Michael
Cunningham, the leading farmer of
Barr Township,
Daviess Co., Ind., is a native of the "Emerald Isle", where he was born in 1814,or 1815. He is a son of B. and Margaret (
Coyle)
Cunningham. His mother died in 1820, leaving two children, him and a sister, about two years younger than himself. His father died in 1830, and he and his sister lived for some time with their mother's brother. At the age of sixteen he began working for himself, receiving the munificent sum of $5. a year for his services. By 1836, he and his sister had saved enough money to enable them to take passage for the United States. They emabarked on the ship "Southerner", and landed in
New York, with less than $5. in money between them. They soon obtained work, and Mr. Cunningham began digging cellars, and by his faithfullness and energy won the respect and approbation of his employers. From NewYork, he worked his way to Providence, R.I., and for several months worked for the railroad. He then returned to NewYork, and carried the hod for 75 cents per day; but in a few weeks, he and his sister, embarked on board the ship "
Havre", for Mobile,
Alabama, and reached that city when the yellow fever was raging. He succeeded in obtaining enployment,and in 1838 took a trip up the
Mississippi, and going as far northward as Chicago. He then worked on the river at Louisville,
Kentucky for some time, and for about seven years worked on the
Ohio &
Mississippi Rivers. In 1840, he came to
Daviess Co.,Ind., to visit friends, who prevailed upon him to invest some of his money in land. He purchased a 160 acres of timber land, which he rented. He then returned to the river, but visited his farm every year and added improvements. In 1843, he moved on his place, where he kept house for himself for some time. That same year he married
Julianna Shircliff, born in 1826, daughter of John and Mary (
Gough) Shircliff. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham became the parents of these children:Mary, Patrick, Andrew,Aliza, Louis, Michael, John,and Joseph. Michael is one of the rising young teachers of the county, and the rest of the boys are farmers. All the family are members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Cunningham is a Democrat in politics, although he votes for the man rather than the party. He has been quite a successful business man and is one of the first taxpayers of the county.
History of
Knox and
Daviess County IndianaGoodspeed Publishing; Chicago; 1886
Pages:812-813
Not related to this family-Carla
