The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-03-21

RemIn iscences or Mrs. Cunningham.
| We copy frotn the Greenville Enter
ipriss and Niountaineer the following bio
graphical sketch, prepared by Hon. b
F. Perry:
This accomplished and patriotic ladJ
deserves more than passing obituar5
notice, which have been rennestei tc
wsit6 hJ hor talented and distinguished
daughter, the Regent of the Mount Yer.
non Association. I knew her we'll, and
enjoyed her warm and disintorested
friendship for nearly tho half of oel7:
tury. In the course of long life, !
have never met lady of higher social
qualities or purer sentiments of duty
and patriotism. Mrs. Cunningham dc.
parted this life on the 9Th of October
last, at her old family mansion, "Rose
Mont" in Laurens County, 8. O., in the
eightieth year OF her age. She was the
wife OF Captain Robert Cunningham,
distinguished for his wealth, culture and
noble hospitality. He lived in baroniaI
style, surrounded by all the luxurics
which fortune can give. His house was
ever the resort Of friends md acquaint-
ances, from the lower and upper ooun
try, who always met most hearty and
hospitable reception, and tho longer
they staid, tho more welcome they were.
He was gentleman of great public
spirit and charity, as we'll as hospitality
and friendship. During the war Of 1912,
he raised O volunteer company and on
tered the service Of his country. He
adopted and educated several of his own
and Ills wife's nephews and nieces. The
Hon. Wm. L. Yanoey and his brother,
Benz. @. Yancey, were among them.
Mrs. Cunningham was the daughter
Of Col. VIM. Bird, of Pennsylvania,
who moved to Georgia in 1886. His
family was one of great social distinc-
ton and wealth in Pennsylvania, and
three Of his sisters married into families
of the signers of the Declaration of
American Independence of Della
ware, George Ross and Judge Wilson,
Of the Supreme Court of the United
States. The family mansion of the
Birds, in marlborough, is historical,
and was one Of the most elegant resi-
denoes in the colony. Mrs. Cunning
ham was born in Alexandria, Virginia,
and wa, six years old when her father,
who was a younger son and inherited
none OF the patrimonial estate, moved
to Georgia to seek his fortune in new
country. The mother of Mrs. Cunning
ham was daughter of Col. Dalton, OF
Alexandria, and after her marriage to
William Bird, was known as "the pretty
bird of Virginia" Her eldest sister,
who died young, had the honor of win
ming the heart and refusing tho hand OF
the immortal Washington, when he was
surveying lands for Lord Fairfax, and
only seventeen or eighteen years old!
Tha second sister of Mrs. CunniDghnm's
mother married Mr.. Herbert, who was
afterwards connected by marriage With
the Washingtons and Fairfnxes.
Col. Bird, the father of Mrs. Gun
ningham. had largo family of daugh-
ters, who were all remarkable for their
beauty and accomplishments, and were
great bellies in Georgia. Gen. McComb,
Of tho United States Army, very appro-
priately dubbed the CoJoncl's residence
"the nviary," by which it WAS extern
sivety known afterwards, nnd SO called.
One OF his daughters married Bon jamin
Yancey, perhaps the most gifted aud
highly talented member of the South
Carolina bar ut that time. lie diod very
young, leaving two sons, whom have
already mentioned as the wards of Mr..
Cunningham. Mrs. Cunningham had
the reputation of being the most beau-
tifnl Of oil Col. Birds lovely, talented
and accomplished daughters. She was
not only beautiful herself, but she had n
lovo aud taste for the beautiful. Her
passion for flowers was unsurpassed.
She collected them from all parts of the
world. Her flowers and shrubbery CO.
vered acres Of ground around 'lsose
Mont" which she watched over and cul-
tivated with the care Of mother for
her infant children. She had the honor
OF being the pioneer florist of tho up
country. Soon after her marriage aud
settlement ut her husbands old family
mansion, now moro than 100 years old.
she had the honor and great pleasure Of
receiving collection of raro flowers
from Mount Vernon, sent her hy Judge
Bnshrod Washington. Years afterwards,
when l saw her flower garden and shrub
berry, they were surprisingly beautiful,
and laid oil with great tasto and artistic
skill. She was most generous, too, in
tho distribution Of her raro and boauti-
fnl flowers and plants amongst her
friends and acquaintances. Her nature
was kind and generous in the extreme.
as we'll rs lovely aud spiritol. Sue was
also truly pious and religious, and all
her life devout member of tho Presby-