Jacob Cummer 1797-1841

Photos and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted April, 2009

On this concrete wall, at McKee Public School on the northwest corner of McKee and Kenneth Avenues in North York, is this plaque erected in 1977 by the 50th Anniversary Committee of McKee Public School. Here's what it says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.773968 -79.410038

Jacob Cummer (Kummer) and his wife Elizabeth, emigrants from Pennsylvania and among the earliest settlers in Willowdale, established themselves on this site along Yonge Street in 1797. A farmer, craftsman and entrepreneur, Jacob acquired other lands in the vicinity and by 1819 owned a saw-mill on the Don River near present-day Cummer Avenue. Originally Lutherans, the Cummers became devout Methodists in Upper Canada: their home serving as a Methodist Episcopal Sunday School from 1816. In 1834, Jacob donated a nearby site upon which a Methodist meeting house was soon built. This area, closely identified with Jacob and his large family of 14 children, was originally know as Kummer's Settlement.

Related web pages
saw-mill
Don River
Lutherans
Methodists
Upper Canada

Related Toronto plaques
Church Avenue
Willowdale
Finch
Yonge Street

More
Pioneers

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Posted June 22, 2011
I also am a relative of Jacob Cummer. I also have the book Jacob's Flock. I live in Calgary,Ab,Canada. I would like to learn more about the Cummers that lived in Pennsylvania,USA. Where they lived and if any are still there. I can be reached at philandken@shaw.ca

Posted April 17, 2011
My grandmother on my fathers side was a Cummer before she married my grandfather. I have a book called Cummers Memoranda. My grandmother was Francis Marion Cummer. She married Robert Taylor Thomson. Does any one know anything about Robert Taylor Thomson.
email address wonderingrv@hotmail.com

Posted October 21, 2010
ive been trying to find out about my ancestors and was told by my great grandfather stanley magee iam a decendant of john cummer my name is danielle cooper if this is true i would love to know more of the history of my family if u have any info contact me at danos@live.ca

Posted September 16, 2010
My name is Ray Huston . My grandmother was a descendent from the Cummer family.She married into the Huston family..I was given a book called Jacobs Flock by my aunt Arvella who is the eldest living of the Huston/Cummer family.The book starts from 1750 to 197-?

Posted June 10, 2010
Hi my name is Jenna Cummer and I am doing research on my lineage and was wondering if you could help in any way. At York Cemetery there is also a John Cummer who donated a house ( sheppard house now called ) for Michael Sheppard who took shelter on that land in and around the Rebellion, 1843 is this Jacob Cummer related to the John Cummer?
jennagirl911@yahoo.ca

Posted May 27, 2010
Yes, John Cummer, Jacob's son, lived at 44 Beardmore Crescent which overlooked Jacob's Cummer Mill on the Don River. The house was originally a farm house built circa 1850 but was substantially renovated into its present structure circa 1933.

Posted April 15, 2010
Did Jacob Cummer or other Cummer relatives reside in a house I'm told is on the north side of cummer east of Bayview overlooking the Don River.

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