Cummings, Horace H. (Horace Hall), 1858-1937

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Educator, businessman, and Mormon Church leader.

From the guide to the Horace H. Cummings diary and autobiography, 1917-1936, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

Horace Hall Cummings was born in Provo, Utah on June 12, 1858. He was the son of Benjamin Franklin and Catherine Hall Cummings. The young Horace Cummings worked at a variety of jobs. At various times he was as a printer's devil at the Deseret News, worked in the finishing department of the Deseret Woolen Mills and quarried granite for the Salt Lake temple. He attended the Deseret University and studied under Dr. John R. Park But Cummings had attended only three terms when he was forced to quit school in order to support his family.

Looking for work, Cummings found a job teaching school at Mill Creek. This job turned into a lifelong career as an educator. In addition to a profession, Cummings found a wife as a result of that teaching job. Barbara Matilda Moses, whom he married on August 4, 1881 was a student in Horace's first classroom in Mill Creek. Barbara Matilda or Tillie, was the daughter of Julian and Ruth Ridge Moses. The Cummings had seven sons and two daughters. On April 13, 1890 Horace Cummings married a second wife, Matilda Sophia Wilcox Bliss.

Although most of his life was spent in the Salt Lake Valley Cummings spent the fall and winter of 1880-81 to the north in Cache Valley. In Logan, he taught at the Brigham Young College in Logan. At the same time, he and his brother B.F. Cummings Jr. bought and operated the Logan Leader a weekly newspaper. To bring in additional income Cummings kept books for Barber & Sons, taught a winter term in the fifth ward and served as a private tutor.

An active member of the Mormon Church all his life Cummings served a mission to Mexico from 1885 to 1887. While in Mexico he distributed the first shipment of Books of Mormon translated into the Spanish language. He also translated sections of the Doctrine and Covenants into Spanish. He followed Helaman Pratt as the mission president in 1887. As mission president he helped build up the Mormon colonies in Chihuahua by sending converts to settle there.

After his mission, Cummings was very successful in his career. He was in charge of the Utah Educational Exhibit at the 1904 World's Fair at St. Louis, Missouri. He wrote textbooks on elementary science that were used for many years. But the pinnacle of his career was serving for thirteen years as the general superintendent of Church schools. Horace H. Cummings died in Salt Lake City on August 1, 1937.

From the guide to the Horace Hall Cummings family papers, 1865-1937, 1880-1887, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Horace H. Cummings diary and autobiography, 1917-1936 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
creatorOf MS 4285, Cummings, Horace Hall 1858-1937. Horace H. Cummings papers 1917-1936 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
creatorOf Horace Hall Cummings family papers, 1865-1937, 1880-1887 Utah State University. Merrill-Cazier Library. Special Collections and ArchivesManuscript Collection
creatorOf CR 226 15, Genealogical Society of Utah (1894-1944). Lamanite Genealogical Society papers circa 1919-1935 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
referencedIn Horace Hall Cummings family papers, 1865-1937 (bulk 1880-1887). Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
referencedIn Orson F. Whitney collection, 1871-1931 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Board of Education (General Church : 1888- ) corporateBody
associatedWith Church Educational System (1970- ) corporateBody
associatedWith Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints corporateBody
correspondedWith Cummings, Barbara Matilda Moses person
correspondedWith Cummings, B. F. person
associatedWith Deseret Sunday School Union (1872-1971) corporateBody
correspondedWith Eyring, Henry, 1901- person
associatedWith Genealogical Society of Utah (1894-1944) corporateBody
associatedWith Mexican Mission corporateBody
correspondedWith Moses, Julian person
associatedWith Salt Lake Temple corporateBody
correspondedWith Snow, Erastus person
associatedWith Sunday School (Auxiliary : 1971- ) General Board corporateBody
associatedWith Utah State Legislature corporateBody
associatedWith Whitney, Orson F. (Orson Ferguson), 1855-1931 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Ogden (Utah)
Subject
Religion
Education
Church schools
Educators
Genealogy
Material Types
Missionary work
Mormon Church
Mormon Church
Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Mormons
Mormons
Mormon women
Polygamy
Temple work
Occupation
Temple sealers
Activity

Person

Birth 1858-06-12

Death 1937-08-01

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