Marshall-Nemaha County KS Archives Biographies.....Cummings, C. E. 1873 - living in 1917 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com July 23, 2005, 12:55 pm Author: B. F. Bowen C. E. CUMMINGS. Among the successful business men and bankers of Marshall county, is C. E. Cummings, the efficient cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Blue Rapids, who was born on June 13, 1873, at Centralia, Kansas, the son of C. S. and Mary K. (Smith) Cummings, natives of New Jersey and Illinois, respectively. C. S. Cummings was reared in Michigan, near Pontiac, where his parents were among the early settlers in that section. There he grew to manhood on the farm and early in life followed agricultural pursuits. He was educated in the country schools and became one of the sturdy young men of that section. On reaching manhood he came to Illinois, where he engaged in general farming and later was married. Shortly after his marriage he and his wife moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, where they lived for two years, when they moved to Centralia and there Mr. Cummings engaged in the hardware business. After many years of active life as a successful merchant, he retired and on December 24, 1908, he died, at the age of seventy-three years. He was an active Republican and represented his district in the Legislature for two terms, during which time he made an enviable record and won the respect of the entire county. Mrs. Cummings died in October, 1913, at the age of seventy-three years. They were the parents of two children, Oscar S., who formerly engaged in banking and is now a resident of Houston, Texas, and C. E. Cummings. C. E. Cummings was educated in the common schools of Centralia and had two years of work in the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and attended the business college at Ouincy, Illinois. After completing his education he entered the Citizens State Bank at Centralia, where he remained for two years, after which he went to Alvin, Texas, as assistant cashier of the Alvin Exchange Bank. He remained at Alvin for five years and then returned to Kansas, and in 1900 and organized the itizens State Bank at Netawaka, and operated that institution for two years, after which he sold the business and in 1904 came to Blue Rapids and organized the Citizens State Bank. A new stone building was erected and the bank was furnished with modern and substantial furniture, safe and vault and was opened for business on February 8, 1905. The bank has clone a successful business and is today recognized as one of the strong institutions of this section of the state. On January 16, 1894, Mr. Cummings was united in marriage Ło Grace Birchfield, of Centralia, the daughter of A. J. Birchfield. Mr. Birchfield, now deceased, was one of the prominent and successful merchants of Centralia, and a man of much force and character. To Mr. and Mrs. Cummings one child has been born, Claude Edmund, who attended school at Kansas City and is now an employe of the Santa Fe railroad at Chicago, Illinois, and also attending school. He was born on January 20, 1897, and is preparing himself for a life of usefulness. Mr. Cummings is identified with the Republican party and has always taken a keen interest in local affairs. Being a man of much force and progressive ideas, his advice has had much to do with the progressive spirit of his home town. Since residing in Blue Rapids he has served the city for one term as mayor, and his administration was considered one of the best in the history of the city. His interest was ever with the future growth of the place and his constant endeavor was to make the community one of high ideals. Much was done at that time to advance the future interest of the financial, educational and social conditions of the community. Fraternally, Mr. Cummings is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Pythias, in all of which his influence is keenly felt for the good of the orders. He is a man of pleasing qualities and has made many friends in the social, business and financial world, and as a banker he has the confidence and respect of the entire district. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/cummings69bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ksfiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb