Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 714-715; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Hon. Samuel P. Cummings. This county is the home of quite
a number of men who were thrown upon their own resources at an early
age, and whose natural aptness and energy were developed and
strengthened by contact with the world, resulting in making their lives
more than ordinarily successful in worldly prosperity and winning
respect. Among this number is the Hon. S. P. Cummings of Astoria,
who has not only attained a competency but has won an honorable record
in legislative halls, on the judicial bench and as a private citizen.
Heredity is so important a factor in life that it may be well
before noting the chief incidents in the career of our subject to make
brief mention of the family history. His grandfather, McDonald
Cummings, a native of Scotland, was graduated at Edinburgh and joined
the King’s army as surgeon. He accompanied the troops to American
in Colonial times but on the breaking out of the Revolution, took sides
with the Colonists to whom he gave his services in the same capacity
which he had filled in the British Army. After the war the State
of Massachusetts granted him land near Saco, then included in that
State. There he spent his last years in the practice of his
profession. He reared four sons, among them being Nathaniel, the
father of our subject.
That gentleman was born in Saco and when quite young turned to a
seafaring life, finally becoming a vessel owner. He was Captain
of the brig “Liberty” sailing between Boston and Liverpool and half
owner of her when she was wrecked December 24, 1801. The crew and
passengers were saved and some of the latter commemorated the event by
having pitchers made in Liverpool with a picture of the brig on each
side, one representing the vessel fully rigged and the other with the
deck swept of all its rigging. The date of the disaster was also
engraved upon the pitchers.
After the loss of the vessel Capt. Cummings retired from the sea
and gave his attention to teaching navigation, residing in Saco until
his death, in 1827. His widow survived until 1868, when she too
entered into rest. She was known in her maidenhood as Sarah
Junkens, was a native of Saco, and became the mother of nine sons and
one daughter, of whom the only survivors are Stephen and our
subject. The father of Mrs. Cummings, Capt. Paul Junkens, was a
native of Ireland and had command of a vessel in the merchant marine
service, running from Salem, Mass., to Liverpool. He was a
prominent member of the Congregational Church in Saco, in which town he
breathed his last.
The subject of this biographical notice was born February 5,
1818, in Saco, York County, Me., where he spent the early years of his
life and received such an education as was possible before he was
obliged to do for himself. He was about nine years old when his
father died and some three years later struck out in life, being
employed at various occupations until he was fifteen. He then
went to Portland to learn the trade of a tailor, and after serving an
apprenticeship of three years started in business in his native town,
although he was still “only a boy.” He continued his occupation
there until 1840, when he started for Illinois by the route considered
the most expeditious at that time.
This was by steamer to Boston, by rail to Fall River, by steamer
via Long Island Sound to New York, where a change was made to a river
boat which carried him to Albany, whence he journeyed over the Erie
Canal to Buffalo and there embarked on a steamer bound for
Chicago. There was so much ice in the lakes that the boat stopped
at Cleveland and Mr. Cummings pursued his journey by stage to
Cincinnati and then on the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to
this county. Leaving the steamer at Sharp’s Landing he made his
way to Astoria, then a village of but a dozen buildings, tow only being
frame. There was one store and a blacksmith-shop and a hotel kept
in a log building.
Mr. Cummings concluded to locate in a larger place and going to
Lewistown, the county seat, opened a tailor shop in which he carried on
business three years. At the expiration of that time he located
on a tract of wild land, built a dwelling and devoted his time to
clearing the land and tilling the soil until 1852. He then formed
a partnership with Robert McClelland and engaged in the mercantile
business in Astoria, since which time he has been continuously
interested in that pursuit, although not actively engaged in the labors
connected therewith. In 1862 he assisted in raising the
Eighty-fifth Illinois Infantry, and received a Major’s commission,
serving with the troops in Kentucky and Tennessee. He
participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, and other
smaller engagements, and served with credit until honorable discharged
on account of disability.
The marriage of Mr. Cummings was celebrated August 25, 1840, his
bride being Miss Lucy M. Durell. This estimable lady was born in
Kennebunk, Your County, Me., December 3, 1818, her parents, Eliphalet
and Jane (Merrill) Durell, being also natives of the Pine Tree State
and numbered among the pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs.
Cummings have six children, namely: Eliza, wife of John W.
Greene, a merchant in Astoria; McDonald, a merchant in Lewistown; Emma,
wife of William Scripps, of Astoria; Susie, wife of Darrow Waggoner, of
Astoria; Henry Orleans, an attorney-at-law in Springfield; and William,
who is engaged in the hardware business in Lewistown. The upright
and useful lives of these sons and daughters reflect credit upon the
parents to whom they owe so much for loving care and good counsel, and
their intelligence and good breeding make them popular in the best
society of the towns in which they live.
The political affiliation of Mr. Cummings has always been with
the Democratic party. He is a member of the Democratic State
Central Committee-at-large and had been a delegate to all the State
conventions for upward of thirty years. In 1876 he was delegate
to the National Convention at St. Louis. He served as Justice of
the Peace for thirty years, and in 1877 was elected County Judge.
He was first sent to the State Legislature in 1858, re-elected in 1860,
and again elected in 1870; two years later he was elected to the State
Senate and afterward returned to the House. In 1869 he was a
member of the Constitutional Convention. His great popularity is
also indicated by the fact that he served twenty-two years as
Supervisor, being Chairman of the County Board eighteen years.
His record is that of a man interested in public improvements, liberal
in his views regarding appropriations, but averse to extravagance or
fraud.
Socially, Mr. Cummings is a member of Astoria Lodge, No. 100, F.
& A. M.; Stapleton Chapter No. 9, R. A. M., and Rushville
Commandery No. 55, K. T., in the latter of which he is Past Eminent
Commander. The energy of his character and the force of purpose
inherent in his nature are apparent at a glance. He sees at a
glance the difficult point in any question and as readily sees the
means that must be adopted to carry it. Stanch in principles,
clear in perception and decided in character, he deserves the good
things which have come to him, and the high character for probity which
years of intimate business and social acquaintance have brought him.
