Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Cunningham, Michael J 1862 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 10:29 am

Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890

MICHAEL J. CUNNINGHAM. 

It is seldom that a young man reaches a more prominent station than that held 
by the above-named gentleman, or exhibits so many intellectual and business 
qualities at so early an age. Mr. Cunningham, although not yet thirty years 
old, is Mayor of Manhattan and one of its most popular business men, and added 
to this he has a record of usefulness in pedagogical work, both as teacher and 
institute worker. He is shrewd and energetic in the prosecution of whatever he 
undertakes, has mental ability of no mean order, and is full of public spirit 
and interest in the progress of the country. Even a brief record of the lives 
of his parents will suffice to show that Mr. Cunningham is the inheritor of 
many of the qualities which give him prominence in the community and that he 
would be unworthy of his parentage were he not enterprising and zealous. His 
father, James Cunningham, was born in County Longford, Ireland, and became a 
machinist. He emigrated to America and for some time worked at his trade in 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In 1857, he located in this county, for five years 
operating a farm in the northern part of this township. He then purchased one 
hundred and sixty acres of raw land in New Lenox Township, placed it under 
good improvement and successfully operated it until 1871, when he was taken 
sick. After three years of invalidism, he closed his eyes to earthly scenes, 
leaving his farm encumbered somewhat by a mortgage. With wonderful tact and 
good management, Mrs. Cunningham succeeded by the aid of her children in 
clearing their home from indebtedness and in so conducting their affairs as to 
be able to secure Western lands also. She now owns two hundred and forty acres 
near Marysville, Kan., and retains possession of the farm in this county which 
is now rented, but upon which she resided until 1889. She now lives with our 
subject and her daughter, Katie L. Like her husband, she was born in Ireland, 
County Kilkenny having been her birthplace. She bore the maiden name of 
Bridget Ring and is a daughter of Thomas Ring, who, although a farmer, was a 
graduate of the Latin School of Dublin. She is a sister of the Rev. Patrick 
Ring, of St. Louis, prominent in the Catholic Church, and with whom she came 
to America, stopping in the Empire State where she was married to Mr. 
Cunningham. Both she and her husband have been active members of the Roman 
Catholic Church and Mr. Cunningham was a Democrat. The family of which our 
subject is the sixth member includes also Matthew, foreman for the Nebraska 
City Packing House; Thomas, a man of leisure, who is traveling a great part of 
the time; Richard, Mayor of Summerfield, Kan., and engaged in the agricultural 
implement business; Martin, deceased; Mary E., wife of Nelson Lynx, partner of 
our subject; Katie L.; and Maggie E., now Mrs. Nugent, of Wilton Township. The 
grandfather of our subject was James Cunningham, who followed agricultural 
pursuits in the Emerald Isle, and who bore a very active part in the Irish 
Rebellion. Some seven years before his death he had a paralytic stroke, and 
from that time he suffered more or less. The natal day of our subject was 
April 11, 1862, and his birthplace, the township in which he is now so 
popular. He was reared in New Lenox Township and prior to his seventeenth year 
attended the district schools. He then entered the Normal School at 
Valparaiso, Ind., and after completing the scientific course, was graduated in 
1884. He adopted the profession of teaching, the first two years of his 
professional labor being given to the schools in Spencer. He then accepted the 
Principalship of the New Lenox graded school, retaining the position three 
years and during the time taking an active part in the work of the county 
institutes, and in other ways advancing the cause of education. His services 
were requested at New Lenox the fourth year, but he resigned the position to 
which he had been elected in order to embark in mercantile pursuits. Forming a 
partnership with Nelson Lynx, of Spencer, Mr. Cunningham began the sale of 
general merchandise in a rented building in Manhattan. The stock was new and 
well selected, the proprietors pleasant and courteous, and success attended 
their efforts. In the fall of 1889 they put up a new store building, 24x72 
feet in dimensions, and increased their stock which is now the largest 
assortment of general merchandise in town. Mr. Cunningham also does a large 
business for the Home Insurance Company, of New York, and attends to the 
renting of the home farm and his brother's estate. During 1889 Mr. Cunningham 
was Village Clerk and in 1890 he was elected Mayor without exertion on his 
part. This fact is indicative of his popularity and the reputation which he 
has. He is an active Democrat and has been a delegate to county and State 
conventions. He belongs to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Joliet.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 
 


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