CUNNINGHAM, John T. 1st Lt.

September 1902

Picnic At Mount Pleasant Next Wednesday
In Honor of Dr. John Cunningham of Texas

We are requested to announce that the old Confederate soldiers, relatives and friends of Dr. John Cunningham, of Texas, are most cordially invited to meet him in the grove around the Mt. Pleasant Baptist church on Wednesday, September 3, 1902. The intention is to have a distinctly social gathering for recreation and pleasure. Prayer, songs, music and addresses and an old time picnic basket dinner will be the order of the day. Everybody who honors worth respects, valor, and reveres patriotism in him who wore the grey or blue are asked to come with hampers well filled, and we will try to be young again for the ----. Of course ladies are most especially invited.

- - - ---- February 6, 1924 Dr. John Cunningham Died Yesterday In Texas Native Son Of Trigg Who Had Become Prominent In Lone State
Mr. John Cunningham died yesterday morning February 6th, at his home in Ravenna, Fannin county, Texas.

At three o'clock yesterday afternoon, just before the Record went to press, the following telegram was received:

BONHAM, Texas, Feb. 6, Cadiz RECORD, Cadiz, Ky. Dr. John Cunningham died this morning at Ravenna, Texas. Will forward account of death and burial in a few days.
H.A. CUNNINGHAM

The news of Dr. Cunningham's death will be read with much sadness by the hundreds of relatives and old friends in Trigg county, where he was born and reared.

He had resided in Texas and had amassed a Goodly fortune and had been quite prominent in his state.

He was almost ninety years of age, and was back on his last visit to Trigg county two years ago.

Carlisle Cunningham, living near Tuggleville is a grand son. The large Cunningham family and many others of this county are his close relatives.

H. A. Cunningham who signed the telegram quoted above, is the son of Dr. Cunningham and a prominent lawyer of Bonham.

Dr. John Cunningham
Last week THE RECORD contained a brief announcement of the death of Dr. John Cunningham, at Ravenna, Texas. The Bonham, Texas, DAILY FAVORITE, of February 6th contains the following notice of Dr. Cunningham's death, which will be read with much interest by his thousands of relatives and friends in Trigg county, the place of his birth and where he grew to manhood:

Dr. John Cunningham died suddenly about five o'clock this morning at his home in Revenna. For some weeks he has been very feeble. Thought he did not suffer and was not sick there was every evidence that he was failing fast. His death though in a way sudden, did not cause surprise to his family or friends, who knew his condition. Last night he seemed somewhat better, and his son. H. A. Cunningham, of this city, who had been spending his nights with the father, was induced to come back home to rest. He was therefore, not present when his father passed away. Indeed no one knew just when he breathed his last, but he was dead when his wife reached his bedside a few minutes after life fled.

The body was brought here this morning and taken to the residence of H. A. Cunningham on West 7th street. Tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 the ante burial service of the order will be conducted there by the Masonic Lodge after which the body will be taken to the Christian church in Ravenna, where the funeral service will be conducted by Rev. F. W. O'Malley of the First Christian church of this city. The Masons will then take charge of the remains which will be taken to Sandy cemetery and buried with Masonic honors.

Dr. John Cunningham was born in Trigg county, Ky., on September 21, 1836. He was educated in the common schools of the state and at Bethel College, Russelville, Ky. He later studied medicine and took his medical degree at a medical college in St. Louis.

When the war between the states broke out he volunteered and served throughout the blood conflict. AT the battle of Shilo he was in command of a company under General Albert Sidney Johnston. He also served as surgeon in the Confederate army and was stationed at Lookout Mountain. He was captured by the Federals and kept a prisoner for a time at Camp Chase in Ohio.

He moved to Fannin county in 1867 and settled near Ravenna where for many years he engaged in the practice of medicine. He belonged to the old school of physicians known as "saddle bag doctors." Like others of these faithful old ministers to the ills of humanity, the weather was never too hot or too cold or too wet for him to heed the call of the sick, regardless of whether he was ever to receive pay or only thanks. It was his conception of duty to go to the relief of all suffering, who needed it. It was their need and not his and that appealed to him. He ceased active practice some thirty years ago and after that devoted himself to the care of his farm and orchard, having been more or less interested in that vocation during his life. He was successful and had plenty. Several years ago an accident resulted in a broken hip, and from its effects he never fully recovered. He went in an invalid's chair or on crutches the remainder of his days.

In spite of his other activities, Dr. Cunningham gave unsparingly of his time to his country. He served in the thirteenth, twenty-seventh, twentieth-eighth, thirty-third and thirty-fourth sessions of the Texas Legislature, his last campaign being made after he was crippled. He always took an active interest in all public affairs.

Dr. Cunningham was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Patterson, whom he married in Kentucky. One son B. B. Cunningham, of Savoy, was born to this union. After her death he married Miss Fannie Agnew of Fannin county, who survives him. Three children born to them survive, namely Judge H. A. Cunningham, of this city, Mrs. Annie Spaugher, of Pauls's Valley, Okla. And W. E. Cunningham, of Duncan, Ok.

For many years Dr. Cunningham had been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and order which he held in the highest honor and in the greatest esteem. For more than thirty five years he had been an active member of the Christian church and had lived a life that was in keeping with the teaching of the religion of Christ.

For half a century Dr. John Cunningham had been one of the outstanding figures of this county, and a physician, as a legislator, as a citizen interested in every good work that would advance the better interests of the county, state and nation, he labored faithfully and intelligently. While he was a man of decided convictions, he was never dictatorial, never dogmatic, never intolerant, but was ready to grant freedom of opinion to others equal to what he claimed for himself. His disposition was that of peacemaker, rather than of the aggressive fighter, though he knew not what it was to surrender his convictions. He was one of the most useful citizens to the community in which he lived, one of the best servants of the people, of his county, one of the truest friends of humanity and a faithful servant of his God. To him was given length of years and strength of mind and body, and he used his talents not in a selfish way, but as a benefit to his fellowmen. His influence for good has long been felt, and it shall live on now that his body has gone to mingle with the dust from which it was created.

His children may well honor and cherish the memory of a worthy father, and his friends forget not his many virtues and his unselfish ministrations.