Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques
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The Cummer Family
Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted May, 2015
This 2014 Heritage Toronto / North York Historical Society plaque can be seen on the northwest corner of Doris Avenue and McKee Avenue, a block east of Yonge Street. Here's what it says:
Coordinates: 43.773340 -79.412527 |
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The family of Elizabeth (née Fisher) and Jacob Cummer (Kummer) was important to the founding of Willowdale (North York). Among the area's early settlers of German descent, they arrived from Pennsylvania in 1797. By 1801, Jacob had acquired 80 hectares of land, later known as Cummer's Settlement, on the east side of Yonge Street. He was a successful farmer, entrepreneur, and craftsman. Originally Lutheran, the family founded an Episcopal Methodist chapel and cemetery at Yonge Street and present-day Church Avenue. By 1819, they had built a sawmill on the east Don River, later adding both woollen and gristmills. One of their six sons, Joshua, constructed his farmhouse on this site circa 1830. Upon Jacob's death in 1841, each son was given a farm nearby. The family contributed to this community well into the 20th Century.
Related webpages
sawmill
Don River
Lutherans
Methodists
gristmill
Related Toronto plaques
Jacob Cummer 1797-1841
Willowdale
Church Avenue
More
Pioneers
Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
> Posted February 16, 2019
My name is Jon Bennett. I am the son of Marjorie Calvillo, who was the daughter of Jose Calvillo and Marjorie Cummer. Marjorie was the daughter of Ernest Cummer, one of the founding members of the University of Detroit School of Dentistry. At the time of its founding I believe the University was a Jesuit Catholic College. I've always been very curious about my mom's side of the family. This website explains the substantial amount. Thanks so much.
Jon Bennett [email protected]
> Posted October 28, 2017
I am proud to be a descendant of the Cummer family.
Sharon Major [email protected]
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