The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-30
The Generals Romantic Marriage.

New York Sun.
General Logan's marriage was quite roman
tic, and the story is not generally known. Mrs.
Logan's father was Captain Cunningham, de-
scended from an Irish family, and a Southeruer
by birth and education. He was born in Lin
coin. Tenn, but reared in Alabama, and when
Of age went to Illinois. He brought some slaves
with him, but, although slavery was still al
lowed in the Territories, he decided to liberate
them, and did so. From Illinois he migrated TO
Missouri. and entered the employ of George P.
Darris, at that time a great overland merchant,
with headquarters in ST. Louis. While in Peters
burg, Boone county, he met and married a lady
of French descent. Miss Fountaine, and it was
on Missouri soil that their first child, Mary, was
born. She was only a year old when the Cap
tain returned to Illinois on account Of his fathers
failing health. and settled in Williamson cOun-
ty. When the Mexican war broke out her father,
who had served in the Black Hawk war
when a mere boy, received a commission
as captain of q company of the First Illinois
Volunteers. and went to the front. In another
company of the same regiment there happened
to be a yound lieutenant by the name of John
A. Logan. who had enlisted from jackson coun-
ty. His father had served in the same Legis-
lature with the Captain. and naturally a strong
friendship sprang up between the two. In fact,
it may be said chat the marriage which after
ward took place between the Lieutenant and the
Captains eldest daughter was arranged during
this campaign. since the Captain, about this
time. received from the latter, still q mere child,
the first letter she had ever written, and. show
ing it to the Lieutenant. laughlngly told him he
might hnvs her. After the war the Captain
caught the gold fever, and was one of the forty
miners who emigrated to the Pacific coast.
Upon his return Pierce had been installed AS
President, and the Captain received the appoint
ment of land register, at Shawneetown, Ill.
In the meantime young Logan had been max
ing good progress at the bar, and the Captains
eldest daughter mad been acquiring an education
at the famous convent school of st. Vincent's
Academy, at Morganield. KY, where she passed
three years. At that time it was one OF the few
academies for young ladies in the West and a
branch of the famous institution at Nazareth,
Ky. She graduated in July, 1855, and on her
return entered her fathers Office and acted as
his secretary, this being her first appearance in
public affairs. At this time General logan was
prosecuting attorney for the district, and lived
in Benton. Franklin county. It was on going
over to Shawneetpwn to attend court that he
had the pleasure of meeting Miss Cunningham
for the first time. he told her that he had
called for the purpose of claiming the fulflment
of her fathers promise, and prospered so well in
his courtship that in the following November
they were married, she q young girl Of seventeen
and he q rising lawyer of thirty.
Logan was at that time prosecuting attorney
of the district, and in those days the circuit was
composed of sixteen counties. He lived in Ben
ton, and there the young couple began their
married life. His rise was rapid and brilliant,
and in 1858, after distinguished service in the
Legislature. he was elected to Congress as a
Douglas Democrat Mrs. Logan has often de-
scribed that famous campaign. during which
Stephen A. Douglas spoke at Benton and was
entertained at General Logan's house.