Notes:

1883 Dec 12, Wednesday: Logging Accidents
A resident of Cadillac reports in Big Rapids the following terrible accident at Cadillac Monday afternoon [i.e. 10th December, 1883]:
Elmer Cummer, a brother of the senior member of the Cummer Lumber Company, was with the engineer, James Thomas, running a train of logs on the company's road. The train had neared the Harrison settlement, & Cummer, who seems to have had charge of the engine for the moment, was running at a reckless rate, when the engine jumped the track and the loaded cards piled in a heap over the engine and occupants. As soon as possible the men were rescued. Cummer was found seriously injured and it was thought he could not survive. Harris was mangled terribly and died soon after being removed. The fireman is said to have escaped by jumping from the train, as he feared an accident from the reckless running. Harris had been in the employ of the company some 12 years. Out of respect the company have closed their three mills till after the funeral. While working among the logs at Chippewa lake, Sat. a man named Cota had both hips crushed, & otherwise seriously injured.
Ref: Jackson Citizen Patriot Newspaper, Jackson, MI., page 5 on 12 Dec 1883 and repeated in the Jackson Weeky Citizen on 18 Dec. 1883.

1888, Feb 14, Tues. - Crushed on Lumber Railroad. Elmer Cummer, aged 26 years, son of Jacob Cummer, an extensive lumberman, while riding an engine on his father's logging railway yesterday morning [i.e. the 13th Feb.], got his clothes caught in the gearing & was drawn into the engine and mxxy mangled. He dies instantly.
Ref: Muskegon Chronicle Newspaper.

1888, Feb 15 - Elmer C Cummer, the 20 year old brother of W E CUMMER, of Cadillac, well known in lumbering circles, jumped from a geared locomotive that was in motion on the Cumberland Lumber Company's logging road Tuesday. Mr. Cummer's clothing was caught & he was drawn in. After considerable delay his mangled body was recovered and taken home, where he died in a short time. Deceased was married last fall.
Ref: Jackson Citizen, Tues. 21.2.1888 & Muskegon Chronicle, page 3, Mon. evening 27.2.1888.

1888 Feb 27 - The locomotive which killed Elmer C Cummer of Cadillac, on the C. & N.E. Railroad a few days ago was named E C Cummer, for its unfortunate victim. Since the accident the name has been erased, & the engine retired from service forever to serve as a monument to the memory of the life it destroyed.
Ref: Muskegon Chronicle Mon. 27.21.1888 and Worchester Daily Spy, Mass., Sat 10.3.1888.

1888 Mar 19 - Elmer Cummer was recently killed at Cadillac, Mich., by a locomotive that had been named after its unfortunate victim. Since the accident the engine has be retired from service.
Ref: San Francisco Bulletin Newspaper, Mon. 19.3.1888. - - -

Died:
Last lumbering Train accident.

Buried:
Cadillac. Very large 2 tone grey monument with urn on top, reads born May 14, 1861, died Feb 14, 1888.