Sarah N. Cunningham

Family/Spouse: Alava A. Johnson. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Enumerated with his mother, Martha WOODS, in the 1880 Warren Co.,TN census, p. 18...DAH


# 9 http://www.tngenweb.org/warren/obit-cu.html

CUNNINGHAM, Sr., James Monroe (1856 - 1941)
J.M. CUNNINGHAM DIED WEDNESDAY AT HIS MAIN ST. HOME
McMinnville Retired Business Man Had Been Ill Four Years
Was Descendant of Pioneer Settlers of Warren County
James Monroe Cunningham, 84, descendant of pioneer settlers of Warren county and one of McMinnville's few old time business men, died at his residence on West Main street at 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, following an illness of four years. Funeral services will be conducted from the parlors of the High Funeral Home at 2 o'clock this afternoon by Rev. A. J. Van Wyk, pastor of the Main Street Presbyterian church, and assisted by the other ministers of McMinnville. Burial will be in Riverside cemetery.
Mr. Cunningham, who was born in Warren county May 21 1856, was a son of John Cunningham, III, grandson of John Cunningham, Jr., who served with Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812, and a great-grandson of John Cunningham, Sr., soldier of the Revolutionary War, upon whose land grants the family was established in the year 1804 at Rock Island, upon which the Tennessee Power company plant, now a part of the Tennessee Valley Authority system, was established.
When a mere youngster he drove the McMinnville-Sparta stage coach over the old Kentucky trail. At the age of seventeen he leased and operated a ferry across Caney Fork river at Rock Island. Following his studies at various schools he became associated with H.H. "Tip" Faulkner, A. H. Faulkner, J.C.M. Ross & Company and Morford & Biles business firms. In 1890 he opened his own dry goods and general merchandise business house in McMinnville, one of the largest in the county, and remained active in the business life of this city until 1912, when ill health forced his retirement.

During these years he served the community in various capacities. He served two terms as alderman of the town McMinnville soon after the turn of the century and under the administration of the late Jesse Walling, McMinnville's mayor. He also served on various boards and civic committees and at the time of his death was the senior elder of the Main Street Presbyterian church, having served as such for the past 48 years.
Mr. Cunningham was known throughout Warren and adjoining counties by multiple friends, for his favors, kindness and his business and personal integrity.
On November 11, 1890, he was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Steakley, youngest daughter of William Lewis and Sarah Wheeler Steakley. Mr. Steakley was a trustee of Burritt college, Spencer and a sergeant in Gen. Dibrell's Confederate cavalry.
Besides his widow he leaves two sons, Col. Carlton Brown Cunningham of Chicago and James M. Cunningham, Jr., of McMinnville, one daughter, Mrs, Alvas A. Johnson of Gainesboro, two grandchildren, Mary Maude Cunningham of McMinnville and Andy Johnson of Gainesboro.
Pallbearers: Active: Smartt Walling, Dr. S.J. Albritton, Enoch Ramsey, Hillard Molloy, Frank Davenport and Hubert Dillon.
Honorary: William F. Elkins, Butler Smith, J.J. Walker, Frank Colville, Sr., O.C. Crain, W.B. Drake, Wm. S. Lively, Joe R. Biles, T.K. Bostick, James P. Bostick, Col. George M. Smith, C.D. Walling, Judge R.W. Smartt, Judge Frank R. Davis, Dr. R.L. Maloney, Felix H. Badger, Dr. O.M. Albritton, E.L. Newman, John Robert Taylor, Frank Montgomery, Roy C. Brooks, Joe Henegar, Billoat Brown, Charles R. Womack, J.R. Boyd, R.G. Hutchins, John M. Crisp, A.J. Smith, Clarence T. Dews, George S. Wilson, Dr. Albert Seitz, Dr. Charles M. Clark, Jr., H.B. Evans, Dr. John S. Harris, C. Grey Elkins and Thomas Burroughs. Arrangements by High Funeral company.
SOUTHERN STANDARD, McMinnville, TN. Friday, 21 Feb 1941.
[Contributor: L.J. Hunter, 1999]

James married Mary Elizabeth Steakley on 11 Nov 1890 in Warren County, Tennessee. Mary (daughter of William Lewis Steakley and Sarah Wheeler) was born in 0Jun 1867 in Morgan County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Sarah Wheeler on 17 Aug 1851. Sarah was born in 0___ 1836 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee; died after 1910 in McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]