CUNNINGHAM, HENRY, owner of as valuable and finely developed a farm as can be found in the state, is one of the representative agriculturalists of Cass County. He was born in this county, July 24, 1857, a son of James and Sarah Elizabeth (Hopkins) Cunningham, natives of Leith, Scotland, and of Indiana. In 1836 the father landed at New York City, to which he had been brought by his father, John Cunningham. The latter came to Cass County, Ill., but died soon afterwards, and James Cunningham was bound out to S. A. Lee. He remained with his man until of age, and then was married October 1, 1856. In 1860 he went into a saw and grist mill business, carrying it on until 1866, when he bought 100 acres of partly broken prairie land, in township 17, range 9. He kept on adding to his holdings until he had 280 acres, which he conducted until his death, which occurred February 7, 1906, when he was aged eighty years. The children of James Cunningham and wife were two in number: Henry and Dollie E., the latter of whom is Mrs. F. C. Fox of Cass County. The mother, who was born December 19, 1824, lives with her son, Henry.

Henry Cunningham attended school in the Sugar Grove district, and the public schools of Virginia for two years. He has always lived with his mother and has never married. Since his father's death, he has owned the entire farm, buying his sister's share, and has added 160 acres to the original acreage. On this property he does grain farming, and has brought his land up to a very high standard in every respect. In politics he is a Republican.