The Portland daily press., 1878-07-16
Degtb of Nathan CUMMINGS.

Mr.. Nathan Cummings, who has been i'll
from an attack of paralysis for some time, died
last evening, at his residence Con Spring
street, aged 81 years and IL months Mr..
/ Cummings was the son of Dr. Steph-
en- Cummings, who came from An
dover, Mass, to Waterford, and from thence
to Portland in 1901, aud commenced business
as a merchant A few years later he resumed
the practice of medicine, in which be became
celebrated. He died in 1854, aged 81.
The son Nathan, whose death occurred last
evening, was born in Waterford, August Goth,
1876. and when five years Old he came with his
father to Portland. He graduated at Bowdon
College in 1917, in class of eight, of which
Joseph Green Moody of South Boston, ooy
survives Mr.. Cummings studied law with
Stephen Longfellow, when his Office was in his
dwelling-house. and his sign was over the door
of the small one-story addition next to the
Preble House. which WAS built for ap entrance
to the law Office, then in the east loom. Mr..
Cummings was admitted TO practice at the
state courts in 1920 By the Invitation of the
town authorities, be delivered an Grafton 10 the
First Parish meeting honse, on the Fourth of
July, 1922
In 1924 Mr.. Cummings married Mis- Emily
Ilsley, the daughter vf ISAAC Ilsley, 10 was
collector of customs for the Portland d strict
twenty-seVen year,, aud who resigned in 1929,
rather than to hold office under President
jackson. By the death of Mr.. Ilslfy in 1858,
at the age Of 81, Mr.. and Mrs Cummings came
into possession of his very large estate, includ-
ing part of the old Ilsley farm at Back Cove,
which bas been owned by the family 120 years,
and syet retained. They also took possession
of Mr.. Ilsley's finely situated and spacious
mansion on Spring street, which the family
have ever since occupied.
In 1880 Mr.. Cummings was chosen a director
of the Casco Bank, in board composed of the
following prominent citizens, none of whom
are now living: Elphalet Greeley, Ezekiel
Day, Charles Mussey, M P. Sawyer, Christo-
pher Wright, Phineas Varnum, Nathan Cam
mings. Mr.. Cummings was annually reelected
forty y-six years and held the Office at the time
of his death. He was an active politician in
the days of the Wing party, and in 1910 he was
appointed collector of the port by President
Harrison; and in 1913 he was removed by
Tyler for opinions axe. In 184S Mr.. Cnm-
mings went into the -four business with the late
Joseph G. Noyes, but his home and his books
had stronger attractions for him than the un-
certainties of mercantile life, and after sue
cessful business of three or four years, the firm
was dissolved, and be spent the remaining
years of his life in quiet enjoyment, with an
occasional visit to his friends and the libraries
of Boston. He was member of the Maine
Historical Society, elected in 1884.
Mrs. Cummings died in 1870, leaving three
sons and one daughter, who yet survive. Mr..
Cummings has been worshiper at the church
of the First Parish ever since his youth, COM
mencing in the old Westinghouse, under DR..
Deane, and in pew whose pannels had been
pierced by Mowatt's shot, in 1775.
The writer recollects Mr.. Cummings as a
genial member of the old Rifle Corps forty-fve
years ago. The Corps was then celebrated for
its social gatherings, where the best literary
talent of the town Wed in witty songs, senti-
ments and sharp sayings AT the close of an
anniversary dinner Mr.. Cummings thus grace
fully and feelipc'v alluded to our departed
comrades, whom l. has now joined. 70 fully
appreciate the sentiment, which brought all to
their feet, it must be recollected that the
adopted color of the corps was green:
"our departed comrades"
"Their plume is the wld-weed,
Their mantle is the green of the valley"
W. c.