Cumming, Alfred, 1802-1873

Alfred Cummings was the second governor of Utah territory. He was appointed right after the “Utah War” and, due to exaggerated reports, expected to walk into a tense situation, if not outright rebellion. His and his wife’s writings show they were pleasantly surprised by a congenial reception.

Cumming was born in Augusta, Georgia on September 4, 1802. He was elected Mayor of Augusta and served until the Mexican War. During the war, he acted as a sutler for two different units for the Union. After the war, he was the Superintendent for the Upper Missouri Indian Superintendency. Cumming was appointed Governor of the Utah territory in 1857 by President Buchanan. He served until May 1861. Cumming was a democrat and held a moderate position on what was called the “Mormon question” which brought him into conflict with the hardliners in the government and the local army commander who had been embarrassed during the “Utah War”. Cumming moved back to Georgia where his wife, Elizabeth Randall, died in 1867. Cumming died on October 9, 1873.