Cumberland - Jesse - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Tuesday night shortly after 9 o’clock Jesse W. Cumberland died at his home on Lafayette Avenue. He had been critically ill for some weeks and his death was not unexpected. About the first of January he was overcome suddenly in his office with something like a paralytic stroke. He was taken home and after a few days was up again at his office trying to keep at work, but he was taken worse again and had to give up his business altogether. The disease attacked his heart and that was the seat of the battle for life, but he was finally overcome after a brave fight. He did not complain, and he was easily controlled and cared for.

The funeral occurred Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the family residence. Interment was at Oak Hill. Dr. E. B. Thomson conducted the funeral services, which were under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity.

Jesse W. Cumberland was a son of Martin and Ann (French) Cumberland, and was born August 9, 1825 in Hamilton County, Ohio. His father was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and in the fall of 1825 he made a trip west for the purpose of buying land. He entered 160 acres, and being in need of meat for his journey home, started in search of deer. He succeeded in shooting a deer, but ere he could find shelter from the bitter cold, was frozen to death. He left a wife and four children.

In 1828 Mrs. Cumberland moved to Crawfordsville, bringing three children, among whom was Jesse, and leaving one child in the east. Here she supported her family as best she could until they were able to care for themselves. She died in 1860 at the age of sixty five years.

Under these trying circumstances, and the meager advantages of those days, Jesse received but little education. When seven years old he went to live with Hamilton Barnes, of Lockport, Indiana, with whom he stayed two years. He was then adopted by Dr. Grimes, with whom he lived until fourteen years of age, at Delphi, when on account of very poor health he returned and lived with his mother, who in the meantime had been married to Samuel Fisher. He immediately began improving and became quite stout and well.

When twenty one years of age he began manufacturing wagons, which he followed for four or five years in Crawfordsville, then opened the first hardware and agricultural implement store in the city, which he kept for twenty years. It was through Mr. Cumberland that reapers were first introduced into Montgomery County. Quitting this he engaged in the pork business with John W. Blair, three years, and during the war he lost all. After the war, he spent some time in the hotel business, and also manufactured tile for several years. In 1878 Mr. Cumberland was elected Justice of the Peace and held that office with great credit until two years ago, when his growing real estate business compelled him to relinquish the office.

Mr. Cumberland was one of the oldest Masons in Crawfordsville, being made a member of the Blue Lodge in 1854 and of the Chapter in 1858. He was also an Odd Fellow. Always a staunch Republican, he supported the tenets of that political faith with unswerving loyalty.

Mr. Cumberland was married to Miss Margaret A. Speed on January 31, 1849. She was a daughter of John Speed, a prominent citizen of Crawfordsville and one of the first mayors of the place. Mrs. Cumberland was a native of Scotland and a most estimable lady. She died about three years ago, leaving her husband and four children to mourn her loss. These children are still living and are Mrs. A. C. Jennison, of Crawfordsville; Mrs. O. A. Penniman, of Wichita, Kan.; Frank S. Cumberland, of Vermillion County, and Lewis Cumberland, of Kokomo. -s

Jesse W. Cumberland was a citizen esteemed by all for his sterling worth and his unimpeachable integrity. He was a man of kindly heart and free hand and was so thoroughly honest and sincere that his probity was proverbial. He had a kind word for all and all spoke good of him. His character was one of those which being in the world give to it rather than take from it.