Thomas A. Cummings
History of the State of Montana, by Joaquim Miller, 1894 

Thomas A. Cummings came to Montana in 1867 and has since been 
one of her most worthy citizens. He was born in county Kilkenny, 
Ireland, August 3, 1845. His father, Patrick Cumings, was born 
in Ireland in 1818, reared in his native county, and in 1843 
married Ellen Fitzpatrick, who was born in the same county
and is a member of his own church. They emigrated to America in 
1849 settling at Evan's Mills, Jefferson Co. NY.

Being a blacksmith by trade, he followed his vocation ever since 
he came to this country until he retired from active 
life. He still resides there, seventy six years of age and his 
wife also is spared to him, one year older. They are
faithful adherents of the Catholic faith, people of industry 
and worth. Of their eight children, only two survive. 
Thomas A., the first born, was attending high school when the 
news of the firing upon Fort Sumpter was telegraphed 
over the country. President Lincoln issued his call for 
volunteers, the cry to arms resounded throughout the land 
and the entire North aroused as it were from a sleep. In 
every hamlet the fife and drum were heard. At the same 
instant the patriotic zeal of Cummings was exited to the 
fighting head, and August 29, 1861 he enlisted as a member 
of Battery C., First New York Army Corps, the Army of the 
Potomac. He served his term, and in Dec. 1862 re-listed 
in the same battery and served till the close of the war. 
He participated in the battles of McClellan's, Burnside's,
Hooker's, Meade's, and Grant's armies, was at the surrender 
of Lee at Appomattox and particpated in the grand review 
of the victorious army at Washington in 1865. During his entire 
service, he did not receive even a scratch or a wound. 

He was honorably discharged June 27, 1865. All this before he 
attained his twentieth year. He returned to his home
both a veteran and a victor. 
April 1, 1867, seized with a desire of adventure and of 
improving his financial condition, he started up the Missouri 
River, intending to make the Territory of Montana the scenes 
of his future activities. Landing at Ft. Benton, July 8, 
he proceded to Helena, where he was employed during the winter 
of 1867 by Vanderburg and Ellis. In the spring he 
obtained a position in the hardware business of John Kenna, in 
which he continued until the autumn of 1869. In 1869 
he was employed at Blackfoot City, as manager for the Montana 
Hide and Fur Company. In 1870 he went to Washington
Gulch and opened a store on his own account and continued it 
for two years. 

In 1872 he was appointed Indian Agent for the Flathead Indians, 
but his appointment was not confirmed. In March 1872,
he was, by President Grant, appointed Collector of Customs for 
Montana and Idaho, and served four years, when he 
was reappointed by President Hayes, in 1877 and served a second 
term of four years, being then succeeded by H.W. Hunt,
now Judge of Lewis and Clarke county, who after serving a part 
of the term, resigned to receive the appointment of 
Attorney General. In December 1884, President Arthur restored 
Mr. Cummings to his former position as Collector of 
Customs, which position he held until June 1889. 
Since 1867 Mr. Cummings has been actively engaged in the cattle 
business. In the meantime, he has been a special 
officer of the Treasury Dept.. He has built two residences in Ft. 
Benton, the last, a very commodious one, in 1893
in which he and his interesting famiy reside. They are active 
and highly esteemed members of the Catholic Church,
having aided in the building of their house of worship and in 
all the interests of the church. Politically Mr.

Cummings has always been an active Replublican, is now secretary 
of the Republican State Central Committee and
is a respected and influential citizen of Montana. 

Sept. 4, 1880, he married Mary Gallager, a native of Carthage, 
Jefferson Co. NY and a daughter of Richard and 
Maria Sherwood Gallager. On her father's side she is of Irish 
ancestry and on her mother's American. She was 
American born and bred. Her father was an Englishman and her 
mother a Scotch woman. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings 
have three children: M. Marguertie, Helen S., and Thomas S.C. 
Page 373 

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