Burton A. Cummins, born on April 3, 1869, in Montpelier, Vermont, is a prominent figure in Pierre, South Dakota. Son of Albert Oren and Mary (Frances) Cummins, he graduated as valedictorian from Washington County Grammar School in 1887. Cummins began his banking career at Sioux National Bank in Iowa, later becoming the youngest national bank cashier at age 21 with First National Bank in Pierre. Politically active, he served as colonel on Governor Herreid’s staff and held numerous leadership roles in banking and civic organizations. He married Clara Belle Merrick in 1890, with whom he had two children by 1904.
Burton A. Cummins, one of the most loyal and influential citizens of Pierre, is a native of the old Green Mountain state and is a scion of families long identified with the annals of New England history. He was born in Montpelier, Vermont, on the 3d of April, 1869, being a son of Albert Oren and Mary (Frances) Cummins. The subject secured his early educational discipline in the public schools of his native city, and after leaving the high school continued his studies and graduated in the Washington County Grammar School at Montpelier, Vermont, as valedictorian of the class of 1887. He shortly afterward went to the city of Boston, where he took a successful examination for matriculation in Harvard, but instead of entering that famous institution he decided to come to the west and at once identify himself with the practical activities of life. He located in the city of Sioux City, Iowa, where he secured a position as note teller in the Sioux National Bank, showing a distinctive predilection for the banking business and being promoted from one position to another in that institution, in whose services he continued until 1890, when he resigned. On the 3d of July of that year he set forth for Pierre, South Dakota, and was elected cashier of the First National Bank of this city, being at the time but twenty-one years of age and having the distinction of being the youngest cashier of all national banks in the Union. He has held this office ever since, showing marked discrimination and judgment in the handling of his exacting executive and administrative duties and gaining a high reputation in the financial circles of the state. In 1901 Mr. Cummins was appointed colonel on the staff of Governor Herreid, retaining this office during both terms of Governor Herreid’s office. He was president of the Pierre board of trade from 1892 to 1894, inclusive, was chairman of the Pierre capital committee in 1902, and has been a most zealous worker in the interests of his home city at all times and seasons. In politics he accords an unswerving allegiance to the Republican party, and has been a prominent figure in its councils in this state, having been a member of both the state and central committee and the state executive committee in 1898. In 1902 he was elected president of the South Dakota State Bankers’ Association. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Pierre Lodge, No. 27, Free and Accepted Masons; Pierre Chapter No. 22, Royal Arch Masons; La-Co-Tah Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar, and El Riad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in Sioux Falls, and has been for years treasurer of his blue lodge.
On the 3d of April, 1890, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Cummins to Miss Clara Belle Merrick, a daughter of Fred L. and Nancy Merrick, of Kankakee, Illinois, and they became the parents of two children, Albert O., who was born on the 24th of February, 1892, and who died on the 26th of February, 1895; and Aline, who was born on the 19th of February, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Cummins are prominent and active in the social life of the community, and their attractive home is a center of refined hospitality.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.