Beckham County, OK - Obits: James Felix Cunningham, 1930
Sunday, 23 Dec 2007
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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CUNNINGHAM, JAMES FELIX
(Aug 1930, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
J. F. Cunningham, one of the pioneers of the Cheyenne and Arapaho country,
coming to Roger Mills county in 1892, passed away last Monday afternoon in
a Sayre hospital, after an illness of only a few days.  Mr. Cunningham's
passing marks the going of one of the real pioneers of the county.  He
homesteaded a farm northeast of Cheyenne and reared to manhood and
womanhood a family that has played an important part in the development of
the county.  The mother preceded him in death four years ago.
Mr. Cunningham became ill last Friday morning and was taken to the Sayre
hospital that afternoon where an operation was performed.  He became worse
Sunday and passed away Monday afternoon.  All of the children were present
except Mrs. Mavis Kaiser of Springfield who had just recently visited her
father in Cheyenne.
James Felix Cunningham was born in Galston, Alabama, April 16, 1850, and
departed this life Aug. 4, 1930, age 80 years, 3 months and 18 days.  When
19 he moved to Henderson County Texas where he had typhoid fever, the only
illness he had ever suffered until the last one which was but a few days
in duration.
In 1873 he was married to Mrs. Mary M. Cauble in Hill County Texas and to
this union eleven children were born, eight of whom survive.  He also
assisted in the rearing of two step-children.  They are Mrs. John Cross of
near Cheyenne; Mrs. S. H. Rimbey of Cheyenne.  Kenneth Cunningham of near
Cheyenne; Jesse Cunningham, rural mail carrier of Cheyenne; Judson
Cunningham, court clerk of Roger Mills County; Ray Cunningham of near
Cheyenne; Bertie McKinney of Elk City and Mavis Kaiser of Colorado.  Mr.
Cunningham had 20 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great, great
grandchild, Patricia Louise Rolley of Albuquerque, N. M.
Mr. Cunningham was a veteran of the Civil War.  He had three sons and six
grandsons to serve during the great World War.
When 32 years of age he was baptized into the Missionary Baptist church in
which faith he believed always.  In an early day he preaced (sic).  During
the recent revival he attended every meeting seeming at that time to be
happy, well and joyful.  He had been a Mason for 55 years being a charter
member of the local lodge.
The large crowd present at the funeral services Tuesday afternoon at the
Baptist church was a testimony of the esteem in which the pioneer and his
family hold in the community.
To J. F. Cunningham goes the distinction of planting the first cotton ever
grown in Cheyenne.
Services were conducted by Rev. Shirley of Elk City assisted by Rev.
Rhoads of Cheyenne.  The funeral rites were in charge of the local Masonic
Lodge which was assisted by members of that fraternity of Strong City. 
The remains were laid to rest in the family lot, beneath a mound of
flowers in the Cheyenne cemetery.  The services were under the supervision
of the Turnard's Funeral home of Cheyenne.

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