The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-05-11

pie at large, Tor nearly
nm HIS Early life.
Captain Cunningham was ,. porn &
uary IA. 1S4S. the son OF 1hoiS ,. n
Cunningham, OF Hampton anu
came TO Richmond when a mere youth
since then he had always lived me-
and though still a comparoCEoVrs
vouDe man when his final sum ,..
came. he was one OF the inulNloIS nc,
sIandmarks' of the city. PropaOls
there are not half a thousand homes
I'm the city where his name Is
known. lie mingled in all clrcles
society and came much INTO pi'
nence as an entertainer. 49, 90,
Ills father was engaged IN tho - -
hoot business and this vocation "
son followed until he became Puo
| servant in 1883. ,torS
| Naturally convlvial and companionn
| able. ne associated himself with hl% mo-,
secret orders and with the locai M -.
tia. He also saw some service III ~
confederate army, though a me,
ut the time OF the hostiliues' anu So
months ago received one OF INC N
ern crosses Of honor.
IL is said that he was among TN
called out to repel the invasion OF
| Federal raider. Colonel OrS Ia
green, who encountered hlchin III
reserves and home guard near
hampton. in Henrico county II
{ Captain Cunningham married ",
Sallie G Morton, Of Halifax couu'
: who survives him with four chllureh
n Mrs Elijah Baker, Jr., and MISS ~
cunningham, of this city; DR. r. y
CUNNINGHAM and Attorney Coioert
l. C,unningham of Macon, Ga. LIT -
: ningham WAS not at his rather 80
. side when the latter breatneo ms us, 20 !
e hut has been summoned ny teie6tol
N land will reach Richmond tomorroMl
a Aside from his immediate farm
~ Captain Cunningham is survlVeI
rs seven brothers and sisters-Mrs; j.
~
phan ASYLUM; Mrs. Alice franz
- Mrs W. r. Farrell Mrs. Amanda Ia
= | bott. Mrs. Clarence Burton and Mess
Judson and Thomas Cunningham
Was a Musical Genius.
70 The life story OF Frank w. Cunnir
ham no matter from what standpo
IT IL be treated inevitably swings pa
by TO comments on his beautllul ~
- voice the noble uses he mace OF
and the paths into when ieu .h
lSt Nearly all his family-his Droth
~, and sisters as well as his chilorei
have the same gift in more or less
gree, and like their kinsm9n SO =
he to be laid to rest. they nave ~
generous with their accomplishing
AIN From his earliest youth Frank =
nd ningham sang-sang almost ulNlI
,od with an indescribable touch oil =
'oSA pathS in his voice Whlch soihoi
my made the tears well in ones eyes e
lyric measures. q,
lSS, on the operate stage he would y
ok achieved national II not interim aI.,
last Gc TWINS took the foremost solo pi
raj He read music with ASTONISHING
cilitv and his memory for all meu
compositions, whether set TO musi
Olu- not, was amazing.
&c Poetry he loved. for that, "S
80 as music. was a part Of the man
ne 1t was not long before ms voice
end traCtcd widespread attention, nov
fore nG,r "" an astute theatrical mans
life recognizing in his voice the mari a-i,l
- genius. sought to engage his ser
for grand opera WORK
Col And Captain Cunningham act
V, did 90 to New 19rk "n ma T Tr,v,'
It ana merbans even more ambi
his oppras ISut music sWcCtcr IMAM
pied OF EurIpT orch ~ot, summoned
AWAY from the footliEhts. He
,l,+ not bring himself to forget ms
gnu fling children or To adapt hins'
was the nomadic life Of the plaYerfolk
.nou- so he turned his face back 1"
mond.
MS OF captain Cunningham has frep'
him. hcen seen and heard mere III an
dious ope ths , ,'h1 iph Rnckstraw i'm "
Mrs. fore"
4 : a sort OF muSlCtAl lllOoIAllbt
LIE IL" came a member OF the choir
aging FIRST Baptist church. and for
, mt ! wears he served as the tenor q
ne of b bnSwever' his asthmatic troubles
lula PEELED him to resign TINS pc
mind, t mo ebrr nT sun on occasions. Ind
E him may be said that Frank Cunnini
Talley voice to the nd ,"S1 e wns snTering
30 len 10
d this its tone or abate its inimit"hie
q him "eS S., ,,o first d,v Cantain Gu
Groom ham sang with the First Baptist
his solo was Home OF the SOU
this he used to sing every year
teristic after on the anniversary Of h
IT was association with the choir. II
ude to- that he commenced this practice
lhorred request of the late James i
{ is no Ions. a prominent member of q
>ul was gregation.
. 20 !" Some of His Best Songs
ng the When Captain Cunningham
al ca called upon TO sing 3t tuner
solos were usually selected
Law on family of the decedent. but If
&c head TO follow his own Volition, he
le forth certain favorite hymns of n
was a which in time made him famo
to him voice was especially eHectNe
person rendition OF Ablde win NE,
r Rich Night" Home of the Soul" -
ipeaking But in the coming hears,
'Flaher-l Meet Beyond the River" "Jes'
ews, he of MY Soul ana NOuiu =
rms his Away
rarely. AS a ballad singer ne cav
office. thousands, ana at Tunes arol
George greatest enthusiasm. All Al
Raptist went wild with delight at his
lay that of the Blue ana tne gray
soon as Sword or Huhker mn TN
give up was something more IMAM a
II II was with a limited r"pertorE' re
elective were TOO dlhGult Tor ms N"Cd
ments, and his long experience
he had him TO meet all the eruergen
ctiOns OF so frequently arise III Cholr We
ended to him as the tenor ms ChurCil .
ho would greatly increased their Skill