BIO:  ALFRED B. COMMINGS, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 646-647
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    ALFRED B. COMMINGS. The ancestors of Mr. Commings were of German and Scotch
  birth, and settled in Bradford county. His grandparents lived and died there,
  and among their children was Harvey Commings, father of Alfred S., who during
  the early part of his life followed the occupation of farming. He afterward
  engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, and followed that occupation
  until his death, which took place in 1888, when he was seventy-four years
  old. He married in early life Almira Stedman, a descendant of the well known
  Stedman family of Lycoming county, and she died at the age of forty-two years.
    
    Harvey Commings was a Conservative Democrat during his manhood, and both he
  and his wife were active members of the Methodist Church. To them were born
    
    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  647
    
  children as follows, besides Alfred B. Ophelia married Burton Scouton, moved
  to Missouri in 1871, and engaged in farming; Juliet (deceased) married John
  Annis, of Monroeton, Bradford county; Charles R. (deceased) a jeweler at
  Harrisburg, married Emma Funk, of Rockville, Dauphin county, and they had
  four children; Plumey (unmarried) died at the age of eighteen years; Ella is
  living in Bradford county; Frank E. married Ella Walfinger, and is engaged in
  the jewelry business at Harrisburg.
    
    Alfred B. Commings was born Oct. 16, 1849, at Holland Hill, and received
  his early education there. When only twelve years of age, fired with
  patriotism, he ran away from home and enlisted at Harrisburg, as a drummer
  boy, in the 194th P. V. I., Company K, Capt. Clarence Updegraff commanding.
  The child-soldier participated in the battles of Gettysburg, City Point,
  Petersburg, and numerous smaller engagements, and when his term of service
  had expired he joined the 18th Pa. Cavalry. This command was sent to pursue
  the famous guerrilla Gen. Moseby, and needless to say had some very thrilling
  experiences. When Mr. Commings returned from the war, although still a boy in
  years, he was a seasoned veteran, and began the life of a man by engaging in
  the lumber business at Williamsport. There he remained for two years, and the
  following two years ran the stage lines from Troy. The following seventeen
  years he operated a successful livery, sale and exchange business, into which
  he drifted naturally through his connection with the stage lines, his stables
  being located at Harrisburg. From the expiration of the period above
  mentioned until now Mr. Commings has been closely identified with the hotel
  business, though he still deals in fine-bred horses. For nine years he
  conducted thepopular cafe at Harrisburg known as the Hershey Cafe. He has
  successfully conducted hotels at Carlisle, Lancaster, Reading, Lebanon,
  Millersburg and Elkton, Md., and at the present time he is the proprietor of
  the well known "American House" at Mechanicsburg. Mr. Commings is recognized
  as one of the best judges of horseflesh in the eastern part of the State. No
  horse show or race meet is complete without him. He has probably entered more
  horses in races than any man in Pennsylvania to-day, and he has a long list of
  victories to his credit. Mr. Commings is a true lover of horses, and his
  stables contain some of the best bred horses in the State.
    
    Mr. Commings married Gertrude Hillier, who was born at Jersey Shore,
  Lycoming county, and is a descendant of an old English family. One son,
  Frederick, has been born to them, and he is at present manager of the
  "American House" at Mechanicsburg.