GEORGE CUNNINGHAM is a son of Launcelot Cunningham, who emigrated in 1812 from County Donegal, Ireland, and, landing in Philadelphia, first settled in Jefferson township, Washington Co., Penn. In early manhood he was married to Hannah Virtue, also a native of Ireland, who immigrated with her family to America, and the young people began their wedded life on the farm in this county which is yet owned by their descendants. Three children blessed their union, namely: George; Isabelle, born in 1821, and Hannah, born in 1823. George Cunningham was born April 27, 1819, on the home farm in Jefferson township, this county, where he is now residing, and passed his youth in the usual duties incumbent upon a farmer's son. In 1841 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Steen, who was born January 27, 1820, on the old Steen homestead in Jefferson township, daughter of Robert Steen, who was of Irish descent. To the union of George and Elizabeth Cunningham the following children were born: Hannah Ann (Mrs. McCleary), Robert (married to Jane Ann Scott), Elizabeth, George (married to Annie McCray) and Launcelot. The mother of these children died December 13, 1881. George Cunningham began life on a very modest little farm but worked away with an unfaltering will and tireless industry. When his father died he bought out the interest of the other heirs in the old place and kept the property in the family name, and he now owns between three and four hundred acres of fertile and well-improved farm land. In politics he has always voted with the Democratic party, and is a counselor and adviser of that faction. In religious connection he is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, in which he has served as trustee, steward, and in various other capacities.
Text taken from page 1362 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]