Jean Towell

Family/Spouse: Benjamin Cunningham. Benjamin was born before 1755; died in Mar 1803 in Fawn Township, York County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
I believe that 1780 is as close as we can arrive at a birthdate for Samuel at this time. In the 1830 census he is 40 to 50 and in the 1840 he is listed as 50 to 60.

Died:
Died at age 93 in Indiana

Samuel married Julia A. Boyd on 15 Jan 1807 in York County, Pennsylvania, USA. Julia was born on 10 Dec 1788 in Peach Bottom, York County, Pennsylvania; died on 8 Jul 1837 in Peach Bottom, York County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Biography: "S. B. Cunningham, the first postmaster, is one of the well known pioneers of Hardin county and of Clay township. He is a Pennsylvanian, born in York county, and is the son of Samuel A. and Julia A. (Boyd) Cunningham, who were natives of Maryland. His father died in Indiana in his 93d year, and his mother in Pennsylvania, on the old homestead, in her 58th year. At 14 years of age, the subject of this sketch went to Baltimore, where he engaged as an errand boy in a bank, attending school in the winter. From the bank he went into the wholesale house of Howard, Holmes & Stuart, where he continued two and a half years; at the expiration of which time he entered the law office of Reverdy Johnson, as a student, where he remained nine months. He then went to Dayton, Ohio, and engaged as a shipping clerk in a wholesale house, remaining for a short time, and then pushing on further West, he next brought up in Richmond, Ind., and from there went to Liberty, Union county, Ind., where he read law with Judge Perry two years. From Liberty he went to Winchester, in the same State, with a stock of goods, and began the life of a merchant. He was unfortunate in having his stock destroyed by fire, the work, doubtless, of some burglars whom he helped to arrest. He now engaged in farming for a time, after which he purchased another stock of goods and Located in Windsor, Ind., where he remained five years. Selling out his stock, he engaged in pork-packing, investing in this business all his wealth. This was an unfortunate affair, and he lost every dollar put into it. He was then assisted by his friends in the purchase of another stock of goods, which he opened at Smithville, Ind., where he remained from 1848 to 1852. In this latter year he came to Iowa, and located in Anaosa, Jones county, and with a brother and brother-in-law engaged in merchandising. In 1854, he returned to Indiana for his family, bringing them to Anaosa. In 1855, he engaged in selecting lands for eastern parties, and soon after gave up this situation, and went to New York, where he purchased a stock of goods with the intention of resuming the mercantile trade. A portion of his stock was lost by the wreck of the steamer on the lake, and he stopped at Chicago and sorted up. With this stock he landed at Steamboat Rock, October 26, 1855, where he opened a store, continuing in business until 1859, when he sold out and built the Eldora Mills, which he managed until 1863, when he leased it to Reuben D. and James Buckner, and enlisted in Co. G, 9th Iowa Cavalry, and was commissioned Captain. He served until 1864, when he was discharged on account of disability. In 1865, he sold his mill, and returned to Steamboat Rock, and engaged in merchandising, continuing in the same line until 1871. Maj. Cunningham has been engaged in various enterprises to advance the interests of Hardin county, and has ever been an active man. In 1843, he was married to Mary McPherson, daughter of Adam and Phoebe (Steele) McPherson. Ten children blessed this union, six of whom are now living -- Benjamin G., Phoebe A., Martha M., Reuben S., Stephen L., Cora May. The deceased are: Alexander, Nora, Julia, and one in infancy. Maj. Cunningham was the first postmaster in Steamboat Rock, and has held many of the township offices. He votes the Republican ticket."

Notes:

Unknown relationship to James CUNNINGHAM (ID#2589), b ca 1812 PA. They are both found in the Hardin Co Iowa Census of 1870, both born in the same state. Found near S.B. is a Benjamin CUNNINGHAM, b in IND, whom I imagine may have been the son of S.B. If so, S.B.'s family followed the same migrational pattern. This is worth following up, at any rate.

Was the Coroner of Hardina Co Iowa After discovering the extensive biography of S.B. CUNNINGHAM on the Hardin Co Iowa site, I am less certain that he is related to our James CUNNINGHAM. However, there is still the circumstance of two CUNNINGHAM families from PA, both of whom moved through OH and IND to Hardin Co IA. Worth keeping for future reference. The biography would not allow a copy and paste, so I converted it to a pdf file. TMG does not support pdf, so it is not attached as an exhibit. The pdf is in the genealogy files on my computer under Research and Cunningham.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

S.B. married Mary T. McPherson in 1843. Mary was born about 1825 in Ohio, USA; died after 1870. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]