"JOHN F. CUMMINS, the third son of John and Eliza Cummins, was born in Crooked Creek Township, Jasper County, Ill., March 11, 1840, attended the Christman school in winter, and but a mere youth was employed in breaking prairie, driving four yoke of oxen. At the age of twenty he went to Coles County to farm. In August, 1862, he enlisted in company E, Ninety-Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but as he was quite delicate, was unable to bear the fatigues of a soldier's life, and was discharged from the hospital in Memphis after a short service.  In August, 1863, he married Henrietta A. Fawcett, daughter of John H. Fawcett, an early settler of Vigo County, Ind., and settled down to farming in crooked Creek.  To this union have been born seven children - Mary A., William M. (deceased), Emery V., Claibourne R., Frank M., John B. (deceased), and Eva E. (deceased). In 1880 he served as Census Enumerator for this township [Crooked Creek], and is now the special farm agent for the Rockford (Ill.) Fire Insurance Co. He resides upon his farm of seventy acres, but his health is too poor to admit of his performing farm labor. He and his family are all members of the United Brethren Church, of which he has been steward, class leader, Sunday school superintendent and trustee. "

-Submitted by Minga (Buckle) Stivers