H. A. Cummings, Sales Agent

My grandfather, Charles Holland Canfield, told colorful stories of his mother, Harriet Adelphia Cummings. 

Harriet Adelphia (Cummings) Canfield,

born 1875

One of the best stories was about how Harriet met his father, Charles Benson Canfield, who was a territory manager for Burroughs Adding Machines. “Mother heard that a territory of Burroughs in New England was open. She got orders, asked for the territory and was given it. She sent in the orders using only her inititals—they didn’t know she was a woman. A crusty upstate banker wanted to know why Burroughs was sending a woman salesman. They sent my dad to check it out.” These events transpired by 1901, when Charles wrote a love letter to Harriet in Unadilla, New York. What makes this story even more interesting is that Charles was a married man in 1901. However, Charles' first wife, Rose, died at the end of 1902, and two years later, on October 29, 1904, Harriet and Charles were married in Manhattan.

Charles Benson Canfield, born 1869.

Photos, letters, news articles, and my grandfather's stories provide a timeline of events for his newlywed parents. One photo shows Harriet relaxing at Old Orchard Beach in Maine in 1905.

Old Orchard Beach, Maine

A 1905 Boston directory listed "Canfield Bros. Adding Machines," while a New York City directory for 1905-1906 lists "Canfield Brothers, Agents" with an office at 1300 Broadway and Charles's home at 550 Lenox Avenue. Pictures of Charles, his father, his brother, and Harriet are labeled "Lakeside Farm, April 30, 1906."

Lakeside Farm, April 30, 1906

A small card with a blue ribbon announced the 1907 birth of Charles Holland Canfield at 622 W. 137th Street, Riverside Apts. Shortly after, my great-grandfather wrote a touching letter to his newborn son.

In 1908, the family took a car trip to Cedar Rapids and Detroit.

Then, in 1909, Charles and Harriet moved to Springfield, MA. A year later, the 1910 census shows them living at 279 Washington Street, Groveland, MA. In August of 1910, the family was staying at the Bangan Bldg, in Providence, RI, and in October of the same year, they boarded a boat bound for Galveston. Their final destination was Los Angeles. Charles was ill with diabetes and they hoped the climate would be beneficial for his health.

On the boat to Galveston, 1910