Fred N. Cummings

Fred Nelson Cummings
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1941
Preceded by	Charles B. Timberlake
Succeeded by	William S. Hill
Personal details
Born	(1864-09-18)18 September 1864 Groveton, New Hampshire, U.S.
Died	10 November 1952(1952-11-10) (aged 88) Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.
Resting place	Grandview Cemetery, Fort Collins, Colorado
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Populist Socialist
Spouse(s)	Nancy Jane Sutton (m. 1889-1944, her death) Ina Graham (m. 1947-1951, her death)
Children	5
Occupation	Farmer Rancher

Fred Nelson Cummings (September 18, 1864 – November 10, 1952) was an American farmer and rancher who served as a Democratic U.S. Representative from Colorado for four terms from 1933 to 1941.

Frederick Nelson Cummings^[1] was born on a farm near Groveton, New Hampshire on September 18, 1864,^[2] a son of George and Angeline Cummings.^[1] His father was a native of Canada and his mother had been born in Vermont.^[1] His family moved to Clinton, Iowa in 1865.^[2] In 1879, they relocated again, this time to a farm near West Union, Nebraska.^[2] Cummings attended the local schools in Clinton and West Union and became a farmer and rancher.^[2]

After deciding on a legal career, Cummings studied law with an attorney in Nebraska, attained Admission to the bar in 1891, and began to practice in Custer County, Nebraska.^[2] In 1899, Cummings was an unsuccessful Populist Party candidate for Custer County Judge.^[3] During the campaign he was accused of falsely claiming to have studied law and been admitted to the bar.^[3] After the Populist party became defunct, Cummings maintained an interest in political activity as a member of the Socialist Party of America.^[4]

In 1906, Cummings moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, where he continued farming and ranching, but discontinued the practice of law.^[2] From 1909 to 1913 he was a member of the Fort Collins city council.^[2] Before his election to Congress, Cummings served as president of the Mountain States Beet Growers Association, a lobbying and issues advocacy organization.^[5] He later served as president of the National Beet Growers Association.^[2]

In 1922, he was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Larimer County Commissioner.^[6][7] In 1932, Cummings was a successful Democratic candidate for election to the 73rd Congress.^[2] He was reelected three times and served from March 4, 1933, to January 3, 1941.^[2] Cummings was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1940.^[2]

After leaving Congress, Cummings resumed farming and ranching.^[2] He died in Fort Collins on November 10, 1952.^[2] Cummings was buried at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins.^[8]

In 1889, Cummings married Nancy Jane Sutton (d. 1944).^[2] They were the parents of five children—George, Ralph, Harry, Edna, and Hugh.^[2][9] Cummings's sons Harry and Hugh predeceased him.^[2] In 1947, Cummings married Ina Graham, who died in 1951.^[2]

• United States Congress. "Fred N. Cummings (id: C000985)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Fred N. Cummings at Find a Grave