Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-04-29
PROMINENT PINE
COUNTY MAN DIES
Geo. H. Cunningham, ST., Stur-.
geon Lake, Came to Pine
County in the Eighties. Was
81 Years Old.

After a lingering illness of
more than two months, George
H. Cunningham, ST., pioneer citi-
zen and prominent business man
of Sturgeon Lake, succumbed on
Monday evening.
| Mr.. Cunningham became ill
during the latter part of
February, but his illness was not
considered serious until a couple
of weeks ago when his condition
became critical, finally culminat-.
ing in death. All of the family,
with the exception of Walter,
was at the bedside at the time
of death.
Mr.. Cunningham's death marks
the passing of a prominent figure
in the development of northern
Pine county. His career was
stretched out over the days when
this part of the country was in
habited chiefly by Indians, and
the white settlers were limited
to a few homesteaders who had
staked their claims around the
village.
Mr.. Cunningham was born in
southern Wisconsin on Jan. 18th,
1859. His early years were spent
working on farms, in the woods
and in the mills. He came to
Sturgeon Lake from Rutledge in
1883 to work as relief agent for
the St. Paul and Duluth railroad.
Later on he hired out as clerk
for one Frank Murray, who was
running a general store in Stur-
geon Lake at that time. Realiz-
ing the possibilities in the mer-
camille business, he started a
store of his own in 1890 and later
on he bought out Frank Murray
and that was the nucleus of his
vast business career in this part
of the country.
! With the further development
of this territory, Mr.. Cunning
ham was chiefly identified with
its progress by lending assistance
to settlers, financially and other
wise, and many of the early
settlers can attribute. their sue
cess to the support they received
from him when they came in
with practically nothing.
| In civic affairs, Mr.. Cunning
ham, was continually a leader.
He was instrumental in the in
corporation of the village and
after the incorporation he was
head of the village council for
many years. At the time of his
death, he was treasurer of the
school district, a position that he
has held for several years.
| In 1915 he was a candidate for
the legislature in the seth legis-
lative district, winning place on
the state ticket in the primaries,
but lost by a small margin in
the general election.
| He published the Sturgeon
Lake Hustler from 1915 to 1913.
His mercantile business grew
steadily under his management,
and in 1910 it was incorporated
and assumed the name of Cum
bingham Mercantile Company.
It's activities were widespread,
doing business over a vast terri
tory and maintaining branch
store at Denham for many years.
! Mr.. Cunningham was an ardent
lover of out-of-doors sports, and
most of his leisure time was spent
fishing, hunting and following
competitive athletics.
! In 1891 he was married to
Hilda Ahnstrom, who remains to
mourn his loss. Seven children
were born to this union, six are
surviving, William being drowned
in Sand lake in July, 1923. The
surviving children are John, Mrs.
Hartley Gray, Ruby and Monroe
of Sturgeon Lake, George, Jr., of
Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Wal
ter of Brownsville, Texas. There
are also six grandchildren sur
viving.
Through the many years that
Mr.. Cunningham has resided in
Sturgeon Lake, he has won a host
of friends, who regret his pass
ing. His magnetic personality
[engendered a feeling of reverence
in all those with whom he came
in contact, and he leaves place,
that is hard to fill.
| Mr.. Cunningham's funeral will
be held from the home Thursday
afternoon.