The Tampico Tornado, Tampico, Illinois
May 10, 1917

ELIJAH  CUMMINGS

Former Resident At Rest

The funeral services of the late Elijah Cummings were held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the home in Rock Falls. Rev. Simester of the Rock Falls M. E. Church had charges of the service and gave a good talk on the heroism of the old soldiers and the honor of their work.  A number of old soldiers were in attendance and Mrs. Fanny Kelsey and Mr. Grant Landis sang two beautiful hymns.

Interment was in the Rock Falls Cemetery.  Mr. Cummings will be remembered by many of the older residents of Tampico and Yorktown, having lived in both communities for years.  He was a brother of the late Hiram Cummings and the last of a family of thirteen children, passing away at the age of nearly 74.  He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served four years in the 4th Michigan Vol. Calvary, and often expressed a wish that he was younger and in good health that he might again offer his life for his country's honor.  He carried a bullet near the lungs until his death, a memento of his services in the war and which no doubt shortened his life, as his death was due to tubercular trouble.

He was married in 1875 to Samantha Winchell, and lived the greater part of his life in Rock Falls.  He leaves to mourn his loss his wife, one daughter, Mrs. John Castle and five grandchildren.