Cunningham, Milton J.;  Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000




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 Cunningham, Milton J., lawyer and distinguished citizen, was born in De Soto
parish, then part of Caddo, La., March 10, 1842.  His father, John Hamilton
Cunningham, was a native of South Carolina, from which state he went to
Mississippi and later to Louisiana, and settling in Caddo parish, lived there
several years, Carolina, from which state he went to Mississippi and later to
later to Homer, Claiborne parish, for many years and where the subject of this
sketch was educated, and then moved to Natchitoches in 1860, where he died at
an advanced age.  He was a lawyer, merchant and planter.  The mother of Milton
J. Cunningham bore the maiden name of Buie and was a native of Mississippi,
where they were married. Milton J. Cunningham was reared in Claiborne parish
and at the age of 16 he began teaching school.  When the Civil war came on he
volunteered in the Confederate army, and after gallantly serving the cause of
the Confederacy, and at the close of the war, Mr. Cunningham again resumed the
study of law in Natchitoches, where he began his brilliant career as a lawyer. 
By close application to his profession he rose rapidly in public esteem.  He
took an active part in politics from an early period in life, was a prominent
figure as a Democrat in the days of reconstruction, and was made chairman of
his party in Natchitoches parish.  He was elected district attorney, and in
this office served with exceptional ability.  He was a member of the Louisiana
State Constitutional convention of 1879, prior to which time he served as a
member of the legislature, and served with distinction as state senator.  In
1884 he was elected attorney general of Louisiana.  He filled this position 1
term, and after an interim of 1 term was again elected to that office in 1892,
and again in 1896.  For 12 years Mr. Cunningham acted as attorney-general of
the state and won an enviable reputation as being one of the ablest lawyers
who had ever served the state in that capacity.  From 1884 to the present
time, excepting from 1888 to 1892, he has resided in the city of New Orleans. 
He has long held plantation interests in Natchitoches parish, and also has
been interested in stock raising.  Mr. Cunningham has been married 4 times. 
His first wife was Miss Thalia Tharp, who died, leaving 3 children, namely: 
Milton J., who died 1909;  John H., who was drowned at the age of 9 years, and 
William Tharp Cunningham, now judge of the 11th judicial district.  For a
second wife, Mr. Cunningham married Miss Annie Peyton, who bore him 2
children:  Ida G., and  Charles Milion.  Cecile Hertzog became Mr.
Cunningham's third wife, and she bore him the following children:  Sidney
Cecile,  Ivy,  Charlotte, and  Laura.  His present wife bore the maiden name
of Emma Blouin, and by her he is the father of 2 children,  Preston H. and  G.
Hamilton.  Generous of heart, and unassuming, he was enabled to gain the
confidence of his fellowmen, and by reason of ability as a lawyer and public
speaker he acquired not only rank among the ablest of lawyers, but as a well
and favorably known man of public affairs.  As a legislator he became the
author of many splendid laws now on the statute books of Louisiana.  His
greatest achievement, professionally, was in the office of attorney-general. 
He has espoused the movements that have tended to the public good, and has
long been numbered among the distinguished citizens of Louisiana.

Source:  Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp.
112-113.  Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century
Historical Association.