Cunningham, Michael 1838 - 1911

CUNNINGHAM, URIELL, BURNS

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:24

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 28 Sept. 1911.

Michael Cunningham was born in the county of Tipperary, Ireland, in 1838, and died at his home in Highland township, Sept 15, 1911.

He was the youngest of three children born to John Cunningham and Margaret (Uriell) Cunningham.

His father died when Michael was but 6 months old. In 1849 he came to this country and with his mother settled on a farm in Read township. Here he received what education the public schools of that time afforded and later attended for a time, Sinsinawa Mound college, Wis. Being a pioneer during the early history of the state, he suffered many hardships and privations incident to those days. In 1862 he responded to his country's call for men and in August of that year, enlisted in Company B, First Iowa Cavalry, and at the end of three years' continuous service, re-enlisted and served till honorably discharged, March 15, 1866. While his regiment was making a campaign near Little Rock, Ark., in Oct., 1863, making forced marches through the terrible swamps and fens.

"Where the will-o'-wisps and glow-
worms shine,
In bull-rushes and in brake,
Where waving mosses shroud the pine,
And the cedar grows and the poisonous
vine
is spotted like the snake,"

he, with a great number of his regiment, were stricken with fever. Here he lay for weeks in a cold comfortless hospital tent, hovering between life and death. On recovery he immediately joined his regiment in active service. During the same year he was wounded during an engagement at Prairie D'Anne. His last years of army service were spent under Gen. Geo. A. Custer, in Texas. On March 15, 1866 he, with his regiment, was mustered out.

In 1868 he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Burns, who survives him. To them were born nine children: Frank, Fannie, Willie, Robert and Nellie preceded him to the Great Beyond, while Henry, George, Edward and Joseph survive him. Always upright and honest in all his dealings, he won the respect of all who knew him.

For years he has been a member of Boardman Post G.A.R., and a delegation of his comrades attended in a body the last sad rites.

He was a life long member of the Catholic church. Funeral services were held from St. Joseph's church, conducted by Rev. J. F. Reilly, after which he was taken to St. Joseph's Cemetery, Elkader, where now "He sleeps but wakes elsewhere, for God has said, Amen."

May he rest in peace.