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					E. C. CUMMINGS
				MRS. HULDA (PARSONS) CUMMINGS
				MRS. LAURA (BARTON) CUMMINGS

	E.C. Cummings was born in the town of Collins, Erie Co., N. Y., April 16, 1838.  His 
family on both sides were of Scotch origin, his great-grandfather having been born in Scotland.  
His father, James Cummings, was a native of Pennsylvania; his mother, Mary Davis, of Erie Co., 
N. Y.  Our subject, E. C. Cummings, was, at the age of two years, bound out to a Mr. Edmund 
McClelland, of Washington township, Erie Co., Pa.  With him he resided until thirteen years of 
age, when he struck out for himself.  The first summer he worked for Davis McClellan, and was to 
receive what he could earn.  He labored hard and faithfully until fall, and was then turned away 
without a dollar, with winter before him and only summer clothing with which to face the cold 
blasts. 
	This was discouraging; still, he considers it a lesson of great value, as he has always 
since then, when entering into a business engagement, insisted upon a full understanding.  The 
succeeding summer he worked on a farm at five dollars per month, and the next for seven dollars 
per month, and worked as hard and faithfully as ever in later years.  Up to the breaking out of
the Rebellion he worked around Waterford, Pa.  His chances for an education were limited to a few
winter terms at the log school-house of that day.  During the winter of 1860-61, Mr. Cummings 
passed his time in Oil Creek, and  was an eye-witness of the first great fire in the oil regions.
It was on the Buchanan farm, and resulted in the death of Mr. Rouse, the then most wealthy 
oil-dealer, and fifteen others, while many were seriously injured.  Immediately after this came 
the news of the firing of Fort Sumter, when he enlisted in Company E, Eighty-third Regiment 
Pennsylvania Infantry, to serve three months, and was discharged at the expiration of his term of
enlistment.  The regiment was commanded by Col. McLain.  They saw no active service.  After his 
marriage, in 1862, he for a time followed farming, then again returned to Oil Creek, and for six  
months had charge of an oil-refinery.  Then, owing to ill health of his wife, he went to Erie, 
Pa., or near there, and engaged in shipping poultry and butter East and chestnuts West.  This 
proved a disastrous enterprise, and he lost his all.  Then he went back to the creek and engaged
in transporting oil to the railroad with teams, at times by the roads, then up the streams in 
boats, the horses following the creek-bed.  Hard labor and exposure caused his health to fail, 
and  for the third time he left the creek, much against his wishes, as  his prospects at that 
time for gaining wealth rapidly were better than ever before or since.  After nearly recovering
his health, he spent one year and a half driving a wholesale wagon for Messrs. Barmer & Burgess,
of Erie, Pa., through the northern part of that State, and through Eastern Ohio and Western New 
York.  In the fall of 1866 he moved to Ithaca, Gratiot Co., Mich., and in company with B. F. 
Shepherd entered into the mercantile business.  He remained in this business until 1870, when he
sold out and spent one summer in Wyoming and Colorado in search of health.  In the spring of 
1871 he came to Carson City, then in its infancy, and started a general store.  The following 
January he took his half-brother, Geo. A. Thayer, as a partner, and they at once enlarged their 
business.  They  were in business together until Jan 1, 1875, when Mr. Cummings sold out to his 
brother, and then spent several months settling up, and in St. John's learning the banking 
business.  In September, 1875, Mr. Cummings started  in Carson City a private bank, which he 
managed in connection with the post-office, to which he was appointed in the fall of that year, 
and which position he has held up to the present time.  As a banker, Mr. Cummings has the entire 
confidence of the people of Carson City and the surrounding country, and is, and has been, doing 
a successful business. He is also two-thirds owner of the Carson City Grist-Mill, but for two 
years has rented his interest to his partner, Mr. La Due.  He also owns other property in the 
village.  In 1876, Mr. Cummings erected in the village a beautiful house, which, surrounded by 
large and tastily-arranged grounds, makes a pleasant and desirable home, a view of which adorns 
another page of this work.  In all that pertains to the improvement of the village he has always 
taken an active part.  He is not a member of any church, but has taken an active part in building
the Congregational church, towards which he was, and is, a liberal subscriber.  In politics he 
is an ardent Republican, but has never sought political advancement.  Commencing life as he did 
in a humble way, he has by a course strictly honest and upright, and by close attention  to 
business, gained a position among the leading men of his county, and sets an example the young 
may well follow.  He has been twice married.  His first wife, to whom he was married Jan. 9, 
1862, was Miss Hulda Ann Parsons, born Sept. 9. 1844, in Summit township, Erie Co., Pa, daughter
of Timothy L. and Sarah (Brown) Parsons; she died Jan. 13, 1870.  Their children were Carrie M., 
born Sept. 16, 1863; Morton P., March 15, 1867; and Berton F., Dec. 17, 1869.  On the 12th day 
of April, 1871, Mr. Cummings again married, his choice being Miss Laura H. Barton, born in 
Portage Co., Ohio, March 10, 1848 (daughter of William and Catherine (Stickles) Barton).  Their 
union has been blessed with three children,--viz., Ira, born Nov. 15, 1873; Ora I., Sept. 23, 
1875, and Lottie B. Sept. 12, 1878. 



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Pages 429-430.  Bloomer.