Birth: November 18, 1818
Death: April 18, 1904
Location: Lot 22, Section 3, Row 2, Old Cemetery – SW
NO STONE
From The Good Old Times in McLean County, Illinois: – by E. Duis –
Thomas Cunningham was born November 18, 1818, in Clark County, Indiana. (For ancestry of the family see sketch of King Solomon Cunningham.) The parents of Thomas Cunningham were good people and very kind to their children, but were careful to enforce strict obedience and always set a good example. They are both buried in Saybrook Cemetery.
The Cunningham family settled at Cheney’s Grove in October, 1829. There Robert Cunningham entered four hundred acres of land. The old gentleman lived to see his family of fifteen children grow up to manhood and womanhood. All of them were married and settled in life; twelve of these children are yet living and six are in McLean County. Thomas Cunningham, the subject of this sketch, was the sixth child. His education was necessarily limited. He attended school in Cheney’s Grove every winter after the family moved there, until he was twenty one years of age. During his last year’s schooling he went to Old Town timber. This school was conducted with as much noise as possible. The teacher walked across the floor and whistled and sang, and the scholars exercised their vocal powers in a similar way. The books used were few. Mr. Cunningham only remembers McArthur’s History of the United States. Thomas only obtained the rudiments of an education.
Mr. Cunningham was never much of a hunter, and only killed one deer, and that was one which came up near his door. But he often chased wolves, and when he came near one he would jump from his horse, catch the vicious wolf by the hind-quarters and thrash it on the ground, before it could curl up to bite.
Thomas Cunningham married February 21, 1841, Miss Minerva Ann Spencer, daughter of James and Susannah Spencer of Livingston County, Illinois. Mrs. Cunningham is an exceedingly kind lady and her pleasant manner makes the stranger feel easy in her presence. She wears spectacles now, as women sometimes must as well as men. She is a lady of fine sense and her husband always listens to her with respect.
They have had a family of six children, four of whom are living. They are:
Phoebe Ann, born December 10, 1841, was married to Henry Warrick of Livingston County, and some time after his death to Granville Michaels.
Lucinda Jane, born April 28, 1844, was married to John Armstrong of Livingston County, and some time after his death to William VanHorn.
James William Cunningham, born July 6, 1851, is married and lives in Livingston County.
Ellen Catherine died when nine months old.
Harvey Johnson Cunningham, born November 26, 1854, lives at home.
Lewis Harrison Ballard Cunningham, born June 14, 1859, lives at home.
Mr. Cunningham is about five feet ten inches in height, weighs one hundred and eighty pounds and is broad shouldered. His beard is gray and his hair is turning, but is heavy, showing great vitality. his eyes are hazel, and he seems to be a quiet, good-natured gentleman, a man who never does things in a hurry, but always takes time to think.