Obituaries: William F. Cummings, 1937, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: January 14, 1937 Winn Parish Enterprise

Father of Mrs. John J. Peters Dies In Monroe

W. F. Cummings, Prominent Lumberman; Ill Since New Year

William F. Cummings, 75, for many years associated in extensive timber
interests as agent for the Tensas Delta Land Company, died at his residence,
902 Walnut Street, Monroe, La., Friday at 12:10 a.m.  He had been seriously
ill since New Year's Day.

A brief funeral service was held at the family home Friday at 4:00 p.m. with
Rev. E. F. Hayward, rector of Grace Episcopal Church, officiating.  After the
service the body was taken to Memphis, Tenn., for cremation.

Pallbearers were Clarence Oakley, Dr. C. Prentice Gray, Jr., Milling
Bernstein, William Potts Clark, Fred G. Hudson, Jr., and Reynold McWilliams.

AT the request of the family, no flowers were sent by friends.

Mr. Cummings was a native of Viroqua, Wis., where he received his early
education and as a youth engaged in lumbering interest in which he became
expert.  He was married to Miss Katherine Hall of Chippewa Falls, Wis., and
they came south to reside in 1898.  For some years he was in the employ of the
J. B White Company, a Missouri concern, and bought timber for this firm in the
southern states, maintaining for several years an office in Mobile, Ala.

From Mobile he went to Monroe where he made his home for more than 30 years.
For more than three decades he was southern representative of James D. Lacey
and Company, a large Michigan lumber firm.  He purchased for his northern
business connections a tract of land which contained nearly a million acres
and which is held by the Tensas Delta Company, and continued as their agent
for many years.  This land proved highly valuable for both gas and timber. 
Considerable of it has been leased out to gas interest in Morehouse, Ouachita,
and other parishes.

Offices were maintained by Mr. Cummings in connection with his timber
enterprises in the Ouachita National Bank building, and he continued to spend
considerable time in his office, although for the past few years his health
has been impaired.  He was able, however, to visit his offices on New Year's
Day, but later became ill and failed rapidly up to the time of his death early
Friday morning.

He was a member of the Grace Episcopal Church, in which he had served as
vestryman.  He also was active in Masonry, being a member of the Shrine and
Knights Templar.

Surviving are his widow, one son, Gordon Cummings, who is associated with the
firm of Gregg and McKenzie in Monroe, and one daughter, Mrs. John J. Peters of
Winnfield, and five grandchildren.  Mr. and Mrs. Peters and children had been
at the bedside of Mr. Cummings since his serious illness.