Polk-Clayton County IA Archives Biographies.....Cummins, Albert B. 1850 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 12, 2007, 12:21 am Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896) HON. ALBERT B. CUMMINS.- Among the prominent lawyers of the State of Iowa, whose success has been achieved by their own excellence, ability and energy, none are more deserving of consideration in this connection than he whose name initiates this sketch, Hon. Albert B. Cummins, of Des Moines, a member of the firm of Cummins & Wright. Mr. Cummins was born near Carmichaels, Greene county, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1850, son of Thomas L. and Sarah B. (Flenniken) Cummins, natives of Pennsylvania. In their family were four sons and six daughters, of whom eight are now living, namely: Albert B., James C., Margaret R., Benjamin F., Ella, Anna, Louisa, and Alice. The father was for many years engaged in contracting and building, and since 1886 has been a resident of Des Moines. He and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, in which, during their residence in Pennsylvania, he served for many years as Elder. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Benjamin Cummins, was a native of one of the Eastern States, was of Scotch descent, and was by occupation a farmer. He met death by drowning at about the age of fifty years. He was the father of a large family. The maternal grandfather, James Flenniken, was a native of Pennsylvania and was descended from staunch Irish ancestors. He, too, was a farmer. In physique he was of short stature, and he was a man of strong individuality, his religious creed being that of the Presbyterians. To him belongs the distinction of being the immediate descendant of a signer of the Mecklenburg Resolutions. He died in Pennsylvania, at the age of seventy-five years. In his family were six children. We turn now to the life record of our immediate subject, Albert B. Cummins. Although comparatively a young man, he shows in his career that steadfastness of purpose and strong individuality which are characteristics of his Scotch and Irish forefathers. The first nineteen years of his life were spent in his native county, and he graduated in 1869 at Waynesburg College. When a boy he learned the carpenter's trade, and for several years worked at it with his father. In the autumn following his graduation he came west to Clayton county, Iowa, and that winter was employed as clerk in the office of the County Recorder, and at the same time began the study of law. The next spring and summer he worked at his trade, and in the fall accepted a position as clerk in the United States and American Express office at McGregor, continuing thus occupied until the spring of 1871, when he went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and became Deputy Surveyor of Allen county. After serving in that capacity two months, he was employed as division civil engineer on the Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad, and soon afterward was promoted to assistant chief engineer of that road, completing the work in hand that same year. January 1, 1872, he was employed as engineer in the construction of the Northern Central Railroad of Michigan, and in the latter part of December, having finished that road, had an engagement as assistant chief engineer of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. He started to Colorado to fulfill this engagement, but on the way was induced to abandon the trip and enter a law office in Chicago, and resumed the study of law under the direction of the firm of McClellan & Hodges. He was admitted to the bar in January, 1875. Immediately after his admission he entered upon the practice of his profession in that city, continued alone four months, and at the end of that time was made a partner in the firm with which he had studied. Six months later Mr. Hodges retired, and Mr. Cummins and Mr. McClellan practiced together until January, 1878, when the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Cummins came to Des Moines. Here he has since made his home, and has during these years gained an enviable reputation as a lawyer. Mr. Cummins' present partner is Mr. Carroll Wright, the firm of Cummins & Wright being one of the strongest in the city. In addition to conducting a general practice they represent all the railroad companies running through Des Moines except two, and also a number of other corporations, the railroads they represent being as follows: Rock Island, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Chicago & Great Western, Des Moines, Northern & Western, and Des Moines & Union. Mr. Cummins has a pecuniary interest in the Des Moines, Northern & Western, being a director and general counsel of that road, and also of the Des Moines Union, of which latter he is vice-president. June 24, 1874, Mr. Cummins was united in marriage to Miss Ida Gallery, of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, and daughter of James and E. M. (Hamilton) Gallery. They have one child, Kate. Mrs. Cummins is a member of the Congregational Church, and a devoted and active worker in the same. Their comfortable and attractive residence is located at the corner of Forest Drive and Grand avenue. For years Mr. Cummins has been active and prominent in politics. He is a Republican. His extensive knowledge of men and affairs, together with his marked abilities, renders him especially valuable to his party. While thus politically prominent, his profession has had far greater attraction for him than any grade of official life could offer, and until recently his name has been withheld by him from consideration in connection with a nomination for office. In 1888 he was elected a member of the Iowa State Legislature, and, while a member of that honorable body, not only rendered acceptable service to his constituency but also made a record that was distinguished for its ability and brilliancy. In 1892 he was elected and served as Presidential Elector. Mr. Cummins is still a young man, and with the success he has already achieved it is fair to judge that he will attain yet higher honors. He has invested in real estate to some extent, and beside his property in Des Moines owns some fine farming land. Additional Comments: Extracted from: A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA ILLUSTRATED "A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants."'—MACAULAY. "Biography is by nature the must universally profitable, universally pleasant, of all things."—CARLYLE "History is only biography on a large scale"—LAMARTINE. CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1896 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/polk/bios/cummins126gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 7.0 Kb