History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Henry J. B. Cummings
HENRY J. B. CUMMINGS was born at Newton, New Jersey, May 31, 1831. He was educated in the public schools of Pennsylvania and at the age of nineteen became editor of a newspaper in Schuylkill County. He studied law, was admitted to the bar at Williamsport, Pennsylvania; but in 1856 removed to Iowa, locating at Winterset. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney. When the war of the Rebellion began Mr. Cummings helped raise Company F of the Fourth Infantry and was elected captain. In September, 1862, he was appointed by Governor Kirkwood colonel of the Thirty-ninth Volunteer Infantry, serving until 1865. Upon his return home he became the editor of the Winterset Madisonian. In 1876 he was nominated by the Republicans of the Seventh District for Representative in Congress and elected, serving one term.