The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-08-24
DEATH OF AN
OLD PIONEER
F. J. Cummings, One of Best Known
and Oldest Residents of County
KILLED. In Auto Accident.

The shocking and almost unbeliev-
able news reached Oroville Saturday
evening that Frank ]. Cummings,
more familiarly addressed by all who
knew him as "Pard." the widely
known pioneer of Riverside, had been
killed in an auto accident that had
occurred near Riverside that after
noon. Mr.. Cummings was as well
known in OrOvlle as in his home town
as he has for years been frequent
visitor in Oroville, at one time had a
store in the building now occupied
by the Liberty theater and still owns
ranch property near this place. Word
OF the tragedy was sent to tle local
Odd Fellows lodge, of which lodge the
deceased was a member, and the sad
news rapidly spread through the town
eliciting expressions of sincere sor-
row and regret from all classes. w.
II. Thayer, ThOs. Morrow and Harry
Bowerman as representatives of the
local lodge, went to Riverside Sunday
to consult with the widow as to the
arrangements for the funeral.
Whether Mr.. Cummings died from a
stroke of apoplexy or was killed when
the car in which he was riding with
his wife and a Mrs. Ewers went off
the grade cannot be said. According
to the story of Mrs. Cummings, who
was driving the car the party was on
The Tunk creek road when Mr.. Cum
mings suddenly without a sound
lurched over against her causing her
to lose control of the car, which
backed off a heavy grade and rolled
over several times. Notwithstanding
her severe injuries Mrs. Cummings
walked a long distance to a farm
house from which plake a telephone
summons could be sent to Riverside
for assistance. When help arrived Mr..
Cummings was found tp be dead, and
1t is alleged that his neck was broken
Mrs. Cummings had iher left arm
broken in two places and was other
wise severely bruised. Mrs. Ewers
was also severely bruised but not SER
iously injured. Mrs. Cummings was
able to set up Sunday, but could re-
member little that had happened be-
yond the fact that Mr. Cummings had
collapsed and in falling had caused
her to lose control of the car.
The funeral services were held at
Riverside Tuesday morning and inter
ment was in Odd Fellows cemetery, at
Oroville. Tuesday afternoon, the Odd
Fellows having charge of the services
This being the request Of tle deceased
expressed long ago. A large number
of residents Of Oroville and the coun-
ty generally turned out to pay their
last respects to tle pioneer.
We feel keen personal loss in the
death of "Pard" Cummings, for we
knew him long. knew him well and
our relations extending over period
of many, many years have been al
ways friendly and exceedingly cor
dial We first met Mr.. Cummings at
his home at what was then known as
Alma where the city of Okanogan is
now located in the spring of 1888, and
Alma consisted of commodious res
idence and store owned by Mr..
Cummings. He also conducted ferry
and 1t was the crossing of the Okla
hogan between Wild Goose Bills ferry
on the Columbia river, and the BOOM
ing town of Ruby for those travelling
into or out of Okanogan county. After
the first meeting We met Mr.. Cum
mings quite frequently at Spokane
and Davenport, and after we located
in Okanogan county those meeting
were still more frequent. This inter-
course cemented a friendship that
never suffered a single rift in all those
years.
Mr.. Cummings was a man Of the
most genial and hospitable disposition,
kindly and charitable, and it was al
ways pleasure to see his merry
smile and hear his CHEEKY voice. Dur
ing his long residence in the county
he made a multitude of friends who
will miss him sadly. A very giant in
statute he had the appearance of a
man who would round out a century
and up to a little over year ago he
always enjoyed robust health. In the
spring OF 1922 he had a stroke of ap-
oplexy and his life hung on thread
for weeks, but he rallied and seemed
to be getting better gradually, al
though 1t was pittiful to those who
knew him in robust health TO see the
feebleness that followed the initial
stroke. He was always hopeful and
cheerful after he had recovered suf-
ficiently TO move around but the
shadow of impending death was al
ways over him, for apoplexy is mex
orable and a repeated and fatal stroke
can always be expected. Gone from
our midst though he may be the men,
ory of Pard Cummings will live long
in the hearts of those who knew him
best and admired MIN for his sterling
qualities.
E. H. Connor. of Riverside, furn-
ishes the Gazette with the following
obituary of the deceased:
Francis Jackson Cummings was
born in Bangor, Aroostook county.
Maine, on December 13. 1852 Before
he reached the age of nineteen he left
home and went to the oil fields OF
Pennsylvania where he worked for
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