Captain James Cunningham

Notes:

Excerpt from Tate Families of the Southern States, Volume II, 1984, by Laura W. Mentzel & Ethel S. Updike

Capt. Cunningham was of Irish descent. They moved from Alabama to Texas in 1839 and sixteen years later, the family settled in Comanche County, TX, then on to the extreme frontier. He and his sons were brave Indian fighters. Many of his sons were officers of the counties in which they lived.

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Find A Grave info

Bio provided by Janice Williams:

James Cunningham and his twin, Rebecca, were born to David Cunningham and Unity Ryan Cunningham in Warren County, Tennessee, on April 8, 1816. At age 18, he married Susannah Tate, the daughter of Aaron Tate and Elizabeth Connelly Tate, on February 14, 1835, in DeKalb County, Alabama.

James served in the Army during the Florida Indian wars and was discharged July 21, 1838 at Fort Payne, Alabama.

James and Susannah had two children in Alabama and the family of four moved to the Republic of Texas in 1839 or 1840. Moving first to what is now Morris County, they moved on to Bastrop County, Travis County and Williamson County before settling in Comanche County in 1855 on Mountain Creek. In Texas, their family grew with ten more children.

Captain James was noted for his community leadership. He was among the original members of the first Baptist church in Comanche County which was organized at the old Tuggle School House 1856 about 10 miles south of Comanche.

The Cunningham men gained greatest fame in Central Texas as aggressive and fearless Indian fighters. From 1856 to early 1870, the Cunninghams were involved in virtually every Indian battle that took place in and around Comanche County. In 1861, James Cunningham was elected Captain of the Comanche County Company of the 2nd Frontier District commanded by Major George B. Erath.

James and Susannah Cunningham were the parents of Aaron, Elizabeth, David Houston, Richard Tankersley, John Valentine, William Henry, James Washington, Joseph Jackson, Thomas Anderson, George Washington, Mary Jane, and Unity Ann, all who survived to old age.

Captain Cunningham operated a ranch of 9000 acres until his death on July 8, 1894, at the age of 78 years old, in his home. He was survived by his wife and all twelve children. He was buried in the Newburg Cemetery and his grave was marked with a Texas Historical Marker in 1968.

Buried:
Grave location, portrait, and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=cunningham&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=46&GScnty=2566&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=41&GRid=16680883&df=all&

James married Susannah (Susie) TATE 14 Feb 1835, DeKalb Co. AL. Susannah (daughter of Aaron TATE and Elizabeth (Becky) Connelly) was born 22 Dec 1817, Warren Co. TN; died 08 Jun 1899, Newburg, Commanche Co. TX; was buried , Newburg Cemetery, Newburg, Comanche Co. TX. [Group Sheet]

1. Aaron Cunningham was born 08 Apr 1836, DeKalb Co. AL; died 03 Jan 1914, Newburg, Commanche Co. TX; was buried , Albin Cemetery, Comanche Co. TX.
2. Elizabeth Cunningham was born 16 Feb 1839, DeKalb Co. AL; died 24 Nov 1922, Newburg, Commanche Co. TX; was buried , Oakwood Cemetery, Comanche Co. TX.
3. David Houston Cunningham was born 24 Jan 1842, Titus Co. TX; died 13 Oct 1928, Newburg, Commanche Co. TX; was buried , Albin Cemetery, Comanche Co. TX.
4. Richard Tankersley Cunningham was born 26 Jan 1844, Titus Co. TX; died 27 Sep 1931, Newburg, Commanche Co. TX; was buried , Newburg Cemetery, Newburg, Comanche Co. TX.
5. John Valentine Cunningham was born 14 Feb 1846, Titus Co. TX; died 22 Mar 1921, Brownwood, Brown Co. TX.
6. William Henry (Bill) Cunningham was born 17 Aug 1848, Titus Co. TX; died 27 Nov 1918, Newburg, Commanche Co. TX; was buried , Newburg Cemetery, Newburg, Comanche Co. TX.
7. James Washington Cunningham was born 14 Feb 1850, Titus Co. TX; died 04 Jun 1938, Comanche Co. TX; was buried , Shiloh Cemetery, Comanche, Comanche Co. TX.
8. Joseph Jackson Cunningham was born 11 Feb 1852, Titus Co. TX; died 30 Sep 1918, Comanche Co. TX; was buried , Albin Cemetery, Comanche Co. TX.
9. Thomas Anderson Cunningham was born 30 Aug 1855, Titus Co. TX; died 1933, Newburg, Commanche Co. TX; was buried , Newburg Cemetery, Newburg, Comanche Co. TX.
10. George Washington Cunningham was born 21 Dec 1857, Titus Co. TX; died 04 Aug 1926, Texas.
11. Mary Jane Cunningham was born 16 Apr 1860, Titus Co. TX; died 02 Apr 1939, Abilene, Taylor Co. TX ; was buried , Oakwood Cemetery, Comanche Co. TX.
12. Unity Ann Cunningham was born 21 Dec 1862, Titus Co. TX; died 04 Jul 1940, Brown Co. TX; was buried , Newburg Cemetery, Newburg, Comanche Co. TX.