Edward and Martha (Trisler) Cunningham
EDWARD C CUNNINGHAM
from the 1997 book
THE DESCENDANTS OF EDWARD CUNNINGHAM
revised 2016
Edward was born 1818 at Walnut Bottom, Washington County PA in what is now Donora. His parents were James CUNNINGHAM and Margaret WINNING (sometimes called WINAN). It is possible that Margaret died as a result of childbirth complications. The most reliable information I have puts Margaret's death in 1818 or 1819. Her resting place is unknown. It is believed the second wife of James (Edward's father) is buried in Key Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Belmont County OH. I have had to rely on the county burial records as the markers for James and his second wife no longer exist. The late Betty Jane Hamner reported seeing the stones (probably in the 1950's).
Based on a biography about Lutellius Cunningham (a grandson of Edward's brother James, who died in Missouri) on the Cole County Historical Society (Missouri) website, Nancy McGrew was James Cunningham's second wife and Edward's mother. I have not been able to confirm Nancy McGrew either as Edward's mother or James' second wife from any other original source. Some unconfirmed internet sources say Margaret died Feb 20 1810 in Washington County PA. If true, Edward's mother is his father's second wife, whoever she might be.
Other versions of Edward's story from Ancestry.com place his birth on February 25, 1817 and his mother Margaret's death as 1818. Some accounts list Edward's middle name as "Gilbert". I do not have any original source material for this information
Edward moved to Pultney Township in Belmont County OH, probably between 1820 and 1830, with his father James. There is a record of 147 acres sold by Edward to Samuel Cunningham on Dec 18 1841 for $1800 (Deed Book Z page 432). This land is South of Route 147 on the West end of Pinch Run.
On April 13, 1843 Edward married Martha Austin Trisler with Rev. Israel Dallas of the Methodist Episcopal Church presiding. Martha was born on New Year's Day in 1825 at Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia). She was the daughter of Jacob Trisler and Lucy Austin.
The 1860 Agricultural Census shows Edward's farm near Powhattan Point in Belmont County with livestock valued at $150 on June 1st of that year (2 horses, 2 cows, 1 pig). His farm had produced 400 bushels of corn, 160 bushels of oats, 40 bushels of potatoes, 100 lbs of butter, and 5 tons of hay in the year preceding June 1st. The farm of Edward's brother-in-law, Matthew Bonar, is listed nearby.
Between August 18, 1860 and 1866, Edward and Martha moved to Monroe County and took up residence in Salem Township. (The 1860 census shows Edward and family still in Belmont County, Ohio) He bought 98 acres from Abraham Workman in 1866 and twenty acres from James Potts in 1868. These lots are in section 23 and 28 respectively, though a map from 1869 shows the land of E E Cunningham in section 29 just south of Sykes Ridge road near the Sykes Cemetery. In 1870 Edward sold his 98 acres in section 23 to John Bryson for Three Thousand Dollars.
In 1874 Edward fell ill. A doctor bill from August of that year shows liniment and near the end of the month Opium and Morphine, indicating he was in no little pain. He died September 2, 1874 near Clarington, probably at his home and left no will . A bill from the estate settlement lists a cost of $18 for a casket from the Clarington Planing Mill and Furniture Company . No gravestone has been found, but the best guess puts his final resting place in the Sykes Cemetery nearby. The parents of Matilda Jane Roush, Edward's son Israel's first wife, are buried there.
After Edward's death, Martha moved to Belleville, West Virginia with her unmarried son Randall. Matthew Bonar and his wife Phoebe (Martha's sister) moved to Belleville from Belmont County together, or about the same time. Martha later moved to Wirt County with Randall's family, where she died in September of 1920 and is buried on Flint Run.
c 1997/2016 Dan Cunningham
Children of
EDWARD C. CUNNINGHAM (1818-1874)
and
MARTHA A. TRISLER (1825-1920)
Israel Dallas CUNNINGHAM (1844-1921)
Matilda Jane ROUSH (1849-1890) married March 5 1870
Susan Ann BLEDSOE married Sep 27 1892 in Madison County VA
Elizabeth MOUNTJOY (1856-1937) married Aug 28 1907 Calloway County MO
Bio for Israel Dallas Cunningham
Lucy CUNNINGHAM (1845-1868)
Samuel Garfield CUNNNINGHAM (1848-1920)
Mary Jane LONG (1845-1902) married Dec 4 1871 Monroe County OH
Ann NEPTUNE (1852-1914) married Sep 18 1902 Wood County WV
Anna B.(SEARLES) BELL (1873-1940) married Dec 16 1915 Wood County WV
second marriage for Anna - she married again after Samuel's death
Bio for Samuel Garfield Cunningham
Alfred C CUNNINGHAM (1851-1880)
Julia Ann HOPTON (1854-1896) married Dec 26 1878 Belmont County OH
More info on Alfred Cunningham
Randall Austin CUNNINGHAM (1855-1939)
Virginia Ellen MCKENZIE (1860-1903) married Sep 14 1880 Wood County WV
Bio for Randall Cunningham
Henry D CUNNINGHAM (1859-1890)
married Augusta EIDER (b. 1857) Dec 17 1878 Champaign County OH
More info on Henry Cunningham
CENSUS INFORMATION FOR EDWARD BELOW
CENSUS SCANS FOR EDWARD CUNNINGHAM
images have been edited to focus on Edward and family
1860 census has been filled in - original difficult to read
images have been edited to focus on Edward and family
1860 census has been filled in - original difficult to read
Traditional tunes (Angel Band, John Henry, Amazing Grace)
with new tales of feuding clans, revival preachers, & fugitives.
APPALACHIAN SONG CD
