Bureau County IL Archives Biographies.....Cummings, William
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Virginia Perry vperry@midwest.net January 1999

Biography of William CUMMINGS, Bureau County, Illinois

William Cummings, Buda, Thornton Cummings was a native of Virginia. 
When a young man he immigrated to Kentucky, and was there married to 
Miss Sylvia Williams, a native of Kentucky. In 1816, soon after marriage, 
Mr. Cummings removed to Gallatin County, Ill., where he resided till 1834, 
at which time he came to Bureau County, Ill.  When he reached  Hennepin, 
he left his family there, and in company with a Frenchman as guide he 
traveled over the western part of Bureau County seeking a suitable 
location, and as he had been reared in a timbered country French Grove 
suited him best on account of its containing heavy timber.  But when he 
announced his intention of settling here, his guide informed him that 
his own claim embraced the grove, but that he would divide, and 
accordingly staked off one-half, and Mr. Cummings  selected the west 
half and there settled, and his was the first settlement in what is 
now Concord Township. When the land came into market he entered 240 
acres of the Grove and adjoining prairie land. He died in 1872, and 
his widow January 1, 1883. They were the parents of ten children, 
seven of whom lived to reach maturity. The following are now living: 
Fitchyou, Sylvia (widow of Alexander Shafer) and William are in this 
county, Harvey Cummings is now a resident of Minnesota. William Cummings 
was born in Gallatin County, Ill., in 1829. He came to this county 
with his parents in 1834, and attended the first school taught in the 
western part of Bureau County. This school was taught in a log-cabin on 
the east of French Grove. Mr. Cummings has made this township his 
home since first coming to it. In 1853 he was married to Miss A. J. 
Hodge, who was born in the State of New York, and is the daughter of 
Jacob Hodge.  Mr. and Mrs. Cunninghams are the parents of five sons, 
viz: Orlando W., Marvin S. and Melvin S. (twins), Hampton B. and Harvey 
D. (twins).  Immediately  after marriage Mr. Cummings  settled on 
his present farm and in August 1870, engaged in the breeding of 
short-horn cattle, and has been one of the most successful breeders of 
thoroughbred cattle in the county, and now keeps his farm of nearly 
500 acres fully stocked with the choicest cattle. June 8, 1881 and June 
26, 1884 he had a public sale of short-horn cattle, each herd containing 
about fifty head. More of his connection with this industry will be found 
in the chapter on blooded stock.

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