The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-09-14
Obituary
Nelson Wilbur Cunningham

Nelson Wilbur Cunningham, son OF
Colonel James and Martha Kennedy
Cunningham, was born February "a,
1856, in Lima, Ohio. He was the
youngest of eleven children of whom
there survives one sister, Eleanor,
resident of Boston, Mass. He leaves
his wife Eva B. Cunningham and
two foster sons Thomas Donaghue
and Wayne Galloway besides num-
erous nieces and nephews.
With his passing there has de-
parted another of the last of the
stalwart figures in an era of Ameri-
can history which marks the trans
ition of this nation from a pioneer
project to a mature commonwealth.
1t is through the energy, the enter
prise, and the vision of such men as
Mr.. Cunningham that communities
like Bluffton have kept pace with the
stride of progress. Self-educated,
for the most part, and dominated by
the restless, driving spirit of their
times these community leaders mar
shalled the energies of men, insti-
| tutions, and Inventions into a pano-
rama of national prosperity such as
had not been dreamed of before and
is again but dream for the future.
To recount the life of Mr.. Cunning
ham is to review many of the char
| acteristics of that era.
With meager educational oppor-
tunities, young Dick, as he has
| always been known, was early en-
gagged in farm labor until, in 1870
at the age of fourteen he became an
| apprentice in the office of the Allen
County Democrat, the leading news
paper of the county. At the end OF
five years, having finished his trade
he entered for a few months the
office of the Louisville Courier as q
| journeyman printer.
The year 1875 found him, at the
age of nineteen, opening the office
of the Bluffton News on North Mair
street across from the Glove Fac.
tory. Thanks to the enterprise anc
encouragement of an alert group OF
business men the new project became
a success. Because of their assist.
ance to this young printer he, in
turn, Joined their ranks and, true to
their example, became a leading con.
tributor and supporter of the many
municipal projects soon to confront
the town. Electricity, waterworks
railroad, college, pavements and the
like made their challenge and founo
hearty support in the printer who
had adopted Bluffton as his home.
Nov. 80, 1882, he was united ir
marriage with Eva A. Ballard in
Durango, Colorado. This union has
continued in harmony and love
through ffty-seven years.
Mr.. Cunningham was a self.
educated man. A wide reader with
special fondness for poetry, bio
graphy, and American history, he
broadened his mental powers and in
creased his store of knowledge ac.
cording to the true meaning of edu-
cation. As a young man he felt 8
strong urge to attain mastery over
the spoken word and to that end he
availed himself of every opportunity
| to attend the forensic fad of that
day-literaries-held in the rura
schools of the vicinity. Here he
like many another of his youth
entered into every kind of public
speaking with special activity in de-
bate. Thus he perfected gift
which yielded him great benefit in
years to come. Quick of wit, pos.
sessed of dry but rapid-fire humor
and proficient in the command OF
words he became prominent speak
er throughout the state. During the
World War he served in government
drives as Minute Man, on call at 9
minutes notice to speak far anc
wide. Travel abroad in middle lift
continued his educational activities
and brought about the publication Of
two books, "Over the Seas with Me-
and Zone Hundred and One Days
Away.
!! After sixteen years in the printing