James Devalson Cummings

Obituary - Cummings, James Devalson, first Bishop of Wilford Ward, Granite Stake of Zion, is the son of Benjamin Franklin Cummings and Mary Jane Yearsley, and was born at Willard, Box Elder county, Utah, Sept. 30, 1859. His father was a pioneer of 1847. James was baptized Oct. 3, 1867, in Salt Lake City by Elder Thomas Higgs. His youth was spent in working on the farm, and at other labor, and his opportunities for obtaining an education were not very good. However, he managed to advance himself sufficiently to enter the Deseret University as a normal student in 1876. On graduating from that institution he began teaching school and has continued in that line for sixteen years, being to-day recognized as one of the ablest teachers in Salt Lake county. He has also served as a school trustee for ten years in the 36th district, during which time two splendid brick school houses have been erected there. In 1890 he assisted in organizing the X. L. C. R. Mercantile Co. at Mill Creek, Salt Lake county, and became the superintendent of that institution. He has also acted as postmaster of Mill Creek. March 4, 1880, he married Louisa Cufley. Elder Cummings has always been active in Church work. In 1876 he was ordained an Elder, and later a Seventy by his father, Benj. F. Cummings. He has labored energetically in the Sabbath school and mutual improvement work, having held many positions of trust and responsibility in those organizations. During 1893 and 1894 he filled a short mission to California, where he labored mostly in Sacramento, doing very satisfactory work. Having been appointed postmaster at Mill Creek he was called home by Pres. Wilford Woodruff. June 2, 1898, he left again to labor as a missionary, this time going to the Northern States, where he labored in the Wisconsin conference, first as a traveling Elder and later as its president. He was honorably released to return to Utah May 1, 1900. On his arrival home he was appointed to labor as a home missionary in the Granite Stake, in which capacity he acted till Sept. 30, 1900, when the Wilford Ward was organized from part of the Mill Creek Ward, and James D. Cummings was chosen to act as Bishop of the new Ward. He was ordained a Bishop and a High Priest and set apart to preside over said Ward by Apostle Heber J. Grant. Since Bro. Cummings began his labors in the Bishopric, the Saints of Wilford have succeeded in erecting a beautiful and substantial meeting house.

LDS Biographical Encylopedia, Andrew Jensen, page 568