Adelbert W. “Dell” Cumings was born in 1841 in New York. He came to Paw Paw, MI in 1860 and married Margaret Rockwell (1843-1901). Adelbert and Margaret had one daughter, Maude (1864-1900). According to the Civil War Draft records of 186301865, Dell was aged 22, single and working as a clerk in Lafayette County, MI (modern day Paw Paw). Adelbert officially enlisted in the Union army on April 22, 1861in Troy, New York as a private. He was promoted to full corporal on November 24, 1861 and enlisted in Company F of the New York 2nd Infantry Regiment on May 14, 1861. He was mustered out on May 26, 1863. Adelbert died in 1920 in Paw Paw, and he along with Margaret and Maude are buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Paw Paw, MI.

The Soldiers and Sailors of Southwestern Michigan Association began in 1878, and was similar to the Grand Army of the Republic which was founded in 1866 in Decatur, IL. The GAR was an association that aided and honored veterans of the Civil War. An annual encampment was held for veterans to get together and remember, much like the Soldiers and Sailors reunions, but on a much larger scale. The GAR dissolved in 1956 when its last surviving member, Albert Woolson, died. However, Soldiers and Sailors monuments erected in states across the country to honor Civil War veterans, still stand and have grown to include all United States veterans.

As found in the 1890 Kalamazoo Gazette, Daniel Spicer was Colonel Commanding of the Soldiers and Sailors in 1890.

Harold Daniel Spicer born on September 23, 1879 was the son of Daniel Spicer born September 26, 1841. Daniel enlisted in the Union army on September 2, 1864 in Antwerp Township, MI. He was promoted to full 2nd lieutenant on August 15, 1864 and enlisted in G Company in the Michigan 28th Infantry Regiment on September 30, 1864. He was wounded while serving (although how or when is unknown), and was later mustered out on May 15, 1865. Daniel married Araminta Granger (1841-1929) on November 26, 1866 and they had two children, Neola (b.?) and Harold. Daniel died on April 17, 1913. His son Harold died on September 27, 1957. The family is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Paw Paw, MI.