Orange

CUMMINGS, Harlan P.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 85-86

Harlan P. CUMMINGS, of North Thetford was born 19 January 1837 in Thetford 
[Orange County, Vermont], son of Eben and Betsey J. CUMMINGS. Eben CUMMINGS 
was one of the first settlers of the town. He served in the War of 1812 and 
assisted in proving land warrants for the soldiers who took part in the 
struggle and their widows. He occupied the farm where Harlan P. now resides, 
and was one of the most trusted and influential citizens of the town. 
Obtaining his educational training in the common schools and at Thetford 
Academy, Harlan P. CUMMINGS has devoted his whole life to agricultural 
pursuits and has made raising Merino sheep a specialty. He has always been 
an enterprising and public-spirited man and was instrumental in introducing 
the creamery which has contributed so much to the prosperity of the town. He 
contributed largely toward the building of the church and Lyme bridge, and 
has been clerk of these corporations nearly forty years.

Mr. CUMMINGS is much interested in the cause of education and is a trustee of 
Thetford Academy. He has a large amount of probate business, holding in 
trust a great amount of property, a fact which shows he enjoys to a high 
degree the confidence and respect of the community. He has for a long time 
been chairman of the Republican town committee and president of the political 
club of the town. Twenty-five years since he was elected justice of the 
peace, holding this office continuously, and in 1876 was chosen to the 
General Assembly by a large majority, and was postmaster at North Thetford 
from 1866 to 1876. Mr. CUMMINGS enlisted in Company A, Fifteenth Regiment 
Vermont Volunteers, and continued with it every day during its entire term 
of service. After the close of the war he became an active member of the E. 
B. Frost Post, Grand Army of the Republic.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly