Thomas "Tom" Cunningham 1865-1912

CUNNINGHAM

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/28/2013 at 20:12:25

A Pioneer Called
Thomas Cunningham Died at Devils Lake, N.D., Thursday
Born in County 40 Years Ago
Thos. Cunningham died at Devils Lake, North Dakota, Thursday morning of asthma. Remains were brought to Graettinger Monday and burial service was held in Graettinger yesterday. Burial was made in the Graettinger cemetery.

Mr. Cunningham was born in Emmet county on the old Cunningham farm southeast of Estherville forty years ago. His home was here until the past fifteen years when he has lived in North Dakota most of the time. He was a single man and leaves a mother, three brothers and two sisters. Mr. Cunningham was a hard working man, kind hearted and well thought of by his associates. For some time prior to his death he had been a victim of asthma, and expected to go to Canada soon to better his health. In his death another pioneer answers the final summons. The family have the sympathy of all in their sorrow. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, July 10, 1912)

Thomas Cunningham Dead
Thomas Cunningham, better known as “Tom” in the vicinity where he was born and raised, near High Lake, who had been in poor health for many months with the asthma, passed away at the hospital in Crary, N.D., Wednesday, July 3rd. He spent last winter and the greater part of this spring with his home folks in High Lake township. A few weeks ago he went to Crary. While he was not in good health, still his condition was by no means thought to be serious by his relatives and the news of his death came as a great shock to them, especially to the aged mother. The body arrived in this city Monday evening and was taken to P.J. Paulsen’s undertaking rooms. The funeral services, conducted by Father Kelly, were held at the Catholic church at ten o’clock Tuesday morning and interment made in the parochial cemetery.

Deceased was born in High Lake township on the old home place and was about forty years of age when he died. He grew to manhood there. About seventeen years ago he went to North Dakota and has since resided there, only coming home for visits. As a boy he was of strong and powerful physique. Some perhaps remember the time he carried on his back the hundred pounds of shot from the Cunningham farm to Estherville, a distance of ten miles. He was of bright and cheery disposition and had many friends who will regret his death. His virtues should be remembered and hung in the memory halls of his friends.

He leaves to mourn his death, his mother, three brothers, John, Michael and James and two sisters, Addie and Mary. To the sorrowing relatives sympathy is extended. (Graettinger Times, Graettinger, IA, July 11, 1912)

Carried 100 Pounds 12 Miles
The Emmetsburg Democrat has the following to say of Thomas Cunningham whose death The Enterprise recorded last week:

Mr. Cunningham’s parents located on a homestead near Mud Lake above [about] fifty years ago. The mother, two sisters and two brothers still reside in that locality. His father died a few years ago. Mr. Cunningham recently came down from Jamestown to make some adjustments of his property interest connected with his father’s estate. He was in poor health at the time and was arranging his business matters intending to leave for Colorado, where he hoped the climate and pure air would benefit him but he died before he was able to get away. He was an earnest, rugged man and a good citizen. A number of years ago he made a bet with H.G. Harrison of Graettinger that he could carry 100 hundred pounds of shot from his home to Estherville, a distance of twelve miles. He won his money. When he reached Estherville he kept the shot on his shoulders and offered to bet that he could come back over the same distance without laying down his load. No one present would take the wager. His father was also one of the most powerful men in Emmet county. He was a single man. He was perhaps fifty years of age. The death of Mr. Cunningham will be regretted by the many in this locality who knew him. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, July 17, 1912)