JOHN CUNNINGHAM is a well-known resident of Donegal township, and, like many of our most successful and honored citizens, he is a native of the fair "Emerald Isle." His father, Peter Cunningham, was born in 1799, in County Down, Ireland, and in early life learned the weaver's trade, which he followed but a short time. He then became a farmer, and also dealt very extensively in stock. He was married to Dorothea Wilkinson, who was born in the year 1812, also a native of County Down, Ireland, and to them were born the following children: John, Eliza, George, Thomas, Peter, Ellen, Sarah and Abigail, all of whom passed their lives in Ireland, with the exception of John. The father died in the year 1844, and was followed by the mother in 1863. John Cunningham, the eldest son in the above mentioned family, was born July 24, 1829, in County Down, Ireland. He learned the trade of weaver during his boyhood, but never followed it. His education was obtained in the schools of the country, and he remained at home until April 12, 1849, when he resolved to seek a fortune in the New World. Embarking at Belfast on the vessel "Agitator" (so named for Daniel O'Connell, the great Irish agitator), the ardent youth sailed to America, and after a voyage of six weeks and five days landed at Philadelphia. He then went to Pittsburgh by way of canal boat and rail, but work being poor, he remained there only a short time, and soon came to Washington county, Penn. The first man he worked for after leaving Pittsburgh was Isaac Hodgens, of Taylorstown, with whom he remained one month being treated very kindly, and receiving $10 for his services. From there he went to James Campsey, an extensive landowner, with whom he remained fourteen years. On September 17, 1863, he was united in marriage with Margaret J. Heyburn, who was born in 1840, daughter of Alexander Heyburn, and they have had children as follows: John (living with his parents, is a speculator), Mary Jane (deceased in infancy), George (residing at home), Joseph (living at home), Amanda (also living with her parents) and Margaret Jane (deceased in infancy). The mother of these children died December 25, 1879, and for his second wife Mr. Cunningham was married, December 29, 1885, to Mary Ann Heyburn, who was born in 1847, a sister of his first wife. They have had no children. Mr. Cunningham passed the first few years of his married life as a tenant on the farm of his former employer, and finally saved enough money to purchase a home. In 1872 he bought and moved upon a farm which was located near Atchison, Donegal township, this county, and remained there till 1881. He then moved onto a part of the "Heyburn" tract, lying three miles northwest of Claysville, in Donegal township, and has since resided on this farm, which belongs to his wife. Mr. Cunningham has been the architect of his own fortune. He was but a poor Irish boy when he first landed on American soil, and by dint of industry and enterprise has accumulated a competency. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian, and with his family he enjoys the esteem of the community. In political life he has always been a Republican. The following is from the pen of Mr. Cunningham:
Ireland my country I'm now going to leave you,
I'll bid you farewell for a while;
To a far distant country I'm now going to wander,
Where wild beasts and savage are king.
But Erin my country I'll still think upon you;
And of your sweet vales I will sing.When far distant from you I will think on you still,
Your sweet purling streams and your daisy-clad hill.
The ship she is waiting with flags waving high,
Which bears me from Ireland my fortune to try.
But ne'er will I forget till the day I shall die,
The pleasures I spent there when I was a boy.In the old County Down, near the town of Hillsborough,
Where my youthful days I have spent;
When I think upon them my heart fills with sorrow,
Alas, for their sakes I lament;
But I hope that kind Providence will still be my guide,
And conduct me safe over the ocean so wide
With a full flowing glass on the other side,
I will drink to Old Erin the Green.Farewell to the land where the shamrocks do flourish;
Farewell to its green flowery vales;
Farewell to the green woods, where the songsters chant chorus,
And tell to the warblers their tales.
May the bright sun of heaven still shine round your isle;
And peace and prosperity still on you smile;
This is the prayer of your wandering exile,
In a land far from Erin the Green.
Text taken from page 1197 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]