Joseph Ritner Cunningham and Nancy Meloy

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Husband Joseph Ritner Cunningham ¹

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           Born: 18 Sep 1824 - Chartiers Twp, Washington Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1893
         Buried: 

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         Father: Gustavus Cunningham (      -      ) 1
         Mother: Elizabeth Ritner (      -      ) 1

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       Marriage: 19 Nov 1857 2

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Wife Nancy Meloy ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1893
         Buried: 

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Joseph Ritner Cunningham

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His father died when his youngest son was yet an infant, and the mother married again, giving her babe to the care of his uncle, Joseph Ritner. He remained with his illustrious uncle during his minority, receiving a good English education. In 1839 he went with his uncle to Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, returning to Washington County in 1846. He then worked six months for William Jamison for $60, receiving $9.50 per month the latter part of the year. From these scanty wages he managed to save some money, and the next year rented the farm and fixtures, which he worked for one-third of the crops, receiving $10 per month when not busied with the crops. The following year he rented the farm for three seasons, paying an annual cash rent of $250. At the expiration of that time he rented a farm near West Middletown, Washington County, and married. The young people resided there three years, when he purchased a farm in Buffalo township, Washington County, where he lived three years, then selling out, bought a well-cultivated farm of 179 acres, situated near Buffalo village. Mr. Cunningham was a very successful business man, amassing a comfortable competence.
He and his wife were devoted members of the United Presbyterian Church at West Middletown, taking an active interest in both church and Sabbath-school work. He has served as a member of the board of trustees, also attended to much of the financial business of the church, and gave liberally to the support and upbuilding of the cause of Christianity.
He was first a Whig, and upon the organization of the Republican party espoused its principles, being a strong opponent of slavery.

1 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 465.

2 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 466.