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Fred N. Cummings
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. Early life and educationFrederick 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] CareerAfter 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] FamilyIn 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] References
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