Biographical Sketch of Elder W. R. Cunningham, Lafayette County, MO

>From "History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled
from the most authentic official and private sources" St. Louis, Mo.
Historical Company, 1881.
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Elder W. R. Cunningham, P. O. Bates City, Missouri; is a native of the
famous Blue Grass Region, Kentucky, where he was born April 14, 1834,
in Bourbon county, and where his father was a prominent grazier.  At an
early age he developed a taste for study, and determined to prepare 
himself for the legal profession.  In 1857 he was appointed assistant
U. S. collector, at Olympia, Washington Territory, under Hon. S. Gar-
field.  Under Mr. Garfield's guidance he continued to pursue his legal
studies.  In 1858 he resigned his position and entered Bethany College
where he became at once prominent as a debater in the college literary
societies, and himself organized the Delta tau Delta, a Greek literary
society.  In December, 1860, he left college and began teaching.  In
1861, when the Provisional government of Kentucky was established by
the Confederate army, he was appointed under Gov. Johnston, revenue 
commissioner of the state.  He was twice wounded, and captured at 
Buffington Island, July, 1863, and held as prisoner at Columbus, Ohio
and Fort Delaware, until April, 1864.  January 4, 1865 he was married
to Miss Rebecca W. James, daughter of Judge Geo. James, of Zanesville,
Ohio, by whom he has three children living: Alice, William R., and 
Lillie C.  His wife is a descendant of the Abbotts, of Newburyport,
Massachusetts.  Her sister married John, son of Geo. Bancroft, the 
famous historian.  From 1864 to 1870 he was engaged in farming in Ken-
tucky and Missouri, and in May, 1870 he entered the Christian ministry,
in which he is now engaged.

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