Cummings Family
Members of the Cummings family were originally born with the surname Kaminchaitis.
Some of them legally changed their name to Cummings while others just began using the surname.
Some of them legally changed their name to Cummings while others just began using the surname.
Catherine "Kitty" Cummings West's Family Recollections
Katrina Vaitkunas Kaminchaitis with daughter, Catherine, at 2116 Price St.
Kitty wrote eulogies for various family members as well as her memories of growing up and various family members. Excerpts of them are included here:
"We moved from 2117 Price Street to 2116 Price Street. Under Mom's direction the house and two lots turned into a showplace of flowers and stone walks and a bridge over a walled, run-off creek."
"We moved from 2117 Price Street to 2116 Price Street. Under Mom's direction the house and two lots turned into a showplace of flowers and stone walks and a bridge over a walled, run-off creek."
Katrina Vaitkunas and Joseph Kaminchaitis
Joseph Kaminchaitis was born on Jun 29, 1885 in Stroghutnor, Lithuania. He arrived in New York from Holland on the ship the Rotterdam on July 25, 1905.
He married Katrina Vaitkunas on Jun 20, 1911 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pa. They raised her two children from her first marriage as well as their six children together. Their six children were: George Peter, Anna, Joseph J., John Joseph, Leonard Paul and Catherine Jean. They all eventually took the surname Cummings instead of Kaminchaitis.
Like his wife, he has had various surname spellings: Josef Kamczaytis (on his passenger manifest); Joseph Kumichitis (on his petition for naturalization); Joseph Kamenczitis (on his marriage record); Joseph Kamazaitis (on his daughter, Anna's birth certificate) and Joseph Kameocytis (on his daughter, Catherine's birth certificate).
He was employed as a Coal Miner with the Briggs Coal Company in 1920 in Keyser Valley, PA. He was employed as a laborer on May 28, 1924 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, PA. He was employed as a WPA - WP#14623 in Sep 1937 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pa. He worked in the mines from 1905 to 1930 (although Kitty West's notes s ay elsewhere that he worked until 1958), when an injury caused him to q uit. He had worked in the Manville Mine in Green Ridge in 1905; the Briggs Mine in Keyser Valley in 1921. He said he hurt ever since and walked with a slight limp.
He used to make wine from elderberries.
He had pleurisy six or seven times but always recovered.
He was naturalized on Sep 18, 1924 in Scranton, Pa. His name is spelled as Joseph Kumiczustis.
He started using the surname Cummings sometime on or before 1920 as the census from that year records his last name as Cummings.
He and his wife were members of St. Michael's Lithuanian Church in Scranton.
His physical description in 1924 was: 5 ft 8 inch tall with grey eyes & light brown hair. In 1942, his description was 5 ft 6 in tall, 160 lbs, with blue eyes, gray hair & a ruddy complexion.
He apparently suffered from black lung, from his work in the coal mines because in Oct 23, 1970 he was applying for black lung benefits under the Feder al Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. It is unknown whether he received any compensation.
He died on May 18, 1977 in Cummings Pond in Clarks Summit, Pa.. He was buried on May 21, 1977 in Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton, PA.
Katrina Vaitkunas was born on Nov 25, 1881 in Garlava, Lithuania. She lived in Scotland between 1900–1909. She married Jurgis (George) Pukas on Aug 11, 1900 in at St. Joseph's Church in the Parish of Blantyre in the county of Lamark in Scotland. They had three children together:
Opalionia Pukas (her birth certificate says this but she was better known as Polly, a derivative of Pauline) - born June 17, 1901 in Blantyre, Scotland. She would later take the surname Cummings.
2. Katrina - born Oct. 18, 1903 at James Place, Parish of Blantyre, County of Lanark, Scotland.
3. Andrew (nicknamed Heinzie) - born May 29, 1905 at James Place, Parish of Blantyre, County of Lanark, Scotland
Katrina's husband, Jurgis, died on Mar 16, 1906 in Blantyre; his cause of death was chronic nephritis (kidney disease). Just months after losing her husband, she also lost her daughter, Katrina, in September - just shy of the little girl's third birthday. She died Sep 22, 1906 at Hart's Land, Stonefield in the Parish of Blantyre, County of Lanark in Scotland, after suffering from Catararrhal laryngitis for 2 days.
Perhaps to join her sister, Agatha, in the new world, Katrina left Scotland in 1909 with her two children and her sister, Veronica. From Greenock Docks, Scotland, 28-year-old Katrina boarded The Furnessia with her children, Pauline "Polly" ( 8 years old) and Andrew "Heinzie" (4 years old) and her sister, Veronic a (15 years old).
Polly and Andrew sang to entertain people on the boat crossing.
In May 1909, they arrived at Ellis Island and were processed. They were all detained for two days, according to the Record of Aliens Held for Special Inquiry. The code LPC, "Likely Public Charge," is written next to their names. LPC was often used for unmarried women, people with no money, etc and were detained until a relative could come for them. They were then reunited with Agatha, who had married Adam Litvinis (changed to Litwin).
She married Joseph (Kaminchaitis) Kamichitis on Jun 20, 1911 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pa..
She died on Nov 30, 1962 in Cummings Pond in Clarks Summit, Pa.. She was buried on Dec 03, 1962 in Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton, PA.
He married Katrina Vaitkunas on Jun 20, 1911 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pa. They raised her two children from her first marriage as well as their six children together. Their six children were: George Peter, Anna, Joseph J., John Joseph, Leonard Paul and Catherine Jean. They all eventually took the surname Cummings instead of Kaminchaitis.
Like his wife, he has had various surname spellings: Josef Kamczaytis (on his passenger manifest); Joseph Kumichitis (on his petition for naturalization); Joseph Kamenczitis (on his marriage record); Joseph Kamazaitis (on his daughter, Anna's birth certificate) and Joseph Kameocytis (on his daughter, Catherine's birth certificate).
He was employed as a Coal Miner with the Briggs Coal Company in 1920 in Keyser Valley, PA. He was employed as a laborer on May 28, 1924 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, PA. He was employed as a WPA - WP#14623 in Sep 1937 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pa. He worked in the mines from 1905 to 1930 (although Kitty West's notes s ay elsewhere that he worked until 1958), when an injury caused him to q uit. He had worked in the Manville Mine in Green Ridge in 1905; the Briggs Mine in Keyser Valley in 1921. He said he hurt ever since and walked with a slight limp.
He used to make wine from elderberries.
He had pleurisy six or seven times but always recovered.
He was naturalized on Sep 18, 1924 in Scranton, Pa. His name is spelled as Joseph Kumiczustis.
He started using the surname Cummings sometime on or before 1920 as the census from that year records his last name as Cummings.
He and his wife were members of St. Michael's Lithuanian Church in Scranton.
His physical description in 1924 was: 5 ft 8 inch tall with grey eyes & light brown hair. In 1942, his description was 5 ft 6 in tall, 160 lbs, with blue eyes, gray hair & a ruddy complexion.
He apparently suffered from black lung, from his work in the coal mines because in Oct 23, 1970 he was applying for black lung benefits under the Feder al Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. It is unknown whether he received any compensation.
He died on May 18, 1977 in Cummings Pond in Clarks Summit, Pa.. He was buried on May 21, 1977 in Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton, PA.
Katrina Vaitkunas was born on Nov 25, 1881 in Garlava, Lithuania. She lived in Scotland between 1900–1909. She married Jurgis (George) Pukas on Aug 11, 1900 in at St. Joseph's Church in the Parish of Blantyre in the county of Lamark in Scotland. They had three children together:
Opalionia Pukas (her birth certificate says this but she was better known as Polly, a derivative of Pauline) - born June 17, 1901 in Blantyre, Scotland. She would later take the surname Cummings.
2. Katrina - born Oct. 18, 1903 at James Place, Parish of Blantyre, County of Lanark, Scotland.
3. Andrew (nicknamed Heinzie) - born May 29, 1905 at James Place, Parish of Blantyre, County of Lanark, Scotland
Katrina's husband, Jurgis, died on Mar 16, 1906 in Blantyre; his cause of death was chronic nephritis (kidney disease). Just months after losing her husband, she also lost her daughter, Katrina, in September - just shy of the little girl's third birthday. She died Sep 22, 1906 at Hart's Land, Stonefield in the Parish of Blantyre, County of Lanark in Scotland, after suffering from Catararrhal laryngitis for 2 days.
Perhaps to join her sister, Agatha, in the new world, Katrina left Scotland in 1909 with her two children and her sister, Veronica. From Greenock Docks, Scotland, 28-year-old Katrina boarded The Furnessia with her children, Pauline "Polly" ( 8 years old) and Andrew "Heinzie" (4 years old) and her sister, Veronic a (15 years old).
Polly and Andrew sang to entertain people on the boat crossing.
In May 1909, they arrived at Ellis Island and were processed. They were all detained for two days, according to the Record of Aliens Held for Special Inquiry. The code LPC, "Likely Public Charge," is written next to their names. LPC was often used for unmarried women, people with no money, etc and were detained until a relative could come for them. They were then reunited with Agatha, who had married Adam Litvinis (changed to Litwin).
She married Joseph (Kaminchaitis) Kamichitis on Jun 20, 1911 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pa..
She died on Nov 30, 1962 in Cummings Pond in Clarks Summit, Pa.. She was buried on Dec 03, 1962 in Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton, PA.
George (Kaminchaitis) Cummings (1912-2002)
George Paul Cummings was the son of Joseph Kaminchaitis and Katrina Vaitkunas Kaminchaitis. He was among some in the family who changed their name from Kaminchaitis to Cummings.
George was born April 16, 1912 in Scranton, PA. He was employed in Newton Township, PA, operating bait fish, nursery, gardening and lumber businesses.
He also served during World War II and was initially stationed in Ft. Sheridan, Ill. In 1943, he was sent to Massachusetts. In Apri l 1943, sent to Iran then to Algiers staging area (according to obit). A ccording to discharge papers, he was sent to Naples-Foggia, Sicily, Rom e-Arne, Rhineland and Central Europe.
He also operated an anti-aircraft gun at some point and as a unit foreman, he assisted in the s upervision of the construction of bridges and roads.
According to letters written by Kitty West with information provided by George, he also was stationed in Algeria and Corsica. While in Oran, Algeria, he suffered an internal infection of the digestive system - dis charging pus and affecting the large intestine. He was treated at a camp hospital with an opiate.
He suffered an injury after riding in the back of an army truck on top o f a load of 40-50 foot trees on a paved road outside of Corsica. A low- hanging branch caught him on the side of the head and swept him along t he length of the trees in the truck's bed until he fell off the truck. H e landed on his right side and was knocked unconscious. He had bruised a nd cut his head and injured his right hip. He woke up at a doctor's off ice in Corsica and was later transferred to the army camp. The hip inju ry plagued him all his life.
In 1945, George contracted malaria and they sent him to a hospital in M arseille, France, where he spent three days. Then he returned to the ca mp hospital to finish recuperating. For about a year after he was discharged, he received $11 a month.
He left the military with the rank of corporal. George was awarded the Good Conduct Meda l (personal citation), the European-African-Middle Eastern Service MedalFive Bronze Stars (unit citation).
His sister, Catherine "Kitty" West wrote about her memories of George and the family, portions of which are included below:
"'Mom would tell us that George really liked bananas and often told her, "Iggie nenie banana!' By the time I came along in 1921, our family included Anna, Joseph, John and Leonard. We now lived in the middle of the block at 2117 Price Street, where I was born. Mom told me I climbed out the upstairs bedroom window onto the porch roof. She spied me and tried to keep my attention while George scurried up the stairs and rescued me. From then on he was my protector...
Bill (West) and I were married in 1941 and George came to live with us in Niagara Falls
George was born April 16, 1912 in Scranton, PA. He was employed in Newton Township, PA, operating bait fish, nursery, gardening and lumber businesses.
He also served during World War II and was initially stationed in Ft. Sheridan, Ill. In 1943, he was sent to Massachusetts. In Apri l 1943, sent to Iran then to Algiers staging area (according to obit). A ccording to discharge papers, he was sent to Naples-Foggia, Sicily, Rom e-Arne, Rhineland and Central Europe.
He also operated an anti-aircraft gun at some point and as a unit foreman, he assisted in the s upervision of the construction of bridges and roads.
According to letters written by Kitty West with information provided by George, he also was stationed in Algeria and Corsica. While in Oran, Algeria, he suffered an internal infection of the digestive system - dis charging pus and affecting the large intestine. He was treated at a camp hospital with an opiate.
He suffered an injury after riding in the back of an army truck on top o f a load of 40-50 foot trees on a paved road outside of Corsica. A low- hanging branch caught him on the side of the head and swept him along t he length of the trees in the truck's bed until he fell off the truck. H e landed on his right side and was knocked unconscious. He had bruised a nd cut his head and injured his right hip. He woke up at a doctor's off ice in Corsica and was later transferred to the army camp. The hip inju ry plagued him all his life.
In 1945, George contracted malaria and they sent him to a hospital in M arseille, France, where he spent three days. Then he returned to the ca mp hospital to finish recuperating. For about a year after he was discharged, he received $11 a month.
He left the military with the rank of corporal. George was awarded the Good Conduct Meda l (personal citation), the European-African-Middle Eastern Service MedalFive Bronze Stars (unit citation).
His sister, Catherine "Kitty" West wrote about her memories of George and the family, portions of which are included below:
"'Mom would tell us that George really liked bananas and often told her, "Iggie nenie banana!' By the time I came along in 1921, our family included Anna, Joseph, John and Leonard. We now lived in the middle of the block at 2117 Price Street, where I was born. Mom told me I climbed out the upstairs bedroom window onto the porch roof. She spied me and tried to keep my attention while George scurried up the stairs and rescued me. From then on he was my protector...
Bill (West) and I were married in 1941 and George came to live with us in Niagara Falls
Leonard Paul Cummings
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Leonard Paul Cummings was born as Leonard Paul Kaminchaitis on November 5, 1919 in Scranton, PA. He grew up in Scranton and graduated from Scranton Technical High School and later the University of Scranton.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving for 4 1/2 years. He legally changed his last name to Cummings, as some other family members had done, and this was the name he was known by.
He married Rosalie MacDonald on Nov. 20, 1948. They had no children.
He was an office manager for the State of New Jersey Employment Division and lived in Wayne, NJ before retiring to Spring Hill, Fla.While living in Florida, he was a member of St. Theresa's Church and the Irish Club.He was an outgoing and active man who liked to garden, play golf and bowl. He also liked to travel, taking many cruises with his wife.
He died October 26, 2003 and is buried at Bay Pines Veterans Administration Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Leonard Paul Cummings was born as Leonard Paul Kaminchaitis on November 5, 1919 in Scranton, PA. He grew up in Scranton and graduated from Scranton Technical High School and later the University of Scranton.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving for 4 1/2 years. He legally changed his last name to Cummings, as some other family members had done, and this was the name he was known by.
He married Rosalie MacDonald on Nov. 20, 1948. They had no children.
He was an office manager for the State of New Jersey Employment Division and lived in Wayne, NJ before retiring to Spring Hill, Fla.While living in Florida, he was a member of St. Theresa's Church and the Irish Club.He was an outgoing and active man who liked to garden, play golf and bowl. He also liked to travel, taking many cruises with his wife.
He died October 26, 2003 and is buried at Bay Pines Veterans Administration Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Fla.