ELLIOTT C. CUMMINGS
Undertaker- San Jose, 1887
Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES: HILL,
the senior partner of the undertaking firm of Cummings & Faulkner, came from his birthplace, Oneida County, New York, to California in 1861. The first two years he lived in San Francisco, then went north into the mines, where he spent six years, enduring the hardships, experiencing conflicts with the Indians, and the other excitements and vicissitudes incident to mining life, his efforts being fairly successful in the end. Upon leaving the mines, Mr. Cummings went to Oregon for a year, then settled in Humboldt County, California, in 1869, and was employed nine years in school work, five years as teacher, and four years as County Superintendent of the schools of that county. Failing health compelled him to abandon the vocation of pedagogue; and he next engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, in which he continued until 1886, when he sold out and came to San Jose. He purchased a fine place in the Willow Glen District, half a mile south of the city limit, comprising seven acres of choice bearing fruit-trees; apricots, French prunes, peaches, and pears. In July, 1887, the partnership with Mr. Faulkner was entered into to engage in the undertaking business; and their present office and warerooms, at 28 South Market Street, were opened. They keep in stock the best lines of undertaker's goods, and are always ready to attend to the wants of customers at any hour of the day or night.
Mr. Cummings was educated for a teacher, and applied himself several years to that profession in New York before coming West.
Becoming
acquainted with Miss Hill while mining in Boise Basin, their friendship ripened
into love, and in 1868 he went to Washington Territory, where she resided, and
married her.
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.
Pg. 589
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHY PROJECT