GEORGE J. CUMMINS [CUMMINGS], Biography / Harrison City, Clare Co, MI


Submitted for use by USGENWEB Clare County, Michigan November 2002 
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Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Michigan. Chicago: Record Publishing Co., 
1895.

GEORGE J. CUMMINS has the honor of being the oldest member of the Clare County 
Bar in point of years of practice. Since 1885 he has been an inhabitant of Harrison, and 
for over six years was a member of the law firm of Browne & Cummins. Since 1892 he 
has been engaged in practice alone. He is a local leader among the republicans, is active 
in campaign work, and has sometimes served as a delegate to conventions. Besides 
holding minor offices he was Prosecuting Attorney of Clare County for one term and was 
highly commended by his constituency for his fidelity to their interests.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, George Cummins, was a native of New Jersey. 
During his active years he was a minister in the Methodist Church. He also owned a 
distillery, which fact in no wise interfered with his influence for good in those days, for it 
was a matter of very common occurrence, and no outcry had been made against the liquor 
traffic. His death occurred at the age of fifty years. Of his five or six children, our 
subject's father, Opdyke H., was probably the youngest. He was a farmer by occupation 
and came to Michigan in 1864, settling on a homestead in Oakland County. From 1870 to 
1881 he resided at Ann Arbor, that his children might obtain better school advantages. 
While there he was in the marble business for a time. In 1881 he returned to his farm in 
Oakland County, and in 1894, with his wife, went to New Jersey, where he now resides. 
The latter, a native of that state, was in her girlhood Miss Ellen D. Axford.

In his early manhood, Opdyke H. Cummins was a Whig and when the republican party 
was organized joined its ranks. He steadfastly refused public office, but took an active 
part in whatever concerned the public good. Religiously he has been a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church for many years and leads an earnest Christian life. In the 
Odd Fellows' society near his old Michigan home he was a leading member. To himself 
and wife were born six children. Rebecca, who died at Rochester, Mich., was the wife of 
George Flummerfelt; Mary is the wife of Wesley Main, of New Stillwater, N.J.; Susan is 
the wife of Raus Cooper, of Oquawka, Ill.; Leona is Mrs. Edgar J. Wiley, of Sault Ste. 
Marie, Mich.; Allie is the wife of Herman Osthause, of Scranton, Pa.; and George J. is the 
only son.

Born in Vienna, Warren County, N.J., November 4, 1853, George J. Cummins was a lad 
of eleven years when he left his native state and settled in Oakland County, Mich. Six 
years later he went to Ann Arbor and attended the University of Michigan, having 
graduated from the law department in the Class of '75. For over a year he was in the 
office of Judge E.D. Kinne, of Ann Arbor, and then came to this county, hanging out his 
shingle in Farwell, where he remained until 1885. Since coming to this place he has 
devoted all of his energies to building up a good practice and has been prospered in his 
efforts. He is a Mason of the Royal Arch degree, and is a member of the Uniformed 
Ranks of the Knights of Pythias.

In 1884, Mr. Cummins married Mrs. Celia E. May, nee Amsden, who had one son, Leo, 
by her previous union. She was born in Clyde, N.Y., removed to Jackson County, Mich., 
with her family, and at the time of her marriage with Mr. Cummins was making her home 
at Reed City, Mich. She presides over her home with grace and hearty hospitality, and 
makes friends of all with whom she comes in contact.