In the 1880's Asa and Harriet Marion (Knox) Cummings moved to a ranch on the John Day River in Grant County. They settled next to "Ol' Jim Cummings" (Asa's brother) who was there during the "Bannock War" (1878) which he had been actively engaged in. (His home was burned by the Bannocks and Paiutes as he and his neighbor, Billy Stewart, watched from the spring above the house. The Indians shot at them. A bullet struck "Ol' Jim's" saddle horn, chipping off a piece of leather which bloodied his nose. Later in the day "Ol' Jim" and Billy encountered some Indians following up Cummings Creek, at which point each killed a separate Indian.) "Ol' Jim Cummings" probably had been at his place on the John Day River from the earliest settlement of the John Day Country, because "Cummings Creek" was no doubt named after him. Incidentally, the next creek east to run into the John Day River is Belshaw Creek. Later, Herbert Cummings married Edith Belshaw. Asa and Harriett had come from Maine (Augusta and Waterville). Harriett's father, Samuel Edward Knox (a retired architect from Maine) came to live with them on the ranch, and died there in 1906 at the age of eighty eight. He is a relative of Revolutionary War general Knox. The Knox's first go on record in the New World when Thomas Knox (likely from Scotland) received a grant of land in New Hamshire in 1652.
Contents copied from A Place called Oregon, Cummings family history.
This place and the surrounding area once was a small bustling town named Cummingsville. Now there are a few homes left and this old Church. The old highway used to take a north turn around and then cross the creek. It is very peaceful now, but the wind brings the voices of persons past.