The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-01-11
BIOGRAPHICAL.
B0bts IL Cunningham, Com m isstou
Merchant, GRirO, HI.

(Frem the United States Biographical Diction.
airy and Portrait Gallery of Eminent aud Self
Made Men
Robert Henry Cunningham, merchant,
of Cairo, was born in the county of Ty-
rome, Ireland, on the 26th of October,
1926. His parents were Robert and Anna
Rogers) Cunningham. The family is of
Scotch descent, the grandfather of Mr.
Cunningham having been native Of Ed
In burg and staunch old school Presby-
terrain. lie was educated in the common
(parochial) schools Of his native town,
Omagh, till the age OF seventeen years.
learned the common branches OF English
| AID mathematics, after which he served
OF public works, Ireland, and at the
age OF twenty, in the year ls49,
immigrated to America, and settled In
Pittsburg, where he remained some five
| wears, engaged In clerking for Brown &
| Fitzpatrick, wholesale grocers. After
this he acted as salesman on a steamboat,
operating on the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers sold goods at the various landings
and plantations bordering upon the river
tor about year, after which he removed
to Cairo, and engaged in business on his
own account. He had saved small sum
out Of his previous earnings, which he
invested in a stock of boat stores. and
sold supplies to the various steamers ply.
ing upon the rivers, tor period Of
twenty months, during which he realized
the then large sum of four thousand dol
lars. After this he took Mr.. j.
NJ. Reed in partnership with
him, and opened dry goods store
bniit the first house on the Ohio levee IA
frame structure) and for twenty years
kert he principal store in Cairo sold
oat in 1873, and has since been engaged
in the forwarding and commission bust
ness. Tie commenced life without a doll
lar Of cspit.l, and is now one of the
principal money,d men Of Southern Ill
inOis. and is. moreover, one of the most
influential mel Oh his city.
He Is in communion with the PresLy-
terrain denomination OF Christians, and
is trusted and leading member of the
church to which he belongs, and sxer-
cises wholesome influence In the COM
munity.
Politically, he has generally acted with
the Democratic party, but he has never
held an office, other than being alder
man OF the city. He is director Of the
City National bank, Of the Enterprise
Savings bank, and also director OF the
gas company OF Cairo.
He is quite domestic in his tastes and
habits, fond OF home and devoted to his
family. Like most countrymen, he il
proyerbial for his hospitality, warm.
generous and wholesouled friend, a care
ful business man, prudent, frugal and
Industrious.
lie has been three times married: first
to Miss Ann, daughter OF Charles Mitch
ell, Esq, native of the town of Clougher,
Tyrone county. Ireland. She died In
Pittsburg in 1913, leaving one child, Rob-
ert, now a farmer In Pulaski county, lii
nOis. In November, 1852, he married
Mrs. Mckinney, native Of Canada. She
died In 1865, without issu.. On the 18th
of February. 1858, he married Miss Alice
Peters, daughter OF Fraser Peters. They
have had four ch ildren, two OF whom sur
yive, Harry and Thomas, aged respee<
lively seven and four years.