My Genealogy Hound

T. W. CUNNINGHAM, president of the Bank of Joplin, was born in Jasper county. Mo., Jan. 18, 1845. His father, Mark Cunningham, was a native of Tennessee, born about 1825. His mother, Harriet A. (Hewbanks) Cunningham, was a native of Kentucky, born about 1827. Our subject was raised principally on a farm and educated liberally in the common schools. In the summer of 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Sixth Regiment Missouri State Guards, and served six months. Then enlisted in Company H, Eighth Regiment Confederate Volunteers, Colonel Cavanaugh commanding, and served until the close of the war. Participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Corinth, and numerous others. He took the oath of allegiance near Camden. Ark., when he returned to Barry county, Mo., where he stopped for a short time; then came to Granby, Newton county, and engaged in mining for several months; then went to western Kansas in governmental service for two years; returned to Jasper county in 1868, and engaged with the Granby Company at Oronogo four years. Came to Joplin in the spring of 1872 and embarked in the grocery business; continued six years, then disposed of his interest, purchased a farm, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. Returned to Joplin in 1879 and established a wholesale grocery business. In February, 1882, the Bank of Carthage was organized and our subject was chosen president. Mr. Cunningham was married in this county Feb. 22, 1872, to Miss Sophia A., daughter of Herman and Polly Sternsburg, of McDonald county, Mo. Mrs. Cunningham was born in McDonald county, Mo., April 17, 1843. She is a member of the Christian Church. Our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also of the A. O. U. W. He is a man of good business qualifications, active, enterprising, and awake to every interest of state, county, and particularly of Joplin.