Fred N. Cummings

Fred Nelson Cummings (September 18, 1864 – November 10, 1952) was an American farmer and rancher. A Democrat, he served as a U.S. Representative from Colorado for four terms (1933-1941).

Fred Nelson Cummings
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1941
Preceded by	Charles B. Timberlake
Succeeded by	William S. Hill
Personal details
Born	(1864-09-18)18 September 1864 Groveton, New Hampshire, U.S.
Died	10 November 1952(1952-11-10) (aged 88) Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.
Resting place	Grandview Cemetery, Fort Collins, Colorado
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Populist Socialist
Spouse(s)	Nancy Jane Sutton (m. 1889-1944, her death) Ina Graham (m. 1947-1951, her death)
Children	5
Occupation	Farmer Rancher

Biography

Frederick Nelson Cummings[1] was born on a farm near Groveton, New Hampshire on September 18, 1864,[2] a son of George and Angeline Cummings.[1] His father was a native of Canada and his mother had been born in Vermont.[1] His family moved to Clinton, Iowa in 1865.[2] In 1879, they relocated again, this time to a farm near West Union, Nebraska.[2] Cummings attended the local schools in Clinton and West Union and became a farmer and rancher.[2]

After deciding on a legal career, Cummings studied law with an attorney in Nebraska, attained Admission to the bar in 1891, and began to practice in Custer County, Nebraska.[2] In 1899, Cummings was an unsuccessful Populist Party candidate for Custer County Judge.[3] During the campaign he was accused of falsely claiming to have studied law and been admitted to the bar.[3] After the Populist party became defunct, Cummings maintained an interest in political activity as a member of the Socialist Party of America.[4]

In 1906, Cummings moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, where he continued farming and ranching, but discontinued the practice of law.[2] From 1909 to 1913 he was a member of the Fort Collins city council.[2] Before his election to Congress, Cummings served as president of the Mountain States Beet Growers Association, a lobbying and issues advocacy organization.[5] He later served as president of the National Beet Growers Association.[2]

In 1922, he was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Larimer County Commissioner.[6][7] In 1932, Cummings was a successful Democratic candidate for election to the 73rd Congress.[2] He was reelected three times and served from March 4, 1933 to January 3, 1941.[2] Cummings was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1940.[2]

After leaving Congress, Cummings resumed farming and ranching.[2] He died in Fort Collins on November 10, 1952.[2] Cummings was buried at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins.[8]

Family

In 1889, Cummings married Nancy Jane Sutton (d. 1944).[2] They were the parents of five children -- George, Ralph, Harry, Edna, and Hugh.[2][9] Cummings's sons Harry and Hugh predeceased him.[2] In 1947, Cummings married Ina Graham, who died in 1951.[2]

References

1. "1870 United States Federal Census, Entry for George Cummings Family". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. 1870. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
2. "Heart Attack Fatal Today to Cummings". Fort Collins Coloradan. Fort Collins, CO. November 10, 1952. pp. 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "The Populist Papers". Custer County Republican. Broken Bow, NE. October 5, 1899. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Socialist Conventions". Custer County Republican. Broken Bow, NE. September 11, 1902. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Beet Growers Take Notice". The Windsor Beacon. Windsor, CO. January 22, 1920. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Democratic Candidates, County Ticket". Fort Collins Coloradan. Fort Collins, CO. November 6, 1922. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Smith Leading for Sheriff by Small Margin". The Fort Collins Express. Fort Collins, CO. November 8, 1922. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Funeral Notice, Fred Cummings". Fort Collins Coloradan. Fort Collins, CO. November 10, 1952. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "1910 United States Federal Census, Entry for Frederick N. Cummings Family". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. 1910. Retrieved January 17, 2020.

External links

• United States Congress. "Fred N. Cummings (id: C000985)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Fred N. Cummings at Find a Grave

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Charles B. Timberlake	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 2nd congressional district 1933 – 1941	Succeeded by William S. Hill