JOHN CUNNINGHAM, farmer, P. O. Paris. John Cunningham is of Irish descent.
His great-grandfather came from the Emerald Isle and settled in Virginia
some time in the early part of the last century. He has a son Robert, who,
impressed with the advantages to be found in a new and rapidly developing
country, determined to try his fortunes in Kentucky, toward which the tide
of emigration was rapidly flowing. Accordingly taking passage on a flat
boat at Wheeling, he set our for "the dark and bloody ground" for the
mastery of which civilization and savage fury was yet contending. The
voyage was a perilous one. Simon Girty, with his Indian warriors kept
watch from either bank of the Ohio, and whenever their frail craft drifted
near the shore the sharp report of a rifle was sure to break in upon the
scene. This necessitated keeping in the middle of the stream. Finally
after many adventures the boat arrived at Limestone, as Maysville was then
called. From Maysville he went to Clark County and settled. Here in 1795
was born to him a son, John Cunningham, who was destined to act a prominent
part in the early days of Bourbon County. He served for many years as
Magistrate, and in 1833 was elected to the Legislature, and served until
1840--a period of seven years. He represented his district in the State
Senate one term 1851-55. He was a noted turfman, and owned among other
horses the celebrated Woodpecker, who will be recalled in connection with
the great race with Grey Eagle. He married Mary Bean, daughter of John
Bean, of Clark County, who still lives in vigorous mind and health at
the green old age of eighty-six years, and sits at the head of the table
(beneath the same roof) where she began house-keeping more than sixty
years ago. She is the mother of six living children: Robert, John, James,
Louis, William, George and Naomi. John Cunningham inherited many of the
qualities which made his father distinguished. He is a man of strong
common sense, keen discrimination and unanswering honesty. He has served on
the Board of Magistrates for twenty years, and by his vigilant care of the
public money has earned the soubriquet of the "Watch Dog of the Treasury."
He was born the 15th of August, 1820, and resides with his aged mother in
the house where he was born. He owns 140 acres of land and gives his
attention to farming and breeding short-horn cattle. His herd which was
founded in 1851, now contains about thirty-five animals at the head of
which is the Second Roan Duke of Oneida; it contains representatives of
most of the popular families. In politics Mr. Cunningham is a staunch
Democrat of the Jackson type.
