Born in
Conklin, New York, Cummings attended the
common schools before being
apprenticed to the
printing trade at age twelve. Cummings claimed he was with
William Walker in his last invasion of
Nicaragua in October 1858, but this is disputed by Cummings' biographer. During the
Civil War, Cummings enlisted in the army at
Irvington, New Jersey, in September 1862 and served as a
sergeant major in the 26th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He earned the Medal of Honor on May 4, 1863, at Salem Heights,
Virginia. His official citation reads: "Rendered great assistance in the heat of the action in rescuing a part of the
field batteries from an extremely dangerous and exposed position." His medal was not awarded until several decades later, on March 28, 1894. He was mustered out in June 1863.
Journalism After his military service, Cummings filled
editorial positions for the
New York Tribune under
Horace Greeley. He later worked for
The New York Sun and the
New York Express. He published a series of popular travel accounts of Florida and the American West for
The New York Sun.
Congress Cummings was elected as a
Democrat to the
50th Congress (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889). He declined renomination in 1888, but was subsequently elected to the
51st Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
Samuel S. Cox. He was reelected to the
52nd and
53rd Congresses and served from November 5, 1889, to November 21, 1894, when he resigned. He served as chairman of the
Committee on Naval Affairs during the 53rd Congress. Cummings was elected to the
54th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative-elect
Andrew J. Campbell. He was reelected to the
55th,
56th, and
57th Congresses, serving from November 5, 1895, until his death on May 2, 1902. == Death and burial ==