Hodge Gregston Cunningham's parents were Alfred Perry and Sarah Katherine "Kitty" Cunningham who lived in the Trigg Furnace section of Trigg County, Kentucky. In 1898, Hodge married Mary Emma Mitchell but in 1904, they were divorced but remarried in 1904.
Hodge and Mary Emma had four children, two of whom died in infancy. Their surviving sons were Alfred Perry, born in 1909, and Hodge Mitchell, born in 1913. Coming from a family deeply rooted in farming, Hodge spent several years on their farm before moving his young family to Cadiz, where he became the sexton or custodian of East End Cemetery. In a few years, he became the lone city policeman for Cadiz. In 1920, he sought and received a political appointment as a guard at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in nearby Eddyville.
On the morning of October 3, 1923 (his 43rd birthday), Hodge Cunningham became the first Kentucky State Penitentiary employee to be killed in the line of duty when he was shot multiple times during an escape attempt by three prisoners, who for the next three days barricaded themselves in the prison mess hall and exchanging gunfire with the National Guard during what has been called "The Battle of Eddyville." Two other prison guards died and another was seriously wounded in the incident.
Hodge's funeral was held in Cadiz Baptist Church and he was buried in East End Cemetery, where he had been its sexton for several years before entering law enforcement. He was survived by his wife, Emma and two sons, Perry and Mitch.
Hodge Cunningham's bravery has been recognized by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. His name is prominently displayed on a brass plaque at the main entrance to the prison as well as at the prison museum where a display has his photo and citatation. Also, Hodge's name is engraved on the wall of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Hodge and Mary Emma had four children, two of whom died in infancy. Their surviving sons were Alfred Perry, born in 1909, and Hodge Mitchell, born in 1913. Coming from a family deeply rooted in farming, Hodge spent several years on their farm before moving his young family to Cadiz, where he became the sexton or custodian of East End Cemetery. In a few years, he became the lone city policeman for Cadiz. In 1920, he sought and received a political appointment as a guard at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in nearby Eddyville.
On the morning of October 3, 1923 (his 43rd birthday), Hodge Cunningham became the first Kentucky State Penitentiary employee to be killed in the line of duty when he was shot multiple times during an escape attempt by three prisoners, who for the next three days barricaded themselves in the prison mess hall and exchanging gunfire with the National Guard during what has been called "The Battle of Eddyville." Two other prison guards died and another was seriously wounded in the incident.
Hodge's funeral was held in Cadiz Baptist Church and he was buried in East End Cemetery, where he had been its sexton for several years before entering law enforcement. He was survived by his wife, Emma and two sons, Perry and Mitch.
Hodge Cunningham's bravery has been recognized by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. His name is prominently displayed on a brass plaque at the main entrance to the prison as well as at the prison museum where a display has his photo and citatation. Also, Hodge's name is engraved on the wall of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Hodge Gregston Cunningham's parents were Alfred Perry and Sarah Katherine "Kitty" Cunningham who lived in the Trigg Furnace section of Trigg County, Kentucky. In 1898, Hodge married Mary Emma Mitchell but in 1904, they were divorced but remarried in 1904.
Hodge and Mary Emma had four children, two of whom died in infancy. Their surviving sons were Alfred Perry, born in 1909, and Hodge Mitchell, born in 1913. Coming from a family deeply rooted in farming, Hodge spent several years on their farm before moving his young family to Cadiz, where he became the sexton or custodian of East End Cemetery. In a few years, he became the lone city policeman for Cadiz. In 1920, he sought and received a political appointment as a guard at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in nearby Eddyville.
On the morning of October 3, 1923 (his 43rd birthday), Hodge Cunningham became the first Kentucky State Penitentiary employee to be killed in the line of duty when he was shot multiple times during an escape attempt by three prisoners, who for the next three days barricaded themselves in the prison mess hall and exchanging gunfire with the National Guard during what has been called "The Battle of Eddyville." Two other prison guards died and another was seriously wounded in the incident.
Hodge's funeral was held in Cadiz Baptist Church and he was buried in East End Cemetery, where he had been its sexton for several years before entering law enforcement. He was survived by his wife, Emma and two sons, Perry and Mitch.
Hodge Cunningham's bravery has been recognized by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. His name is prominently displayed on a brass plaque at the main entrance to the prison as well as at the prison museum where a display has his photo and citatation. Also, Hodge's name is engraved on the wall of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Hodge and Mary Emma had four children, two of whom died in infancy. Their surviving sons were Alfred Perry, born in 1909, and Hodge Mitchell, born in 1913. Coming from a family deeply rooted in farming, Hodge spent several years on their farm before moving his young family to Cadiz, where he became the sexton or custodian of East End Cemetery. In a few years, he became the lone city policeman for Cadiz. In 1920, he sought and received a political appointment as a guard at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in nearby Eddyville.
On the morning of October 3, 1923 (his 43rd birthday), Hodge Cunningham became the first Kentucky State Penitentiary employee to be killed in the line of duty when he was shot multiple times during an escape attempt by three prisoners, who for the next three days barricaded themselves in the prison mess hall and exchanging gunfire with the National Guard during what has been called "The Battle of Eddyville." Two other prison guards died and another was seriously wounded in the incident.
Hodge's funeral was held in Cadiz Baptist Church and he was buried in East End Cemetery, where he had been its sexton for several years before entering law enforcement. He was survived by his wife, Emma and two sons, Perry and Mitch.
Hodge Cunningham's bravery has been recognized by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. His name is prominently displayed on a brass plaque at the main entrance to the prison as well as at the prison museum where a display has his photo and citatation. Also, Hodge's name is engraved on the wall of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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