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John Cunningham (1904)

BEEM, BRAZILL, CAHILL, CUNNINGHAM, KELLAHER, MULVIHILL

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart
Date: 1/24/2007 at 18:46:13

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, November 3, 1904

JOHN CUNNINGHAM IS DEAD

Old Settler and Largest Land Owner in Madison County Answers the Summons.

John Cunningham, one of the oldest settlers in Madison county and the largest land owner and perhaps wealthiest man in the county, died at his home in Crawford township Tuesday morning, from a combined attack of asthma and heart trouble.

Mr. Cunningham settled on the farm where he died in the early fifties. He was one of the first to realize the opportunity for making money through the rise of Madison county real estate and he confined his investments almost entirely to real estate and loans secured by real estate mortgages. He leaves an estate comprising about 4000 acres of land in Madison and Warren counties and personal securities to the value of several hundred thousand dollars.

Beginning on the Patterson road a short distance east of Tileville one might walk on his land in a northeasterly direction for a distance of nine miles. About four years ago he was way-laid and almost beaten to death by two trappers, who robbed him and left him lying for dead on the North River bridge near his home. His assailants are serving long time sentences at Ft. Madison for this crime which undoubtedly shortened his life as his remarkably strong constitution has shown a gradual decline from that time.

He was past eighty years of age and was in acive management of his affairs up to his last sickness which was of about four weeks duration. His unpolished manner and rough exterior were those common to many of his nationality, and like them he carried beneath that rough exterior a heart that responded quickly to good impulses.

He leaves a family of six children, Joseph, P. J. and Mamie Cunningham and Mrs. James Mulvihill all of this county, Mrs. Kellaher of Des Moines and Mrs. T. Walter Beem of Denver, Colo.

The funeral which was held Thursday was one of the largest ever held in this county. Interment was made in the family vault at St. Patrick's cemetery in Lee township, the services being in charge of Father Molyreaux of Churchville.
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The Madison County Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, November 3, 1904
Page 1

Death of John Cunningham

Word came Tuesday announcing the death of John Cunningham at about nine o’clock that morning at his home in Crawford township.

Mr. Cunningham had been suffering for sometime past with heart trouble, and during the past few weeks was several times reported very low, but during the last few days it was said he was much improved and hopes of his recovery were entertained, but he suddenly became worse on Monday night and died Tuesday morning as above stated.

John Cunningham was one of the most notable figures in Madison county. He came here in an early day and bought considerable land while it was cheap, and he made it the rule of his life, from which he never departed, to buy all the land he could and sell none. At the time of his death he owned more land than any other man in Madison county, and was, without a doubt the wealthiest citizen of the county. He leaves a large estate to be divided among his two sons and three daughters, his wife having died several years ago. The funeral occurred today and the remains were interred in the Catholic cemetery north of Bevington.
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The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, November 4, 1904
Page 1, Column 3

CUNNINGHAM IS DEAD

Was a Pioneer Citizen of Madison County.

HE OWNED 5000 ACRES Of LAND.

Death Occurs Monday, Had Boon Sick Several Weeks. Funeral Occurred on Thursday. Was Richest Man In Madison County. Estate Worth Over Half a Million.

John Cunningham died at his home in Crawford township, Monday, after a prolonged struggle against death. The funeral occurred Thursday.

Mr. Cunningham had been in feeble health for over a year, in fact never having recovered from the brutal attack made on him by Daley and Brewer at North River bridge five years ago when they robbed him and left him lying senseless on the bridge, nearly dead.

For the last three months he seemed to realize that death was only a matter of a short time and commenced to prepare for it by transferring large tracts of land to his children. He was taken seriously ill four or five weeks ago and his death was expected at any time during the past three weeks.

John Cunningham came to Madison county and settled in Crawford township at the home place on North River in 1855. He engaged in stock raising and always had money to loan. He rapidly accumulated a fortune through his stock shipping and other transactions and was a firm believer in the value of Iowa lands, investing heavily in farms in Crawford and Lee townships. He probably owned more land in one body than any man in the state. He was a heavy depositor in Des Moines and Winterset banks. It is expected that the value of his personal property will exceed the real estate.

He was a native of Ireland and came to this country without a dollar. All his children, four in number, two sons and two daughters, survive him. He was twice married, all his children being by his first wife. His second wife, a sister of Father Brazil, the well known Catholic priest, a lady of much refinement, died only a few 3 years ago. One daughter lives in Colorado, Miss Mary Cunningham, his younger daughter, is unmarried and has presided over the household since Mrs. Cunningham's death. His younger son, Peter Cunningham, 54 years of age was recently married. Joseph Cunningham, the other son lives near Bevington.
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The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, November 18, 1904
Page 2, Column 1 & 2

CORRESPONDENCE - Crawford

Delayed.

By some cause my News of last week did not reach me until late on Monday of this week. In it I have read the article on the death and family etc., of the late John Cunningham. I believe the writer meant well but made several mistakes. I write to correct for two reasons. Being a correspondent of the News, the blame might fall on me, besides the family concerned, as well as the public, are entitled to the correct facts,

And now comes the correction.

Mr. Cunningham did not die on Monday, but on Tuesday, November 1st. He leaves not only four but six children, two sons and four daughters, to-wit: Mrs. Kelleher, of Des Moines; Mrs. Mulvihill, of Lee township; Mrs. Beam of Colorado and Miss Mary Cunningham, of this place. All his children were not by his first wife. Mrs. Beam was his last wife's child. As to the matters contained in the article published, they may be correct but I think Peter Cunningham is two years younger than he is said to be.

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