GEORGE W. CUNNINGHAM, having for many years been a representative of the business interests of Greene county, is now enjoying the rest which should ever crown a long life of business activity and enterprise. He was born three miles east of Greenfield, October 10, 1859, his parents being Samuel M. and Emeline E. (Cooper) Cunningham, natives of Kentucky. His father when a young man came to Illinois, settling in Greene county, where he secured a tract of wild land and began the development of a farm. Part of the land he entered from the government and he also added to the tract by purchase. He came to Illinois with his father, Robert Cunningham, who had previously visited the state and entered a claim from the government, after which he returned to Kentucky. Samuel M. Cunningham was married in Greene county to Miss Emeline E. Cooper, a daughter of Judge E. L. Cooper, one of the first settlers of this part of the state and a prominent and influential citizen, taking a helpful part in molding the early policy of the county. Mrs. Cunningham was born in Kentucky and they began their domestic life upon a farm where they resided for many years. Mr. Cunningham was a successful agriculturist and owned and operated a large tract of land of three hundred and twenty acres near Greenfield. He was well known among the early settlers of this and adjoining counties and belonged to that class of brave pioneer people who faced the dangers and difficulties of establishing homes in a frontier district and laid the foundation for the present prosperity and development of the county. He died March 5, 1880, while his wife, still surviving him, resides in Greenfield. She has long been a resident of Greene county and is numbered among its esteemed pioneer people, having the friendship and regard of young and old, rich and poor. In the family of this worthy couple were nine children and three of the sons are yet living, namely: Robert L., who is now retired in White Hall, Illinois; George W., of this review; and L. E., a traveling man residing in Carrollton. Six of the children have departed this life: Henry C., who was connected with his brother, George, in business in Greene county and died in Greenfield; and W. B., Alonzo, Belle, Mary and Jennie, all of whom died in childhood.

George W. Cunningham was reared upon the home farm and in his youth enjoyed good common school privileges. He assisted his father in the cultivation of the place until the latter's death, when he took charge of the farm and continued its operation through several years, succeeding to a part of the place, which comprised three hundred and twenty acres of well improved and highly cultivated land. In connection with general farming he likewise engaged in the raising, feeding, buying and shipping of stock, devoting his energies to these pursuits from his boyhood days until he left the farm. He removed to Greenfield in October, 1893, although he continued to deal in stock and make shipments from this point until 1895. In that year he purchased a half interest in the Greenfield roller mill, of which he took charge, and continued the operation of the mill for three years, but in the spring of 1898 he sold his interest in that property and has since lived practically retired, merely giving his supervision to his farm and property interests.

On the 20th of March, 1884, Mr. Cunningham was married to Miss Martha A. Boatman, of Cave City, Kentucky, who was reared and educated there, her parents being Henry and Sarah E. Boatman, also natives of Kentucky, Mr. Boatman following the occupation of farming in Byron county.

In his political views Mr. Cunningham is a stalwart Republican, never faltering in his allegiance to the party since he cast his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield. He has never sought or desired office, although he served for one term as assessor and has been alderman of Greenfield, while for a term he acted as mayor of the city. He has also served as president of the board of education and no public trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree, for his interest in the welfare of the city is deep and sincere. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and belongs to a number of its auxiliary societies representing various lines of church activity. She is also a faithful worker in the Sunday school. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham made a trip to the Pacific coast in 1903, visiting many points of interest in the west. The reader in search of a sensational chapter can not find it in the life history of Mr. Cunningham, but those who have appreciation for true worth, for business activity and sterling purpose will find his career one of interest, for these sterling traits have always been manifest in him and the county may well be proud to number him among her native sons.