Plattsburg, N.Y., where he farmed until
his marriage to Hannah J. Moore, on Aug. 13, 1853. She
was born in the city of Troy, N.Y., and was a daughter of
Samuel Moore, a wealthy machinist and foundry man of
Troy. After his marriage in 1855, Mr. Cummings came to
McGregor and settled on a farm on section 7, Mendon
Township, where he lived until 1861, then moved to
Wisconsin and enlisted in Company C, Forty-ninth
Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, and remained in the
service until the close of the war. He then returned to
McGregor, and began to work for George Keen, in his
foundry in North McGregor; he worked there one year, then
began to work in the car shops for the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul Railroad. In spring of 1859, with a John
Hamilton, Nathaniel Lawson and William Reed, went
overland to Pike's Peak, Col., where they remained five
months. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings are both members of the
Methodist Episcopal church of North McGregor; he is
Steward, Class-Leader and Superintendent of Sunday school
in this church. They have had three children, two
living-- William; who married Henrietta Brooks, learned
telegraphing in North McGregor and was conductor of way
freight on the Manitoba Railway; and Sarah J., wife of
George B. Freeman, engineer of 128 engine, Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. Mr. Cummings owns a lot
and two houses in McGregor. He is one of the old settlers
and representative men of McGregor. He is agent for F. F.
Munson, dealer in sand, of Chicago. In politics, he is a
Republican; he is also a member of I.O.O.F., Itasca
Lodge, No. 111, McGregor. He has been School Director,
and always took an active interest in the schools and all
that interested his town. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 974-975 |