Necrology of Toledo's Woodlawn Cemetery

William Cummings

William Cummings, born in 1818, was actively involved in the civic and social affairs of Toledo and Lucas County.

In 1867 he was present at a meeting that took place at the residence of Dr. S. H. Bergan that proposed the establishment of a Protestant orphans home in Toledo. The meeting subsequently selected 14 women as managers and eight men as advisors. William was one of the eight advisors chosen.Clark Waggoner, ed., [History of the City of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, (New York and Toledo: Monsell & Company Publishers, 1888), p. 832.]

In 1875 the New York and Chicago route of the "fast mail trains" was inaugurated. The new system was the concept of Colonel George S. Bangs, General Superintendent of the U.S. Railroad Service. The first train, consisting of four mail cars and two sleepers, left New York at 4:15 a.m. September 16, 1875. The train carried 30 tons of mail and 50 invited guests of the railroad. During the journey from New York to Toledo the train made stops at Albany, Buffalo, and Cleveland. At 10:47 p.m., after 18 hours and 25 minutes, the train arrived in Toledo. William witnessed the historic event as a member of the Toledo delegation.

In 1875, William was elected treasurer of Lucas County. He held the position of County Officer between 1876 and 1878. From 1881 to 1887 William was a member of the Toledo Produce Exchange which worked to help businesses in Toledo. He was also at one time president of the Northern National Bank.

William Cummings died on 13 December 1898 at the age of 79 years.(Ibid., p. 425). He is buried in Lot 13, Section 12 at Woodlawn Cemetery.