Dr. Silas Cummings, son of Thaddeus, was born in Fitzwilliam, October 7, 1803. He studied medicine and received his diploma from Dartmouth college. He began practice in this town about 1826 or 1827, where he continued until his death, June 30, 1882. He was superintendent of schools for many years, and as such labored hard and effectively to elevate the plane of public education. Although a Democrat in a strongly Republican town, he so endeared himself to his townsmen that he was chosen town representative. He was chosen one of a committee to prepare a history of the town, but his death occurred before the work was finished. He was married twice, first, to Harriet Underwood, who bore him several children, of whom one daughter and two sons are now living. His second wife was Eliza Poland, widow of A. D. Simonds, by whom he had one daughter, Mrs. Clara B. J. Rand of this town.
