Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Cummingham, James July 26, 1812 - April 5, 1888
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marta Burns marta43@juno.com September 1, 2024, 10:32 am

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, pg 544
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    James Cunningham, deceased.  The late James Cunningham 
was a faithful citizen of Luzerne township, as well as a 
trusted public officer of Fayette county.  He was born at 
Merrittstown, Fayette county, Penna, July 26, 1812, and was 
a son of William Cunningham and Mary Gallagher Cunningham.
    His grandfather, James Cunningham, was a native of 
Ireland.  Previous to 1775, with his four brothers, he came 
to American and settled near the site of "Little 
Washington," Penna, and with a "tomahawk claim" took up a 
large tract of land.  He served in the War of the 
Revolution, and when he returned found his land in 
possession of other people.  He then went to Chester county, 
where he secured a tract of land.  This tract he sold for 
continental currency, and later exchanged the price of this 
depreciated paper for a horse and cow.  In 1800 he removed 
to near Merrittstown, where he built a distillery and 
erected the large stone house now occupied by Armstrong 
Porter.
    One of his sons, Thomas Cunningham, was a college 
graduate and died while young; another son, John Cunningham, 
served with Albert Gallatin in the Pennsylvania legislature 
in 1794, being a member of that body from 1793 to 1805.
    William Cunningham was born in 1793, and died May 2, 
1819.  He was a whig in politics, served as county 
commissioner and afterwards filled the office of United 
States district marshall and collector of taxes. September 
3, 1811, he married Miss Mary Gallagher, born July 3, 1788.  
One of his sons, John Cunningham, was justice of the peace 
in Luzerne, and now lives in Iowa.
    James Cunningham was raised on a farm, received his 
education in the subscription schools, and later learned the 
trade of blacksmith of George Brown of Merrittstown, but 
soon abandoned that trade.  He taught school for a number of 
years in Luzerne township, when he purchased a farm and 
engaged in farming until his death, April 5, 1888.     
    In 1835 he married Miss Rosanna Muir, of Scotch descent, 
and to their union were born: Mary Cunningham, wife of I N 
Craft; John C Cunningham, merchant of Belle Vernon, Penna, 
married Lizzie, daughter of Dr J S Van Voorhis of that 
place; Martha A Cunningham; Sarah M Cunningham; Alfred H 
Cunningham married Laura Springer, and is a commercial 
traveler for a Pittsburgh house; and Annie E Cunningham.
    James Cunningham was an elder for the Cumberland 
Presbyterian church up 1880 when he withdrew, and in the 
same year joined the Presbyterian Church at Dunlap's Creek, 
and was elected ruling elder.  In politics he is a democrat, 
serving two terms as justice of the peace, 1840 to 1850; one 
term as poor house director; one term as county auditor, 
1860 to 1864; and two terms as county commissioner, 1874 to 
1879.  He was frequently urged to offer himself as a 
candidate for the legislature, but never did. His services 
were often called in demand to settle estates and write 
wills.  As a citizen he was highly respected.  As a public 
official he was conscientious in the discharge of his 
duties.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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