JAMES R. CUMMING, M.D., 
Of Bridgeport. 
AN OBITUARY SKETCH, 
BY 
F. B. DOWNS, JVLD. 
Written for the Proceedings of the Connecticut Medical Society, 1891. 
BRIDGEPORT, CONN.: 
Buckingham & Brewer, 9 Wall Street. 
1891. JAMES R. CUMMING, M.D.,—BRIDGEPORT. 
F. B. DOWNS, M.D., BRIDGEPORT. 
James Bussell Cumming, M.D., died at his home in Bridge- 
port, Connecticut, corner of Courtland and John streets, early 
in the morning of February 4, 1891. At his bedside were his 
wife, family and friends. Dr. Cumming’s death was not un- 
expected; in fact, nothing but an unusually strong constitu- 
tion had enabled him to resist the progress of the disease, 
diabetes, with which he was afflicted, but from which he would 
probably have recovered, had not consumption set in while he 
was in a weakened condition. In the latter part of Novem- 
ber, 1890, he was compelled to give up practice, with the ex- 
ception of a few old patients who called at his office. He lost 
strength steadily from that time, and when he died he was 
reduced to a mere shadow of his former self. During his last 
illness he was attended by Doctors Hubbard and Porter. 
Dr. Cumming was born in the town of North Adams, Berk- 
shire county, Massachusetts, April 16, 1830; a county noted 
for its rugged hills and for the many hardy sons it has pro- 
duced, who like himself have been the architects of their own 
fortunes. His father, a merchant in comparatively easy cir- 
cumstances, instilled into the minds of his sons the maxim 
that the only road to prosperity is through hard work, and 
plenty of it. His mother was for many years an invalid, and 
the family moved from place to place for the benefit of her 
health. 
His early education was received in Detroit, Michigan. 
After a few years the family returned east. In 1846 he at- 
tended the Canajoharie Academy and ended his school days by 
graduating from the old Academy in Westfield, Massachusetts, 
an institution famous years ago. 
At the age of twenty he became a teacher in Sandy Brook, 2 
OBITUARY. 
Connecticut, and before he had attained his majority he was 
appointed principal of the Farmington Academy, which posi- 
tion he held for several years. It was here he married Miss 
Jane Cowles, daughter of the Hon. Samuel Cowles. She died 
two years after the marriage, leaving an infant daughter. 
He began the study of medicine with Dr. Holcomb of West 
Granby, Connecticut, and was graduated at the College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons, New York, in 1862. He roomed during 
his college course with Dr. Frank P. Foster, who says of him, 
“He was about fifteen years older than I was, and conse- 
quently he was a mentor to whom I looked up. Besides that, 
I liked him personally. He was liked generally by the stu- 
dents. He was studious and had the true spirit of a seeker 
after useful knowledge.” 
After graduating he entered the army as assistant surgeon, 
enlisting April 30,1862, in the 12th C. V. On the 26th of 
November, 1864, he was transferred to the 12th Connecticut 
Battalion, and promoted to surgeon March 13, 1865. Ho was 
mustei’ed out August 12, 1865. The principal engagements 
he took part in were at New Orleans, siege of Port Hudson, 
Brashear City, Winchester, Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek. 
Many are the times my eyes have been suffused with tears at 
the thrilling experiences he has narrated and his interesting 
reminiscences of that eventful period. He loved the Grand 
Army and was proud to be enrolled among its members. 
At the close of the war he returned to the College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons, New York, to brush up for general prac- 
tice, and there formed the acquaintance of Dr. W. A. M. 
Wainwright, who says of him, “He was a man, I think, who 
naturally attracted his fellow men, so it was not long before 
our acquaintance grew into friendship on both our parts, and 
on mine ripened into respect for his manly character and into 
admiration for his bright and sunny nature and his honest 
and kindly disposition.” 
He came to Bridgeport in 1867, and soon acquired a good 
general practice, becoming identified with state, county and 
city societies. In 1871 he married Miss Anna S. Hubbell, 
daughter of Fenelon and Harriet Hubbell, by whom two sons 
were born, Pierson R. and Timothy. The first time I ever OBITUARY. 
3 
saw Dr. Camming be was fifty years of age and I just entering 
practice. He lived then at the corner of Main and Bank 
streets in the very center and active business portion of the 
city. The Doctor was an unusually handsome gentleman, of 
erect and finely developed form. His features were well de- 
fined and his general appearance indicated the possession of 
robust health, and with his hair and beard almost white and 
dress spotless, he looked the very picture of a good natured, 
intelligent and prosperous physician. We soon became on the 
best of terms and remained fast friends until the last. A day 
or two before he died he fell asleep holding my hand, and as 
I looked back over the many profitable and pleasant hours 
spent in his society, a grateful feeling took possession of me 
for the privilege I had had of learning so much from my asso- 
ciation with him. His naturally strong understanding was im- 
proved by extensive reading. His private habits endeared 
him to his friends. 
Dr. Cumming was particularly self-sacrificing in his devo- 
tion to his family. During the fatal sickness of his daughter, 
notwithstanding the exhausting labors of the usual duties of 
an active practice, night after night he spent by her bed-side 
and ministered to her wants. A few months before his death, 
in a severe sickness of his wife, his unremitting attentions to 
her during an attack of congestion of the lungs, both by day 
and night, reduced in a marked degree his vitality, already 
feeble, and without doubt hastened the progress of his trouble. 
In a like manner the constant and unremitting care of his 
wife in the last few weeks of his sickness largely contributed 
to hasten her death, which followed that of the Doctor in last 
May. 
The Bridgeport City Medical Society endorses this tribute of 
one of its members: “I cannot allow this opportunity to pass 
without paying some tribute to the memory of one whose ac- 
customed place here is vacant to-night; whose faithful labors 
in our profession and at these meetings are at an end, but 
whose kindly sympathy, whose discriminating service in the 
interest of suffering humanity still lives and will be forever 
enshrined in the memory of those who were co laborers with 
him, as well as with those who were privileged to receive pro- 4 
OBITUARIES. 
fessional ministrations at liis hands. With quiet simplicity, 
with unremitting fidelity, his work has been accomplished. 
The testing period of waiting patiently the Divine summons 
has passed; ‘he rests from his labors and his works do follow 
him.’ Our thoughts go out in sympathy to those who by this 
bereavement lose a kind husband, a loving and thoughtful 
father, but the memory and heritage of his good name and 
faithful life may be an inspiration through all the years to 
come and remain with them as one of their choicest posses- 
sions.”