Polk County, Missouri Biographies - Thomas CUNNYNGHAM 

History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade & Barton Counties, Missouri
Published by Goodspeed, 1889, Page 636
Polk County Biography Section

    Cunnyngham, Thomas W., one of the old and much esteemed citizens
of Polk Co., MO., is a native of Knox Co., TN., born June 8, 1814,
and is the son of William H. & Magdalene (Lewis) Cunnyngham. The 
father as born in Shenandoah Co., VA., in 1765, and when a young 
man went to East Tennessee, where he was married to Miss Lewis, who 
was born in 1771. They were married in a fort where they had to remain
on account of the Indians. Riding out one day, the father was shot 
through the thigh by Indians in ambush. He followed the occupation of
a farmer all his life and was quite successful. In political views he
was first an Anti-Federalist, next a Democrat until after the 
election of Van Buren, when he became a Whig. His last vote was 
cast for Henry Clay. Both he and wife were members of the early
school Methodist Church, when they were called "Babblers". He 
died in 1845, and she in 1846. In their family were 12 children,
seven sons and five daughters. The paternal grandparents of young
Cunnyngham were natives of Ireland, and came to America in 1765. 
Thomas W., the subject of this sketch, attained his growth on his
father's farm, and received a very limited education, never having
studied arithmetic but two months. He cared for his parents as 
long as they lived, and on November 17, 1842, he married Disa 
Wilson, a native of Sevier Co., Tennessee, born February 14, 1819.
In 1850 they moved to Polk Co., MO., and the following year to the
property where he now lives. By this union five children were born,
four now living. James H.W., Robert W., John M., and Thomas W. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Cunnyngham are members of the Southern Methodist 
Church. In politics he was formerly a Whig but is now democrat. 
During militia days he was captain, and during the war he was 
lieutenant colonel of regiment of Mo. Home Guards. For three years
he was county surveyor, and in 1858-59 he represented Polk Co., 
in the Legislature. In 1862 and 1866 he was County Clerk. The 
first two years he was county clerk, circuit clerk and ex-offcio 
recorder. From 1852 to 1856 he held the office of county Judge 
and has been one of the prominent men and representative citizens
of the county. He has farmed all his life, and is the owner of 
450 acres of land, besides, he started all his children. 

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