Cunningham was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a son of Hiram and Eunice (Brown) Cunningham. One of his brothers, J.O. Cunningham became a prominent citizen of Urbana and a county judge. He came to Urbana, Illinois in 1854, taking a position as assistant cashier in the Grand Prarie Bank. A Civil War veteran, he enlisted as a private in Co. G, 76th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was soon promoted to First Sergeant and then Lieutenant. After the war he returned to Urbana, Illinois and engaged in the drug business until 1880. He served the city of Urbana as alderman, mayor, and for two terms was on the board of education. He was one of the founders of the newspaper, Urbana Herald. Later he moved his business to Champaign. He established and edited the Champaign County Herald newspaper. He married Ophelia Seger of Clarksfield, Ohio in 1855. The couple had four children: Elmer, Indianapolis; George, Champaign; Clara Bouton, Springdale, Arkansas; and Edwin, Champaign. In 1880 he founded Cunningham Brothers at 25 Main Street, Champaign. This store catered to the university students and was later moved, sometime after 1910, to the northwest corner of Wright and Green Streets, Champaign, Illinois. An active Free Mason, he was a member of Western Star Lodge No. 240 A.F. and A.M.
Cunningham was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a son of Hiram and Eunice (Brown) Cunningham. One of his brothers, J.O. Cunningham became a prominent citizen of Urbana and a county judge. He came to Urbana, Illinois in 1854, taking a position as assistant cashier in the Grand Prarie Bank. A Civil War veteran, he enlisted as a private in Co. G, 76th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was soon promoted to First Sergeant and then Lieutenant. After the war he returned to Urbana, Illinois and engaged in the drug business until 1880. He served the city of Urbana as alderman, mayor, and for two terms was on the board of education. He was one of the founders of the newspaper, Urbana Herald. Later he moved his business to Champaign. He established and edited the Champaign County Herald newspaper. He married Ophelia Seger of Clarksfield, Ohio in 1855. The couple had four children: Elmer, Indianapolis; George, Champaign; Clara Bouton, Springdale, Arkansas; and Edwin, Champaign. In 1880 he founded Cunningham Brothers at 25 Main Street, Champaign. This store catered to the university students and was later moved, sometime after 1910, to the northwest corner of Wright and Green Streets, Champaign, Illinois. An active Free Mason, he was a member of Western Star Lodge No. 240 A.F. and A.M.
Family Members
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