Obits: CUNNINGHAM : 1870-1917: Lawrence Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Gloria Calhoun. ggnky@worldnet.att.net USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ____________________________________________________ DIED At the family residence, "Locust Ridge," Wayne township, Lawrence county, August 1st, 1872, Mrs. Jennet CUNNINGHAM, wife of Hon. Joseph Cunningham, aged sixty years, two months and twenty-seven days. Thus has passed away one who was universally respected in the community where she lived, and loved most by those who knew her best. In her youth she made a public profession of religion and became a member of the Presbyterian Church of Slipperyrock, in the communion of which she continued to the time of her death. She ardently loved the church of her early choice, and was one of its most substantial and zealous members. Her high Christian character and active and industrious life made her everywhere respected and admired. It was her great desire to contribute to the happiness of her children, and to see them successful in life; and their love and affection for her, and their untiring labors for her comfort, during her long illness, attested the gratitude due from grateful children to a loving and devoted Mother. With them she is "though lost to sight, to memory dear." She has finished the work her Master had for her to do, and has now gone to the home of the good and blessed. She was the loving daughter of a father long since deceased, and of a mother who survives her - the oldest living member of the church; she was a devoted and faithful wife and a kind and affectionate mother. Her sufferings, during her long sickness, were very severe; but she bore them with such true Christian fortitude and resignation as characterizes only those who have an unbounded and abiding faith in the religion of Jesus Christ and the goodness of Almighty God. She now "sleeps the sleep that knows now waking," in the Cemetery at Slipperyrock Church, where she worshipped during her whole life. May she rest in peace; and may she rise at the Resurrection to live that better and happier life where sin and sorrow and suffering cannot enter. Her funeral services were conducted - at her own request - by the Rev. B. C. Critchlow, whom she greatly admired as a preacher and ardently loved as a pastor. ["New Castle Courant", August 9, 1872] Death of Hon. Joseph CUNNINGHAM Hon. Joseph Cunningham died at four o'clock on Tuesday morning, after a long illness. Hon. Joseph Cunningham was born December 9, 1811. On the fourth of February 1832, he married Jennette McGREGOR, and both united with the Slipperyrock Presbyterian church during the same year. He was elected one of the rulling elders of this church in 1839. He purchased his residence, known as Locust Ridge Home, and settled upon it in 1848. In 1855 he was elected Justice of the Peace and re-elected to the same office in 1860. In 1861 he was elected to the honorable and responsible position of Associate Judge of this county. His first wife died on the first of August, 1872, and on the first of April, 1874, he married Eliza W. DAVIDSON. Judge Cunningham dies with the esteem of all those who knew him. As an honorable and upright man he had no superior He had a keen and discerning mind, which was often called into requisition by his neighbors. One of God's true noble men has gone to his everlasting reward. His funeral will take place from his late residence, in Wayne township, on Thursday at 10 o'clock. ["New Castle News", May 6, 1884] Mrs. Eliza W. CUNNINGHAM Mrs. Eliza WOODS Cunningham, one of the oldest residents of this county and a representative of a family long prominent, died about 6 o'clock Saturday evening from heart failure, after a short illness. She was eighty-one years of age and was the widow of the late Judge Joseph Cunningham, whose death took place many years ago. Mrs. Cunningham was the last of the children of Robert DAVIDSON, one of the pioneers of the southern part of this county. From her early life she had been a very active membre of the Wampum Presbyterian church and she was known and loved by all in the community she had so long graced by her devoted life. James Davidson and Oliver Cunningham of Chewton, are nephews and are her nearest of kin, all her immediate family having passed away. The funeral services were held at 1 o'clock Monday afternoon from the Wampum Presbyterian church and the interment was at the Wilson cemetery, near New Galilee. Rev. Long of the Wampum Presbyterian church officiated. ["New Castle News", October 30, 1905] OBITUARY: ["New Castle News" Friday, April 2, 1909] "James W. CUNNINGHAM, ex-county treasurer, and one of the most substantial and highly esteemed residents of Lawrence county, passed away Friday morning at his home at Locust Ridge, Wayne township, after a long period of suffering. Although he had been in a serious condition for the past week or ten days, and his death had been almost momentarily expected for the past day or two, the news of his demise will be a shock and a cause of deep grief to his hundreds of friends in the county and city, especially for he was one of the most widely known men in this section. Mr. Cunningham's health began to fail last fall, and before Christmas he was taken to the Mercer sanitarium where he remained for a number of weeks. For a time he seemed to improve, but later grew much worse, and specialists were called in. The physicians, however, were unable to do anything towards a permanent cure and realizing that he would not be contented away from his home, he was removed from the sanitarium and taken to his home at Locust Ridge. His last days were brightened by the loving attendance of his wife and his only sona and daughter, who were constantly with him. At midnight Wednesday he sank into unconsciousness and passed away at 8 o'clock Friday morning. Mr. Cunningham had realized his serious condition for some time past, and had often spoken during his last illness of his pleasure and comfort in having his children with him. James W. Cunningham was the son of the Hon. Joseph and Jeannette C. Cunningham, pioneers of the county. His father settled at the old homestead on Locust Ridge in 1848, and was elected to the position of associate judge in 1861. The son, James W., was born in 1840, on a part of the same farm on which he died. He received his early education in the public schools, and later attended the Mahoning academy at Canfield, O. It was while he was at Canfield that he enlisted in the army. He served at two different periods, being for a time with an Ohio regiment, and later with the 65th Pennsylvania, and earning for himself the name of a brave soldier and a comrade of sterling worth. He was married November 12, 1863, to Angeline MYERS, the marriage taking place at her home in Shenango township. For a time they resided in Shenango township, and Mr. Cunningham was then engaged in buying stock, which he drove through to Pittsburg. Later, they came to this city and resided for some years on Pearson street. From here they went to Mississippi, where Mr. Cunningham became overseer of a cotton plantation. In the south the health of both Mr. Cunningham and his wife became impaired and they removed to Wampolo, Ia., where they remained four years, and at the expiration of that time they came back to this county and purchased a farm on part of the present Ellwood City. After living there a number of years they built their present home at Locust Ridge, in which they had lived for the past 25 years. In politics he was a Republican, and had always taken a keen interest in the policitical world, both national and local. In 1893 he ran for the office of associate judge in this county and although there were four or five other candidates, Mr. Cunningham recieved every vote cast in his township. The year following he was elected county treasurer, and filled this office with efficiency during the years 1894, '95, and '96. During this time the family lived on Neshannock avenue, this city. Mr. Cunningham occupied a high position in the esteem of the people of the county and vicinity. For ten years he served as school director and for the same period was Justice of the peace. He was member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Wampum, and of the G.A.R. and had been for many years a member of the Slippery Rock Presbyterian church. For two years he served as superintendent of the Sunday school of the church. He was one of a family of nine children, four of whom, two brothers and two sisters survive. Two of his brothers, Scott and Critchlow, were killed in the Civil War. His other brothers who preceded him in death were Dr. John S. Cunningham of Youngstown, Lyle and Henderson. A sister, Agnes, died some years ago. Mr. Cunningham was known far and wide for his big-hearted hospitality and generosity. To meet him was to be impressed at once by his noble character. With old and young alike, he was a genial favorite on account of his genial disposition. He delighted in entertaining his friends in his comfortable home, and was never so happy as when playing the hospitable host. He was a man of generous impulses, and charitable disposition, and his life had been filled with deeds of loving kindness. He was always well read and even during the last days of his illness, took an interest in the affairs of the day. His entire life had been to his associates a bright example of upright living. His death will be to hundreds of friends, business associates and neighbors a cause of the deepest sorrow. Mr. Cunningham is survived by his wife, Mrs. Angeline Cunningham, one son, Captain Joseph V. Cunningham of this city, and one daughter, Mrs. David M. MARSHALL of Wampum. Another son, Charles Cunningham, died three years ago last October. He leaves also two brothers, Judge William B. Cunningham of Chicago, and Philo M. Cunningham of Wayne township, as well as two sisters, Mrs. Eunice M. ALLEN of Kansas City, Kan. and Mrs. Mary RODGERS of Plaingrove. The funeral services will be held at the late home in Wayne township, Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The interment will be in the Slippery Rock Cemetery." ____________________________________________________ OBITUARY: [New Castle News, October 5, 1917] "Mrs. Angeline CUNNINGHAM of 605 West Washington Street, widow of James W. Cunningham, former county treasurer, died Thursday evening about 8:30, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. David M. MARSHALL, in Wampum. She was taken ill in this city in March, but having recovered, went to visit her daughter in Wampum a few weeks ago. Shortly afterward, she became ill again, and grew worse gradually, until the end came last evening. Mrs. Cunningham was the daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth MYERS, and was born in Shenango township, Lawrence County, August 15, 1840, and was past 77 years of age. The greater part of her life had been spent in this city and county. She was married to James W. Cunningham of Wayne township, and during his term as county treasurer, they resided in this city, but at the time of his death, in 1909, were living in Wayne township. Since Mr. Cunningham's death, she had made her home with her son, Major Joseph V. Cunningham, 605 West Washington Street. She was a member of the Central Presbyterian church, of this city, and was a woman of many admirable traits. Of even temperament, and pleasing disposition, she won friends everywhere and her unswerving loyalty lengthened her friendships through many years. She was one of the well know women of the county, and to a large number, her death brings a sense of personal sorrow. The deceased was the mother of seven children, of whom two survive. They are Mrs. D. M. MARSHALL of Wampum, and Attorney Joseph V. CUNNINGHAM of this city. Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Marshall, in Wampum. The interment will be made in Slippery Rock Presbyterian cemetery."