H. Ira Cunningham and Louisa J. Wilson

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Husband H. Ira Cunningham ^{1 2}

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           Born: 12 Oct 1843 - Shenango Twp, Beaver (later Lawrence) Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 21 Nov 1903 - Wampum, Big Beaver Twp, Lawrence Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: Joseph M. Cunningham (Abt 1813-1843) 1 3
         Mother: Isabella Wilson (      -      ) 1 4

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       Marriage: 

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   Other Spouse: Ella A. Wilson (      -      ) 2 5

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Wife Louisa J. Wilson ^{2 5}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: John I. Wilson (1803/1803-1885) 6
         Mother: Elizabeth Munnell (1812-1895) 2 6

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Children

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1 M Charles C. Cunningham ^{2 7}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Maude M. Braby (      -      ) 8 9

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2 F Effie Cunningham ^{2 7}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: when one year old
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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General Notes: Husband - H. Ira Cunningham

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When only a lad of twelve he began to earn his own living and face the stern realities of life; he drifted into various employments, and seemed to take after the typical Yankee, for he was a jack-of-all-trades, and was very handy in several lines of work. He labored on farms and in the mines, and for a time was cook in a restaurant. During this period of indecision in regard to his future, Fort Sumter was fired on, and the call for volunteers was issued. Mr. Cunningham was among the first who enrolled their names in the service of the Union, and enlisted at Pittsburg on Sept. 22, 1861. At the expiration of his first term, he re-enlisted at New Brighton in April, 1864, and served until July 24, 1865, when he was mustered out as a corporal. He was a sharpshooter for a great part of the time he was a soldier and was wounded three times in that service. He was again wounded in the battle of Weldon Railroad on Aug. 19, 1864, and was obliged to leave the regiment on sick leave for a matter of several months. Shortly after his return, on Dec. 25 of the same year, he was wounded while on the picket line before Petersburg.
On resuming the life of a civilian, Mr. Cunningham worked for a time in a nut factory until Dec. 26, 1867, when he married and settled on a farm in Shenango township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, near the borough of Wampum, where he then resided.
In the years after the war he devoted himself chiefly to farming, although he worked at paper-hanging, and became an expert in that line.
Politically, Mr. Cunningham was a solid Republican, and endorsed the principles of that party with conscientious fidelity. In March, 1897, he was made a notary public in and for Lawrence County. He was poster and folder in the State Senate for several terms, and in 1891 he served as postmaster of that body. In Wampum borough he acted as street commissioner.
He was a Mason, and a member of both the blue lodge and chapter, affiliating with Mahoning Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 243, of New Castle. In the Odd Fellows order, he belonged to the Subordinate Lodge, the Encampment and the Grand Lodge, in which he served as a representative. He was a secretary of Wampum Lodge, No. 865, I. O. O. F.; a member of Lawrence Encampment, No. 86, of New Castle; and served as deputy Grand Master from 1882 to 1892. In the A. O. U. W., he held a membership in Welcome Lodge, No. 65, of Wampum, and represented that lodge in the grand lodge. He was also a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, being associated with the Council in Wampum. As an old soldier he took a great deal of pleasure in renewing old war associations, and had a membership in Wampum Post, No. 381, G. A. R.; he was commander for nine years and was one of the leading spirits of the local organization.
In April, 1897, Mr. Cunningham was elected to the office of burgess for a term of four years.

1 Editor, Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, PA (Buffalo, NY: Biographical Publishing Company, 1897), Pg 470.

2 Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1908), Pg 877.

3 Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1908), Pg 880.

4 Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1908), Pg 825.

5 Editor, Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, PA (Buffalo, NY: Biographical Publishing Company, 1897), Pg 399, 471.

6 Editor, Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, PA (Buffalo, NY: Biographical Publishing Company, 1897), Pg 398, 471.

7 Editor, Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, PA (Buffalo, NY: Biographical Publishing Company, 1897), Pg 471.

8 Editor, Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, PA (Buffalo, NY: Biographical Publishing Company, 1897), Pg 546.

9 Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1908), Pg 999.