Polk Co. IAGenWeb

CUMMINS, J. C. — Was born in the Keystone State, which has given many men of worth to the younger West. The place of birth was Greene county, and the time January 15, 1852. His early education was at the academy at Carmichaels, and was concluded, in due time, at the Washington and Jefferson College. He removed to Michigan in 1871, where he was engaged in the engineer corps of the Northern Central, now Janesville branch of the Michigan Southern Railroad. He pushed west again the next year, and stopped in Chicago. Here, for a short time, he was engaged in a wholesale stationery house, but in 1874 he began the study of law in the office of Frederick Ullman, where he remained until 1875. He then entered the office of Finneys, Flower & Abercrombie and continued to read law until January 1, 1877, when he was admitted to the bar at Springfield, Illinois. In October of the same year he came to Des Moines and became associated with his brother in the practice of his profession. He wasunited in marriage to Miss Cora, daughter of O. S. Cook, Esq.,of Chicago, December 17, 1878. They have one son, Frank.