Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-09-25
Sudden Death of Prsntiss Cummings.


Hon. Prentiss Cummings Of Brook
line, Mass, q well-known summer resi-
dent of Paris Hill, died very suddenly
Tuesday morning at his summer home.
He had taken his car from the garage
about 8 O'Clock to 60 to the Hubbard
House for breakfast, and seemed TO be
having difficulty in making the turn with
it. E. B. Curtis was at work on the
lawn, and went up to the car and asked
II he could help. Mr.. Cummings said
no, he thought he could make 1t all
right but almost Immediately fell back
and became unconscious. The car ran
forward short distance, and striking
the side Of the garage door, stalled the
engine. A physician was Immediately
summoned, but death had been prsc-
tically instantaneous.
Mr.. Cummings had bad distinguished
career In Boston as lawyer and bust.
ness man. He was born in Sumner Sept.
10, 1910, the son of Whitney and Mary
Hart (Prentiss, Cummings, coming of
good old New England stock. ln his
early years he entered the Oxford
Democrat Office to learn the printers
trade, but did not continue at ii beyond
the period of his apprenticeship. He
fitted for college at Phillips Exeter, and
graduated from Harvard with the degree
Of A. B. in 1884. From 1885 to 1870 be
was tutor in Latin at Harvard, and in
1859 received the degree of LII. B. from
that institution. In 1870 be was admit
ted to the bar, and began practice in
Boston. He was appointed first assist
ant United States Attorney in 1874, re-
signing in 1881 to resume general prac-
tice.
In 1885 he removed from Boston to
Brockline, and became president OF the
Cambridge Street Railway, which was
merged into the West End Street Rail
way Co. of Boston two years later, and
he became vice-president OF the West
End, position which he held until its
consolidation with the Boston Elevated
system in 1898.
Mr.. Cummings was q trustee of the
Brookline Savings Bank, q member of
the Boston Common Council from 1881
to 1888, member of the Massachusetts,
House Of Representatives in 1884 and
1885, and of the Massachusetts, Senate
In 1906 and 1907. He was president Of
the Mount Auburn Cemetery Associa-
ton, q member of the Society of the
Cincinnati by Inheritance, and of several
Boston clubs.
He married in 1880 Miss Annie Snow
of Cambridge, Mass, who died some
years ago. His immediate relatives are
a sister, Mrs. !. C. Ingraham, and her
daughter, Mrs. Mary z. Davies, both of
whom made their home in Brookline
with him.
Some years since Mr.. Cummings pur-
chased house at Paris Hill which had
at one time been the home of his mother,
and remodeled II into comfortable and
attractive summer home. His niece,
Mrs. Davies, also purchased q summer
home adjoining bis, and their summers
have since been spent at Paris Hill. Mr..
Cummings was an approachable and
genial man, and was liked by all who
knew him. Having leisure In these lat
ter years, he devoted some time to liter
airy work, for which he had q distinct
liking. he had kept up bis familiarity
with the classics, and his most elaborate
literary work was translation of the
Had in hexameter verse, which was
published few years since.
The remains were taken on Wednesday
to Brookline, accompanied by Mrs. To-
graham and Mrs. Davies, who were still
at their summer home, and the funeral
was held on Friday.