Another forefather of Clay Center was farmer and stage driver Enoch Cummings. He spent much of his life traveling, totaling more than 100,000 miles on stagecoach while driving for the Overland Stage Line and Pony Express. 

Cummings was born in 1837 in Virginia. Early on he began driving stage lines, running routes from Ohio as early as 1853 as a teenager. He then took on routes from West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. The latter allowed him to work for the first daily route to Placerville, California, which began July 1 of 1861. 

Traveling back and forth, he met his wife, Abigail Torrey, who was born in St. George, KS. The pair were married in 1863 at Guittard Station in Marshall County. The historic lodge served as a resting spot for drivers and their horses, with two stables that could accommodate up to 24 horses. 

Cummings continued to drive his route until 1870, when the Union Pacific railroad was completed through the area. He and Abigail settled near Clay Center, living four miles southwest of town. They had a log cabin onto which they added three rooms to accommodate their growing family. In total, the couple had seven kids, with three living to adulthood. 

Abigail was a distant cousin of former President William Taft, who traveled to Clay Center. He stayed at the Bonham Hotel when serving as the main speaker at a Chautauqua show. The appearance was after Taft’s presidency and was reported as a “big message” on international and national conditions of the president. 

Taft suffered from “throat trouble” due to his busy schedule of speaking events, but was still heard by all in attendance, a reporter wrote. In addition, a thunderstorm delayed his speech and attendees huddled in the building, waiting for it to pass.  

Cummings served two terms as sheriff and worked as a farmer. In addition, he was a director and stockholder of the Republican Valley Bank. 

In 1899, Cummings sold off his livestock, which consisted of 35 cattle and 50 stock hogs. At one point, Cummings owned the land at 518 Lincoln, which now houses the Clay County Museum. He ran a stable on this lot in 1886 and then sold the land the next year.

Cummings died in 1911 at 72 years old. Abigail outlived by 15 years. Both are buried at Greenwood Cemetery, along with their children. Their daughter, Addie  Held, is also in Greenwood, though she is buried with her husband, Alfred Held. 

Research by Susan Hammond and the Clay County Museum