CUNNINGHAM, GEORGE W. - When George W. Cunningham, took up his residence as a retired citizen of Virginia, Ill., that flourishing village secured the services of a man who had succeeded in the affairs of life and was ready and willing to bend his best energies to the development of its progress along the lines of education, morality and good citizenship. His substantial reputation, gained through a life of clean living and honest dealing with his fellow men, has since been strengthened, and his name is worthy of a place high on the roll of Cass County's representative citizens. Mr. Cunningham was born in Cass County, January 5, 1843, his parents being George and Maria (Lindsay) Cunningham.

The Cunningham family, as the name would indicate, originated in Scotland, where George Cunningham was born January 17, 1803. He emigrated to America in 1835, coming first to Canada and later making his way to Cass County, Ill., by way of the great lakes, and purchased eighty acres of partly improved land, in addition to which he entered 160 acres of government land. He was here married, May 23, 1838, to Maria Lindsay, who was born in Kentucky, January 31, 1816, and who had come to this county with her father, Allen Q. Lindsay, who entered land on the Cass and Morgan county line as early as 1819. Mr. Cunningham died in 1869, his widow surviving until 1891. They were the parents of the following children: Mary and Allen, who are deceased; George W.; Nancy J., deceased; Charles and Ellen, twins, the former deceased, and the latter the widow of Richard Dirreen, of Jacksonville, Ill.; Leftridge, a resident of Phelps County, Mo.; Kennethina and Elizabeth, who are deceased; and Emma, the widow of Fred Neolch, residing on the parents' old homestead place.

The educational training of George W. Cunningham was secured in what was known as the Mt. Pleasant school, in his native locality, and as a youth he applied himself to the routine work of the home farm. Like other patriotic youths of his township, he was eager to serve his country during the Civil war, and August 15, 1862, enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which organization he served in campaigns in Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, at the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Jackson, Miss., and Nashville, Tenn., and numerous skirmishes. After a brave and faithful service, he received his honorable discharge, August 3, 1865, at Vicksburg, and returned to his home, being engaged in farming with his father until the time of his marriage, which took place October 21, 1868, to Miss Ellen M. McKinzie, who was born in Virginia, October 21, 1843, daughter of James and Ann (Flemming) McKinzie, natives of Scotland, who had emigrated to America and subsequently came to Cass County, Ill., from the Old Dominion state. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham; Annie, born July 16, 1869, and now the wife of B. K. Simmons, a blacksmith of Virginia; and Mary, born December 17, 1880, who died December 14, 1884.

Following his marriage, Mr. Cunningham purchased a tract of 120 acres of land adjoining the homestead of his parents, and fifteen years later bought forty acres of the old home place, but eventually disposed of his holdings and removed to Virginia, Ill. There he was engaged in a successful teaming business for some years, but in 1906 retired from active pursuits, and since that time has been living at his attractive home at Virginia. Mr. Cunningham has contributed to the upbuilding of his adopted city by the erection of two fine residences in the heart of the town. He is known as a good and public-spirited citizen, and those who have had dealings with him have had every reason to place the utmost confidence in him. Mrs. Cunningham is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Cunningham is a Republican in his political views, and is popular with his comrades in Post No. 321, Grand Army of the Republic. He is an active Mason, and is prominent in the Odd Fellow fraternity, in which he has passed through the chairs and was the first instructor in Cass County, and has been treasurer since 1898.