From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 576-577.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


ROBERT H. CUMMINS

Robert H. Cummins was born in Washington, Penn., in February, 1817. 
He pursued his academic studies at Washington college, but did not 
complete the full curriculum.  He afterward, however, received the 
degree of A.M. from the college.  His preceptor in medicine was Dr. 
F. J. Lemoyne, and he received the degree of M. D. at the University 
of Pennsylvania in 1841, immediately locating in Wheeling for the 
practice of his profession, as a partner of Dr. J. W. Clemens.  After 
Dr. Clemens's death in 1846, he joined his brother James in 
partnership.  Dr. Cummins's early professional career was beset with 
trials that would have crushed a weaker man, but these only 
stimulated him to more determined effort, which placed him in the 
front rank of the profession.  His heart was full of kindness, his 
keen intellect ever busy gathering new facts, and his energy in the 
practice of his chosen calling never flagged.  He acquired unusual 
intelligence and skill, being especially well qualified as an 
obstetrician.  His practice was very large, and he was greatly 
beloved by the many families and patients whom he attended.  Many 
still delight to tell of his kindness in the sick room.  This feeling 
of regard for him was shared by all classes of society, and many will 
recall the sad scene, on the day of his funeral, as great numbers of 
humble women stood with streaming eyes around the casket of their 
dead friend and physician.  Dr. Cummins's literary qualifications 
were of a high order.  He contributed several valuable papers to the 
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL SCIENCES.  He was in 1870, president 
of the Medical Society of the City of Wheeling and County of Ohio, 
and at the time of his death was president elect of the Medical 
Society of the State of West Virginia.  His presidential address
he left in a finished state, and it was read to the society by
Dr. Hildreth, and was one of the most forcible addresses ever
delivered to the profession.  Dr. Cummins married Miss Ann,
daughter of the late Samuel Ott, Esq., in February, 1849.  Five 
children survive the parents.  Dr. Cummins died of pleuro-pneumonia 
at his mother's home, near Bellaire, Ohio, on April 12, 1873.  When 
almost in extremis, but with intellect still unclouded, he exhibited 
the fullness of his unselfish nature, and his devotion to science, by 
directing that an autopsy be made of his body, and to insure its 
accomplishment, asked his family to interpose no objection.  This 
done, he calmly and without fear awaited the end, and met it with a 
philosophy based upon his knowledge of immortality.


(Linda Fluharty)