Oldal 148 [148]
OCR
L LB sé a a -_ * 7 7 a 4 s "i = It a rr a 4 7 b — 96 ful year there, he yielded to the urgent calls of his church, and took the presidency of the Holston Conference Female College at Asheville, N.C. He then devoted himself to pastoral duties as an itinerant minister in the Methodist Church, becoming a member of the Annual Conference in 1837, but for most of the time occupied stations in some of the colleges of his church. Early in 1866, he became the President of the South Carolina Female College at Sportanburg, South Carolina. In a short time after he was invited to accept a professorship in the old State University at Columbia, and, by the choice of the faculty, he became the President of that University, chartered in 1801, and had for three-fourths of a century educated most of distinguished men of South Carolina. From its classic halls had gone out the Harper’s, Middleton’s, Butler's, Hamptons, O’Neal’s, Barnwell’s, Rhett’s, Simmses’ and others, famous at the State and National Capitols, as well as in the world of letters and at the courts of foreign nations. Here he remained until the University was virtually suspended by the failure of the State to make the accustomed annual appropriation for its support. purely a political measure. Dr. Cummings was ordained to the Christian Ministry in 1839 by the Venerable Bishop Hedding. This was Through the influence of his old teacher and friend Dr. Taribee, in 1850, he received the title of Doctor in Divinity from Ashbury University of Indiana, while the distinguished Rev. M. Simpson, D.D. (now Bishop Simpson, D.D., L.L.D.) was its President. Dr. Cummings has been three times married. First, to Adeline, second daughter Bissell, late of Augusta. lady died Gouverneur, New York. Second, to Florilla Alexander, of St. Lawrence County, New York. She died at McKendree College, in 1852. She left twosons. The elder, P. A. Cummings, M. A., L. L. B., is one of the leading lawyers at the bar of North Carolina. His last marriage was to Mrs. Isabella H. Sheldon. By this marriage he has a daughter, Belle, yet in school, and three sons. Charles W. Cummings, L.L.B., is a lawyer in South Carolina. F. A. Cummings is the steward and business manager at Riverside Seminary, in which O. F. Cummings, B.A., is professor of music and ancient and modern languages. Dr. Cummings’ career has never been questioned, and no where is he more esteemed than where best and longest known. He has often visited his old Canadian home, and never without receiving new manifestations of the high esteem in which he is held, of Zenas This excellent, christian without children at Industry and good management has enabled him to provide for the autumn and winter of life. He is the owner of the Riverside Seminary, near Wellsville, Allegany Gounty, New York, to which he has retired from the more responsible positions formerly held. Then, as principals, with members of his family as associate teachers, he can enjoy as much of rest and seclusion as he may prefer. He presents a distinguished example to our Canadian youth. THE BURRITT FAMILY. This ancient and honorable family is of Welsh descent, William and Stephen Burritt emigrating from that country about the year 1600. Stephen and Adaniram Burritt were both engaged on the Royalist side at the battle of Bennington, Vermont. After the engagement, they found a wounded American, and took him to a place of safety, where he was kindly nursed, and finally recovered. the Burritts were arrested by the Continental authorities, and thrown into Bennington gaol. One year after, By chance, the young American whose life they had saved was placed on guard over the prisoners. Recognizing his benefactors, he devised a scheme for their escape, which was successful. After escaping from gaol, Stephen made his way to St. John, Quebec, where he joined the British army. The remainder of the family did not come to Canada until the close of the war. After Stephen received his discharge, he came up the St. Lawrence on a trading voyage, buying furs from the Indians. Asa U. E. Loyalist, he drew Lot No. 29, in the sst Concession of Augusta. Returning to St. John, he met his father (Daniel) and family, all of whom removed to Augusta, where Daniel died, about 1856, aged 97 years and g months. Stephen went out to the Rideau on an exploring expedition, striking the ; river at Cox’ Bay, where he constructed a raft, and floated down to Burritt’s Rapids, where he chose a spot for settlement, in the Township of Marlborough. It was there that Colonel Edmund Burritt was born, the first white child on the Rideau, the date being December 8th, 1793. Stephen was at one time elected a member of Parliament. He died at Burritt’s Rapids, in the 84th year of his age. Edmund Burritt raised a family of six children: Martha, married Joseph Lonsdale; Mary, married Aaron Merrick; Olive, married Charles Collins; Henry Osgood, married a daughter of Judge Strong, of New York; Edmund, born March 28th, 1828, married Hester, daughter of John L, Read, of Merrickville ; and Alexander, who is the Registrar of the City of Ottawa, married Sarah Foster, of
