Ella Rose (Wood) Cummings (1868 - 1914)

Born 16 Mar 1868 in Henry, Marshall, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Wife of John Lamond Cummings — married 20 Feb 1895 in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States

Descendants

Died 19 Aug 1914 at age 46 in Ewart, Poweshiek, Iowa, United States

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Biography

Ella (Wood) Cummings is British.

Newspaper Article

"Shoots Woman and Kills Self, Murder and Suicide Near Ewart, Community Shocked by Awful Crime-Committed on Last Wednesday Evening. Aug 27, 1914. : Last Wednesday evening Mrs. Jno. L. Cummings was shot and instantly killed in her home near Ewart by Leslie Noble, who ended his own life a short time later in the same manner. The real cause for the awful deeds will probably never be known but it appears that the man had a violent temper which was no doubt inflamed by drink at the time. In March, 1909, Mrs. Cummings was left a widow. She had an involved business situation to work out. By hard work she only recently cleared the 200 acre farm of debt. She kept the children in school and made a brave and successful effort to carry the burden assumed when Mr. Cummings died. In the management of the farm she has been assisted by Leslie noble during a greater portion of the time. There were times when she would discharge him but he always returned and begged to be employed again. On Wednesday Noble went to Grinnell in the forenoon where he made some purchases for himself. Upon his return he was directed to haul a load of oats to Ewart. He drove home in the rain and upon reaching the Cummings place did not unharness the team but went into the house. He appeared to have been drinking. He demanded why the boys had not done some of the outside work and Mrs. Cummings told him that she hired him for that purpose. A brief quarrel ensued when Mrs. Cummings told him to get his book and they would settle up and he could go. In reponse to this Noble went to this room and after staying a little while came downstairs with his 38 calibre revolver. He made the remark that he was going to settle the whole matter right then and there and then shot at Mrs. Cummings. When the shot did not take effect, he grabbed her and shot the fatal bullet into her brain. It would appear that he went out of doors then and removed the empty shells then in a short time re-entered the house and shot himself. When he started shooting Miss Lila Cummings was in the room but fled when she saw her mother sink to the floor. She and her brothers ran to the Burch farm about a quarter of a mile north and gave the alarm. Officers were sent for and Sheriff Smith, who happened to be in Grinnell, in company with James Clark hastened to the scene. They found the neighbors grouped near the house but no one had yet dared to enter for fear Noble would shoot. No one had heard the shot he fired through his own brain. Before the officers arrived a report was current that Noble was holding the crowd at hand. It was a gruesome sight that met the eyes of the officers and neighbors when they entered the house. The bodies were found lying side by side on the dining room floor. Mrs.Cummings was twice wounded, one bullet passing through a finger and the other entered her head back of the ear and lodging under the flesh of her face. The suicide used but one bullet which passed through his head and into the wall. The neighbors had been worked up to such a high pitch by the murder that what might have occurred if the suicide had not followed the murder can only be surmised. When the undertakers arrived they were given short orders to get the corpse of the suicide out of the house and were not permitted to give it any attention there. It was with difficulty that the sheriff secured a conveyance to bring the corpse to Montezuma, where they arrived about daylight the next morning. The county attorney at first directed that an inquest be held but when the facts became known it was decided unnecessary. ^[1]

Census

1870: Marshall Co, Henry Twp., Illinois pg. 341B ^[2]

• Edward Wood age 33 England
• Sarah Wood age 37 England
• Sarah A age 11 IL
• Patton age 9 IL
• Rosella age 2 IL

1880: Union, Poweshiek Co., Iowa pg. 630D. ^[3]

• Edward Wood age 44 England
• Sarah age 46 England
• Sarah A. age 19 Illinois
• Edward P. age 19 IL
• Ella R. Age 12 IL
• William E. age 9 IL
• John Richard age 6 IL
• Anna May age 4 IL

1885: Union, Poweshiek County, IA ^[4]

• Edward Wood age 46
• Sarah age 47
• Edward P age 22
• Rosa E age 16
• William E age 13
• John R age 11
• Anna M age 9

1900: Pleasant, Poweshiek Co, IA pg. 6A. ^[5]

• John Cummings age 37, Aug 1862, m. 5 yrs, IA/Scotland/Scotland
• Ella age 30, Mar 1870, 3/3 kids IL/Eng/Eng
• Neta Campbell age 17, Nov 1888 IA/IA/IL
• Lila B. Cummings age 4, Jan 1896 IA/IA/IL
• Raymond Cummings age 1, Jul 1898, IA/IA/IL

1910: Pleasant, Poweshiek Co, IN pg. 7A ^[6]

• Ella R. Cummings age 40 IL/IL/Eng
• Lila Cummings age 14 IA/IA/IL
• Raymond Cummings age 12 IA/IA/IL
• Scott Cummings age 9 IA/IA/IL
• Wilbur Cummings age 6 IA/IA/IL
• L.D. Hable age 38 (Leslie Noble, murderer) IA/IA/MI

Obituary

Ella Rose Wood, daughter of Edward And Sarah Wood, was born in Henry, Illinois, March 16, 1868 and died August 19, 1914 at her home near Ewart, Iowa. She was married to Frank Campbell, who died within a year, leaving a little daughter, now Mrs. R.W. Morrison. She was married on February 20, 1895 to John L. Cummings. To this union were born four children: Lila, Raymond, Scott and Wilbur. Mrs. Cummings died in March 191-. Mrs. Cummings bravely assumed the added cares and duties. In the management of the farm she was efficient and successful. Her children were provided an education and she had made plans for their further schooling. As a mother she was faithful and devoted. Out from the community has gone suddenly this life which has wrought nobly and bravely. Besides her children she leaves her sisters, Mrs. James A. Thompson of Montezuma; Mrs. John E. Johnston of Reinbeck, and her brothers E. P. Wood, E.L. Wood and John R. Wood and also four small grandchildren. The funeral was held at the Presbyterian church at Ewart on Friday conducted by Rev. J.L. Henning of Montezuma, assisted by Rev. T.A. McKernon and was largely attended. Interment was in the Ewart Cemetery. All the family have the deepest sympathy of all the community in the great loss they have suffered. Miss Lila and Raymond, Scott and Wilbur Cummings desire to thank all their friends and neighbors for the many favors and kindnesses shown to them during their bereavement." ^[7]

Burial

Buried: Pleasant Township Cemetery at Ewart, IA. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Newspaper snippet, sent by Poweshiek Genealogy Society dated 27 Aug 1914
2. ↑ Year: 1870; Census Place: Henry, Marshall, Illinois; Roll: M593_254; Page: 341B; Image: 369481; Family History Library Film: 545753
3. ↑ Year: 1880; Census Place: Union, Poweshiek, Iowa; Roll: 362; Family History Film: 1254362; Page: 630D; Enumeration District: 197; Image: 0442
4. ↑ Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.
5. ↑ Year: 1900; Census Place: Pleasant, Poweshiek, Iowa; Roll: 457; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0107; FHL microfilm: 1240457
6. ↑ Year: 1910; Census Place: Pleasant, Poweshiek, Iowa; Roll: T624_421; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0122; FHL microfilm: 1374434
7. ↑ Obituary snippet sent by Poweshiek County Genealogical Society, newspaper unknown, date 8/27/1914
8. ↑ http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=cummings&GSfn=ella&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=in&GSst=14&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=81122425&df=all&

• "Iowa, Delayed Birth Records, 1850-1939," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q246-N59G : accessed 10 March 2017), Frank Campbell in entry for Neta Mae Campbell Morrison, 25 Nov 1887; citing Jackson Township, Poweshiek, Iowa, United States, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; FHL microfilm .

• Abstract of Probate Record (Bk.9p.102 #2592) Heirs: Neta M. Morrison, dau. Mt.Pleasant; Lila L. Cummings, dau-Malcom, Raymond W., son. Malcom; John Scott, son. Malcom; Wilbur H. , son. Malcom.

• Death Certificate 19 Aug 1914. Ewart, Poweshieck, Iowa, USA. Cause: gun shot to head by the hand of Lector Noble - homicide.

• "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJ88-S8S : 8 March 2016), Edward Wood in entry for John Cummings and Ella Campbell, 1895.