Cummings Burial

Cummings Burial

John Cumming's resting place is located in Section 1 of Truro Township. It's hard to find in a densely wooded area on a hill near a giant oak tree. You'll need permission to see it since it's on private property. There's a small fence around John's headstone and footstone.

Update:

Darlene Reiner, pastor of the Elmore church, said that John Cummings preached the first Methodist sermon at the Elmore Church. Presumably he was the first pastor of the Elmore Methodist Church. Thank you, Darlene, for this interesting piece of information!

Several local researchers state that John Cummings was buried in the woods because it was impossible to ford the river at the time of his death and bury him in the Elmore cemetery. Time was of the essence, so they buried him nearby...all by himself.

In Truro Township, the first marriage was Jake Ryan to Miss Stambough, in 1833, by Rev. J. [John] Cummings and the first sermon was by John Cummings, at the house of Widow Lambert, on Sec. 31, 1834. (gleaned from the 1870 Atlas Map of Knox County, Illinois, submitted by Mike Switzer)

Thank you, Mike Switzer, for telling us about this burial place!

Picture taken in June 2005

The stone states: John Cumming Died Apr. 4, 1852 Age 61 years

1850 Census
Name	Age	Occupation	Place of Birth
John Cummings	59	Methodist clergyman	Pa.
Mary Cummings	59		Tenn.
David Cummings	29	Farmer	Tenn.
Sarah Cummings	23		Tenn.
Harriet Cummings	20		Tenn.
George Cummings	18	Farmer	Tenn.
Mary Cummings	15		Tenn.

Any contributions, corrections, or suggestions would be deeply appreciated!

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