James Albert Cummings is the son of John William Cummings and Winnie Ann Ivory. He was born 5 Mar 1888 in Alturas, Modoc, California. He died 27 Apr 1974 in Oakland, Alameda, California and was buried there on 30 Apr 1974.

On 7 Aug 1909, he married Ruth Evelyn Alverson in San Francisco, San Francisco, California. She was born 20 or 22 Oct 1888 in Eureka, Humboldt, California. She is the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Alverson and Sarah Caroline Dresser. She died 10 Jul 1972 at age 83 in Oakland, Alameda, California and was buried there on 12 Jul 1972.

Children of James Albert Cummings and Ruth Evelyn Alverson:

1. Carolyn Winifred Cummings was born 18 Jan 1911 in Humboldt County, California. She died 4 Apr 1993 at age 82 in Moraga, Contra Costa, California.
   • She married (1) Mr. Taylor.
   • She married (2) Mr. Rotunno.
2. Curtis Vinal Cummings was born 2 Dec 1911 in Eureka, Humboldt, California. He died 23 Dec 1918 at age 7 in Vallejo, Marin, California.
3. Kelton Vinal Cummings was born 2 Jun 1916 in Humboldt County, California. He died 12 Jan 1997 at age 80 in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa, California.
   • On 5 Jul 1940, he married Ruth Shaw in Oakland, Alameda, California. She is the daughter of Edward Hagen Shaw and Charlotte Mary Ellis. She was born 28 Jun 1917 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts. She died 14 Jun 1998 at age 80 in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa, California.
4. Kenneth Damon Cummings was born 30 Nov 1920 in Alameda County, California.

Sources

James:

• Birth from his WWI draft Registration card.
• Birth from his WWII draft Registration card.
• Birth and Death from the Social Security Death Index [Name: James Cummings; SSN: 552-07-1235; Last Residence: 94610 Oakland, Alameda, California; Born: 5 Mar 1888; Died: Apr 1974; SSN issued: California (Before 1951)].
• Birth and Death also from California Death Records, 1940 - 1997.

Ruth:

• Birth and Death from California Death Records, 1940 - 1997 which gives the birth as the 22nd.
• Birth and Death from the Social Security Death Index [Name: Ruth Cummings; SSN: 555-38-7379; Last Residence: 94610 Oakland, Alameda; Born: 20 Oct 1888; Died: Jul 1972; SSN issued: California (Before 1951)].

Carolyn:

• Birth from California Birth Records, 1905 - 1995 where her name is listed as "Vintie C. Cummings".
• Birth and Death from California Death Records, 1940 - 1997.
• Birth and Death from the Social Security Death Index (SSN 565-05-6952).
• Marriage to Mr. Rotunno from California Death Records, 1940 - 1997 and the Social Security Death Index where she is listed under the surname "Rotunno".

Curtis: Birth from California Birth Records, 1905 - 1995 where he is listed without a given name.

Kelton:

• Birth from California Birth Records, 1905 - 1995 [Name: Kelton Cummings; Birth Date: 2 Jun 1916; Gender: Male; Mother's Maiden Name: Alverson; Birth County: Humboldt].
• Birth and Death from the Social Security Death Index [Name: Kelton V. Cummings; SSN: 552-05-4862; Last Residence: 94595 Walnut Creek, Contra Costa, California; Born: 2 Jun 1916; Died: 12 Jan 1997; SSN issued: California (Before 1951)].
• Birth and Death also from California Death Records, 1940 - 1997 [Name: Kelton Vinall Cummings; Social Security #: 552054862; Sex: MALE; Birth Date: 12 Jun 1916; Birthplace: California; Death Date: 12 Jan 1997; Death Place: Contra Costa; Mother's Maiden Name: Alverson].

Ruth Shaw: Birth and Death from the Social Security Death Index [Name: Ruth Cummings; SSN: 552-09-6855; Last Residence: 94595 Walnut Creek, Contra Costa, California; Born: 28 Jun 1917; Died: 14 Jun 1998; SSN issued: California (Before 1951)].

Kenneth: Birth from California Birth Records, 1905 - 1995 [Name: Kenneth D Cummings; Birth Date: 30 Nov 1920; Gender: Male; Mother's Maiden Name: Alverson; Birth County: Alameda].

Census Listings

The individuals in this family appear in the following census listings.

• James: 1900 Census. Alturas, Modoc, California. Page 11.
• 1920 Census. Vallejo, Solano, CA p. 142.
• 1930 Census. Oakland, Alameda, CA p. 122.

Notes

Ruth's brother, Edward Alverson, wrote his remembrance of his mother's death as follows (remembrance courtesy of David Paulsen):

"I remember the steamer coming from S.F. bringing the casket and body to Grandmothers home where it lay in the parlor for several days. I was 4 1/2 and several women at different times lifted me up to look. My child's mind told me that I was sleeping but I was greatly puzzled and never fully realized what death was and by the time I understood nearly everything had faded from my memory.

"My Aunt Nellie came down from Salem and took Carol and she and her husband raised her with cousin Hallie as their own. I saw her possibly a dozen times till we reached adulthood.

"Ruth was kept and raised by Grandmother and Grandfather Vinal. I saw more of her than I did of Carol for I lived in Eureka with Hugh for about four years."