From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 259-260.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


JOHN W. CUMMINGS

John W. Cummings, superintendent of the city water works of Wheeling, 
has been a resident of that city for many years, and is intimately 
connected with its river commerce.  He was born at a coast village of 
Scotland, near Inverness, September 12, 1816.  When he came to 
America to join his uncles, John, Andrew, George and Charles White, 
pioneers of Wheeling, who were, however, at that time, all deceased 
except Andrew White.  With him Mr. Cummings made his home, and found 
employment in stores, and attended school at intervals.  In 1833 he 
set in to learn the trade of engine building with Cuthbert, Smith & 
Wallace, and was with them when they built the first water works of 
Wheeling.  The firm failing, he finished his apprenticeship with A. 
M. Phillips, and remained with him until in the spring of 1836, he 
became second engineer of "Robert Emmet," under his cousin, William 
White.  Subsequently he held the same position for some time on the 
"William Wert" and the "Reserve," and then became head engineer of 
the "Harrisburgh," Capt. Joseph Smith.  Two years later he formed a 
partnership with Knox & Loyd and Capt. Hicks, and they ran the "Ohio 
Valley,"  between Wheeling and New Orleans, for three years, after 
which the partnership was dissolved.  Mr. Cummings was afterward 
engaged on the steamer "Tioga," with Capt. Henry Mason; and "St. 
Cloud," with Capt. Sam Mason; the "Atlanta," with Capt. Asa Johnson; 
the "Baltimore," and for seven years was engineer of the "Altamont," 
Capt. Johnson. He was enaged on the "Clipper" and others until 1861, 
when he retired for one year to become superintendent of the Wheeling 
water works.  Returning to steamboat life then, he was again called 
to the water works in 1863, and remained superintendent for fourteen 
years. For ten years from 1877 he was engaged in his trade at various 
places, and in January, 1889, he was again elected superintendent of 
the water works, a position he fills, it is needless to add, to the 
satisfaction of all.  Mr. Cummings was married in 1838 to Naomi 
White, who died in 1871, leaving three daughters and one son.  George 
A., the latter, is inspector of hydrants for the water board, and the 
daughters are married respectively to James Rhodes, George Carnahan 
and S. Hamilton. 


(Linda Fluharty)