Henry J. B. Cummings
Encyclopedia
Henry Johnson Brodhead Cummings (May 21, 1831 – April 16, 1909) was a lawyer, Civil War
officer, editor and publisher, and one-term Republican
Congressman from Iowa's 7th congressional district
.
Born in Newton, New Jersey
, Cummings attended public schools in Muncy, Pennsylvania
as a child. He was editor of a newspaper in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
in 1850, studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1855. He moved to Winterset, Iowa
in 1856 and served as prosecuting attorney
for Madison County, Iowa
from 1856 to 1858.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Cummings enlisted in the Union Army
in July 1861, and was made captain of Company F of the 4th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
. He accepted the commission of colonel
of the 39th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
on September 12, 1862 and was honorably discharged
on December 22, 1864. Afterward, he became editor and proprietor of the Winterset Madisonian.
In 1876 he was elected as a Republican to succeed John A. Kasson
as the representative of Iowa's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives
. He served in the 45th United States Congress
from 1877 to 1879. Running for re-election in 1879, he was defeated in the general election by Greenback Party candidate Edward Hooker Gillette.
Cummings died in Winterset on April 16, 1909, and was interred in Winterset Cemetery.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
officer, editor and publisher, and one-term Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Congressman from Iowa's 7th congressional district
Iowa's 7th congressional district
Iowa's 7th congressional district is a former congressional district in Iowa. It was eliminated after the 1970 election, leaving Iowa with six congressional districts. The state has since been reduced to five congressional districts.-Redistricting:...
.
Born in Newton, New Jersey
Newton, New Jersey
Newton is a town in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 8,244. It is the county seat of Sussex County....
, Cummings attended public schools in Muncy, Pennsylvania
Muncy, Pennsylvania
For other places named 'Muncy', please see Muncy .Muncy is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The name Muncy comes from the Munsee Indians who once lived in the area. The population was 2,663 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania...
as a child. He was editor of a newspaper in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
-Notable people:*Boxing heavyweight great Muhammad Ali had his training camp in Deer Lake.*Charles Justin Bailey, commanding general of the 81st Division in World War I, was born in Tamaqua on June 21, 1859....
in 1850, studied law and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1855. He moved to Winterset, Iowa
Winterset, Iowa
Winterset is a city in Madison County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,768 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Madison County....
in 1856 and served as prosecuting attorney
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
for Madison County, Iowa
Madison County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 15,679 in the county, with a population density of . There were 6,554 housing units, of which 6,025 were occupied.-2000 census:...
from 1856 to 1858.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Cummings enlisted in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
in July 1861, and was made captain of Company F of the 4th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
4th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 4th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 4th Iowa Infantry was organized at Council Bluffs, Iowa and mustered into Federal forces on August 8, 1861....
. He accepted the commission of colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 39th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
39th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 39th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 39th Iowa Infantry was organized at Des Moines and Davenport, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service on November 24, 1862.Attached to 3rd...
on September 12, 1862 and was honorably discharged
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
on December 22, 1864. Afterward, he became editor and proprietor of the Winterset Madisonian.
In 1876 he was elected as a Republican to succeed John A. Kasson
John A. Kasson
John Adam Kasson was a nineteenth century lawyer, politician and diplomat from south-central Iowa. Elected to the U.S...
as the representative of Iowa's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He served in the 45th United States Congress
45th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:-Senate:*President: William A. Wheeler *President pro tempore: Thomas W. Ferry -House of Representatives:*Speaker: Samuel J. Randall -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
from 1877 to 1879. Running for re-election in 1879, he was defeated in the general election by Greenback Party candidate Edward Hooker Gillette.
Cummings died in Winterset on April 16, 1909, and was interred in Winterset Cemetery.