Cummings, Captain Samuel
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
DESCRIPTIVE OF ITS SCENERY,
AND
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.
Published by Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia
1879
Page 256
CAPTAIN SAMUEL CUMMINGS
Among the old soldiers and prominent residents of Macoupin county, none deserve better mention than Captain
Samuel Cummings. He was born on the 21st of December, 1813, in Scott county, Kentucky. John Cummings, the father of
the subject of our sketch, was a native of Virginia; he was born in the year 1763. He resided there for many years, but being
fond of adventures he and a few others emigrated to Kentucky, where he met the noted Daniel Boone, and joined him as a
scout, a business which he continued for three years. These scouts were employed by Boone and Tanner to keep watch
of the movements of the Indians, who were very troublesome at that time. They had to be men very fleet of foot, as well as
discreet. On the 15th of January, 1792, he was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Elliotte, and then settled in Bourbon
county, Kentucky, giving his attention to farming, but when necessary he led a party of scouts. Subsequently he moved
to Scott county, Kentucky, where he lived for a few years; from there he emigrated to Indiana, where he lived for a time.
But being favorably impressed with the reports of Illinois, he concluded to emigrate in 1821, and settled in what is now
Saline County. After living there a short time, he sold out, and in the early part of October, 1822, he moved to Sangamon
county and bought the improvements of a squatter, and soon entered the land. In 1825 he moved for the last time, and
settled in Macoupin county, north-west section 4; township 12, range 8. His wife died November 3d, 1838, and six years
later, while on a visit to his daughter, he died November 3d, 1844.
The family consisted of ten children, of whom there were eight boys and two girls; only two are now living -
Samuel and his sister, Elizabeth Potts, who resides in Johnson county, Missouri, and is now at the advanced age of eighty-
six years. Captain Cummings was next to the youngest child. At the outbreak of the Black Hawk war the Captain responded
to the call; after peace was restored he returned to his father's farm. On the 29th of June, 1836, he was married to Miss Mary
B. McCulley, daughter of John McCulley. They have had born unto them seven children, whose names we give in the
order of their birth: Louisa Jane, deceased 1877; Wm. Jackson; John Thomas; Calvin M.; Richard Dallis, deceased 1874;
Marinda Caroline, deceased 1869; Edith A.
The Captain commenced to farm his own land October, 1837, in town 12, range 8, where he remained for five years.
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