Smyrna times., 1858-12-30
DANIEL 3. CUMM

DAN1ElI b. CUMMIMS.
The Philadelphia Commercial AdUcrtiser
in speaking ct the past and present condition o
the Gerard Bank, says:
The Grard Bank, Whatever NAV be its pre
sent position, did not, for many years. cnioy IN,
confidence Of the business community. IT.
President was Mr.. Boxer, a retired merchant o
moderate mcanr, aud quite amiable and estlma
bie III private life. But has amllblity was hi:
weakness as the presiding officer Of an Iastltu
! ION, winch, from the time Of his elcclion untI
ais demlsc, not many months ago, required a
iru, strag ghi-tor~ard, open-handed udmInistra
! ti"h, to secure 1t place in the estimation o.
he respectable portion Of business men. Mr..
Eoker was entirely too easy and compliant
There Is ample evidence that he permitted the
funds of the bank to be used by nole.shavcrs
det lers IN "tancy stocks" and Spectators of
uncertain means, to the exclusion of those " ho
were eAtItled to accommodations t. ON the bank.
ihat Is to say, the genuine mercantile houses ol
the city. Were there no positive proof of this
assertion, 1t would raise u prima Jacie case
against the Boxer management TO know, as we
40, that the bank lost the confidence of the
business men, aud was regarded everywhere a.
Tie convenient Instrument OF the sharpers of
our money mart We do not believe that Mr.
L. was deficient IN integrity; not at all but
we we know whit the managers OF our banking
Institutions have TO contend against, in the per
seIvrrIng arts of certain parties ON Tnud
street, and gr!eyc to say that the results Of Alr
Lockers 2reohHeSS might have been uisas.rau,
is Nh AllIbone's positive fraud.
Charles J. Boxer died some months ago. Qna
The press Of the city euloglzed his worth as Il
man, and his ability as hnauccr. lie had
many excellent traits and lncrItcd the esteem
Ut his friends. The Directors were called upon
to choose a successor. Tne trIelGs Of the Boxer
management desired the election Of an lndI
Vdual who would pursue the sane policy-wp
believe ihe gentleman who had occupied the
position OF Cashier. Bu, that gentleman pc
Temptoriy declined, and / b, came evident that
a complete change was to be made The "righi
man tJr the rghl pace was believed to have
heen found IN the person OF Mr.. Daniel u.
Cumm!ns, aud, scneWh hat to the aslonishncnt
Of the community generally, he vas elected
President OF the institution.
D. Il. Cummins is now about fifty years OF
ase. lie was born upon farm near Smyrna,
Delaware. 1t may be mentioned here, by the
way, that to the ltlIG - Diamond State +" We
owe numlcr of our most prominent aud in.
huenlal citizens. Mr.. G. was educated il
w Wilmington, in his native State. From school
he was transferred to the store Of his uncle, !
Mr.. John Cummlns, at Smyrna. Here he fa-
p'dly acquired a knowledge of business, aud bv !
the TIM he became Of age he began to yparl. |
for a more extensive field for the exercise of
his talents, aud the acquisition CT udepcn1 cncc |
lie accordingly came to this city aud entered
INTO partnership with u Mr.. Mlllin They !
opened Il retail Dry Goods business. This firm
,,,,l A.
After its dissolution, Mr. Cummius associated
himself with Messrs Boyd g. llood-lhe latter
being the capllalst-ard this firm succeeded
Mr. Lawrence ia the Dry Goods Job5ing busi-
ness. The firm was very successful, and about
SIX years since Mr. G. retired from the concern
with an ample fortune. Bat he still employed |
his means To the best advantage in discuuntInu !
one Of those methods Of turning over money |
in which such large amount of PhIisdelphla |
"a pila is absorbed. Mr.. CummIns, like Nor
ta!s patCrnal parent, " increased his store"
Iul he also increased his reputation for inan-
,ial ability, keen sagacIty IN reading human
nature, and rigid integrity. Upon the demise
If Mr. Boxer, Mr. G.. was elected to the Presi-
iency Of the CiIrard Bank, as before mentioned
Ic now resides in Walnut street, above Tenth.
Socially, he is greatly esteemed. HIS manners
IRE atabe, but firm. Ills conversation, in
ahich, however, he is not yoluble, displays
much general Intelligence.
Mr. Cummins is not popular at the bank, at
east so say the note e-shavers of Third street
Ie does not fad favor III that locality, because
le will not allow the Stock and Bill Brokers to
nak ke use Of the institution, as was permitted
lnder the former President. AS soon as he was
elected he began his administration with the
determination to place the accommodations OF
he bank at the disposal of only the legitimate
mercantile houses, and to turn a deaf ear to
he demands OF sollless aud penniless specula-
ors. This wise resolution has been carried
ut with Il nerve that is in the highest degree
reditablc to the new President. Not long after
lr CummIns' election, certain individual,
rcsunng upon the old policy of the bank, and
personal acquaintance with the new Presi-
ent, called upon him to seek accommCda-
ion, without security, lnlImating quietly that
lr &. need not mention the matter to any body,
nd it would be made all right. The President
eplIed with an emphatic negative, and said that
e would DO nothing that he would not be will
ng to proclaim in the rOtunda of the bank
uldmg, in hearing of everyday. OF course
uch u man is not calculated to be popular upon
Third street. HIS policy has fallen like "A
omb-shell among the sharp ones of that local..
y, and the result must be the regeneration Of
much.abused institution. We trust that Mr.
Iummins will pcrsevere, and that his determ-
iatiOn may be emuated in other quarters,
where the daily transactions would not bear the
Inspection of the stockholders.
o. Dr.. Valentine Mott once said to grad