Burton Albert Cummins Biography


	This biography appears on pages 411-412 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				BURTON ALBERT CUMMINS.  

	Burton Albert Cummins, whose high position in financial circles 
in South Dakota is indicated by the fact that he has been honored with 
the presidency of the State Bankers, Association, makes his home in 
Pierre, where, since July, 1890, he has been connected with the First 
National Bank, of which he is now the vice president He has other 
important financial and business interests which have won him place 
with the leading representative citizens of the capital. He was born 
April 3, 1869, in Montpelier, Vermont, a son of Albert Oren and Mary 
Frances (Ellis) Cummins. The father, who was born August 3, 1829, died 
April 28, 1912, and the mother who was born April 14, 1816, is still 
living. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to Isaac 
Cummings, of Ipswich, Connecticut, who was born in 1601 and died in 
1677. Albert O. Cummins spent six years and thousands of dollars in 
compiling the genealogy of the Cummins family. During the latter years 
of his life he was a member of a firm conducting a large tannery at 
Montpelier, Vermont. Mrs. Mary Frances Cummins is a well known author 
and a leading member of the Science church in Vermont.  

	In his student days Burton Albert Cummins attended the Washington 
county grammar school at Montpelier from which he was graduated on the 
17th of June, 1887. Later he became a student in the Bryant and 
Stratton Business College of Boston, of which he was a graduate of the 
class of June, 1888. He began work in July of the same year as an 
employee in the Sioux National Bank of Sioux City, Iowa, and left there 
to enter the First National Bank of Pierre, South Dakota, in July, 
1890. He has since worked his way upward through intermediate positions 
until he is now vice president of this bank, which is one of the strong 
financial institutions of the state. He occupies a prominent position 
in financial circles, his opinions carrying weight among the bankers of 
the state. In 1892 he occupied the presidency of the South Dakota 
Bankers, Association and has been a member of its executive committee 
almost continuously since. He has also been vice president of the 
American Bankers' Association and he has a wide acquaintance among 
leading financiers.  

	Aside from owning one half of the stock in the First National 
Bank of Pierre, he is a stockholder in the First National Life 
Insurance Company of Pierre and he has large property interests in 
California. He is treasurer of the Chicago, Black Hills & Yellowstone 
Park Highway Association.  

	On the 3d of April, 1890, in Sioux City, Iowa, Mr. Cummins was 
united in marriage to Miss Clara Belle Merrick, a daughter of F. L. and 
Nancy (Chapman) Merrick, of Kankakee, Illinois. Mrs. Cummins possesses 
considerable musical talent and is greatly interested in theatricals, 
having played many parts in amateur theatricals. Mr. and Mrs. Cummins 
have a daughter, Aline, who was born February 19, 1897, and they lost a 
son, Albert Oren, who died in 1896, when three years of age.  

	Mr. Cummins has always refused to become a candidate for office 
and has used his political influence only for his friends and in 
support of the principles in which he believes. He is a stalwart 
republican and has been a member of the state central committee at 
various times. He was United States disbursing agent when the Federal 
building was being erected in Pierre. He has held honorary office as a 
member of the staff of Governor Herreid with the rank of colonel. He 
supports the Episcopal church and holds membership in various fraternal 
and social organizations. He is now treasurer in Pierre Lodge, A. F. & 
A. M., which office he has filled since 1897. He has also taken the 
degrees of the chapter and commandery and is a member of the Mystic 
Shrine. The Sioux City Boat Club numbers him among its charter members 
and he also belongs to the Pierre Commercial Club. He was likewise 
chairman of the Pierre Capital Committee for two years, during the 
intense contest over the location of the capital. In 1914 he served as 
president of the South Dakota State Historical Society and is now one 
of its trustees.  

	For a quarter of a century he has lived in this state and has 
been an interested witness of its growth and development, taking active 
and helpful part in the support of many projects for the general good. 
None occupy a more enviable position in public regard or in financial 
and business circles, not only on account of the success he has 
achieved but also owing to the straightforward and honorable business 
policy that he has ever followed.