Bio: Cummings, Charles H. (1840 - 1926)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: CUMMINGS BAXSTER BUMP HACKETT STAFFORD EATON KING

----Source: History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918)

Charles H. Cummings

CHARLES H. CUMMINGS came to Clark County in 1853, reaching Neillsville March 20. In recalling those early days Mr. Cummings says: "At that time there were ten acres cleared where the court house now stands, and five acres cleared where the Hewett store stood. I was 13 years old at that time. I was born in Massachusetts and came to Walworth County, Wis., with my parents in 1843. We remained there about five years and then removed to Waushara County, where we remained until we came to Clark County. When we left Massachusetts we traveled down the Erie Canal, thence up the lakes, landing at Racine. From there we went by wagon to Walworth County, where father farmed for awhile. Leaving there, we went by wagon to Sacramento, Waushara County, where father was engaged in building ships for a man by the name of Rogers.

My father, Israel Cummings, first came to Clark County in 1851, and for 100 days was one of thirty men employed by the government in surveying in Clark, Jackson and Eau Claire counties. In the fall of 1852 father returned to Waushara County, and the next spring (1853) with the family started overland with two teams by way of Portage for Clark County, arriving at Neillsville, as above stated. We lived for a month in a shanty down toward Cunningham Creek, then moved on to a school claim in Town 25, Range 3 West. We lived there all summer, and in the fall father went to La Crosse to prove up, but there he found that a Dr. Baxster claimed a former filing, and we lost the claim.

We then moved to Sam Weston's place and went logging for a Mr. Bump of Black River Falls. That winter I went to work for my uncle, Edwin Cummings, helping in the cook shanty. The next summer I worked for Sam Weston in the boarding-house, and the next winter, 1855-56, went to School-the first school taught in Clark County. During that winter I carried the mail from Black River Falls to Neillsville each Friday, returning on Saturday. James O'Neill was postmaster at that time.

The next spring I went to work for Sam Weston again, and remained with him until the fall, then went to school at Weston's place above Neillsville. My father bought a farm and I remained home all winter, going to school. This was in 1856, the winter of the big snow. During that winter I helped to cut the road from Hailey's place to Stevens Point. I worked for Weston again the next summer and in the winter of 1857 went up on Popple River and cooked for Jake Hackett in his logging camp.

In the winter of 1858 I remained at home on the old Chadwick place half way between Neillsville and Greenwood. I then went into camp on Popple River and cooked for Dud Spaulding and Jake Hackett.

In the spring of 1859 I went on a log drive for sixty-two days on the Popple and Black rivers to La Crosse. I cooked in logging camps during the winter of 1859, and in the spring of 1860 I was again on the log drive. During the early part of that year father moved to Trempealeau County on a farm near Whitehall, and I helped to break up seventy acres.

I enlisted at Whitehall in 1861, went to the war in 1862, and served until October, 1865. After I returned home I spent the winter of 1865-66 with Leonard Stafford in the woods. During this time I passed through where Greenwood now is several times. Elijah Eaton had a sawmill on the west side of the river near the cemetery.

I logged on Wedge's Creek in the winter of 1867 for George W. King. In 1886 1 drove stage and carried mail from Greenwood to Withee. I came to Greenwood to live in 1871. At that time the I and now occupied by the city was covered with pine and hardwood timber. Greenwood then had one store.

I started freighting in 1871 and for fifteen years before the railroad came I hauled freight from Black River Falls, Neillsville, Humbird, Colby, Unity and Spencer."

Military

Civil War Service

Charles Cummings is also featured in the book, "Civil War Soldiers in the heart of Clark Co., Wisconsin."

Contributors

The Clark Co., WI History Buffs.