SAMUEL GARFIELD CUNNINGHAM
from the 1997 book
THE DESCENDANTS OF EDWARD CUNNINGHAM
revised 2016
-- son of Edward and Martha Cunningham
According to many census entires and other sources, Sam was born in Belmont County OH in 1848. His obituary, apparently written by his daughter, says he was born near Atlas PA. A few sources use the middle name "Gilbert" instead of "Garfield". With black hair and a beard, Sam was apparently healthy and active up to the time of his death.
Sam married three times. He married his first wife, Mary Long, in Monroe County Ohio. She died in 1902 after Sam moved to Belleville, West Virginia. Sam married his second wife, Ann Neptune, in September of 1903 in Wood County WV. All indications are that Ann (sometimes called Anna or Amy) lived her entire life of 50 years in Marion County WV (about 100 miles away on the roads of that time) until she suddenly appears in the records as Sam's wife in Wood County. When she became ill, Sam alarmed the neighbors by starting to dig her grave prematurely. After her death, he was jailed and asked to explain his actions in court. A number of Sam's neighbors were convinced he had starved her to death. That does not appear to be the case, but he was (reportedly) described as, "Meaner than the devil himself", by Randall, his brother. I am told he had a General Store in Belleville WV, and also sold door to door. He also taught school at some point.
Sam married his third wife, the former Mrs. Anna B. Bell, only minutes after arriving from Michigan with her daughter by train in December of 1915. Around 1919, Sam moved to Woodsfield OH and went to work for his son-in-law, Forrest Yoho, as a farm laborer. He died on July 14, 1920 at the Ohio home of his daughter, Ella Yoho. The 1920 census for Monroe County lists him as widowed, but it is clear that Anna outlived him. Anna (shown as a resident of Parkersburg in the deed) sold her husband's land to Hattie Strong in 1921. Anna remarried to Mr. Harvey Smith of Cameron in 1922.
Sam is buried in the Cunningham Cemetery near Belleville, but the grave is not marked. It is said that his first two wives are also buried in the cemetery.
According to many census entires and other sources, Sam was born in Belmont County OH in 1848. His obituary, apparently written by his daughter, says he was born near Atlas PA. A few sources use the middle name "Gilbert" instead of "Garfield". With black hair and a beard, Sam was apparently healthy and active up to the time of his death.
Sam married three times. He married his first wife, Mary Long, in Monroe County Ohio. She died in 1902 after Sam moved to Belleville, West Virginia. Sam married his second wife, Ann Neptune, in September of 1903 in Wood County WV. All indications are that Ann (sometimes called Anna or Amy) lived her entire life of 50 years in Marion County WV (about 100 miles away on the roads of that time) until she suddenly appears in the records as Sam's wife in Wood County. When she became ill, Sam alarmed the neighbors by starting to dig her grave prematurely. After her death, he was jailed and asked to explain his actions in court. A number of Sam's neighbors were convinced he had starved her to death. That does not appear to be the case, but he was (reportedly) described as, "Meaner than the devil himself", by Randall, his brother. I am told he had a General Store in Belleville WV, and also sold door to door. He also taught school at some point.
Sam married his third wife, the former Mrs. Anna B. Bell, only minutes after arriving from Michigan with her daughter by train in December of 1915. Around 1919, Sam moved to Woodsfield OH and went to work for his son-in-law, Forrest Yoho, as a farm laborer. He died on July 14, 1920 at the Ohio home of his daughter, Ella Yoho. The 1920 census for Monroe County lists him as widowed, but it is clear that Anna outlived him. Anna (shown as a resident of Parkersburg in the deed) sold her husband's land to Hattie Strong in 1921. Anna remarried to Mr. Harvey Smith of Cameron in 1922.
Sam is buried in the Cunningham Cemetery near Belleville, but the grave is not marked. It is said that his first two wives are also buried in the cemetery.
Children of
SAMUEL GARFIELD CUNNINGHAM (1848-1920)
and
Mary Jane LONG (1845-1902)
no children by Ann NEPTUNE (1852-1914)
no children by Anna B. BELL (1872-1940)
Ulysses CUNNINGHAM (1873-1930) Minnie SHUMAN (b. 1876) married June 2 1894 Columbiana Co OH
Edward CUNNINGHAM (1875-1878)
Ella May CUNNINGHAM (1877-1950)
Forrest H YOHO (1876-1934) married Nov 19 1895 Belleville WV
Abraham S. CUNNINGHAM (1881-1902)
Clara Belle CUNNINGHAM (1882-1960)
Silas Edward FLEAK (1883-1968) married May 12 1901 Wood Co WV
Elsworth CUNNINGHAM (1885-1955)
Arthur A. CUNNINGHAM (1888-1955)
Lena LINGER (1889-1919) married Aug 3 1907 Columbiana County OH
Eleanora POPOWSKY (b.1900) married Oct 12 1921 Cuyahoga County OH
Ira CUNNINGHAM (1891-1892)
I am in debt to the late Betty Jane Hamner, Dawn Smith, and Forrest Cunningham
for some the information shown here plus details to be included
in a future printed version of the Edward Cunningham book.
SAMUEL GARFIELD CUNNINGHAM (1848-1920)
and
Mary Jane LONG (1845-1902)
no children by Ann NEPTUNE (1852-1914)
no children by Anna B. BELL (1872-1940)
Ulysses CUNNINGHAM (1873-1930) Minnie SHUMAN (b. 1876) married June 2 1894 Columbiana Co OH
Edward CUNNINGHAM (1875-1878)
Ella May CUNNINGHAM (1877-1950)
Forrest H YOHO (1876-1934) married Nov 19 1895 Belleville WV
Abraham S. CUNNINGHAM (1881-1902)
Clara Belle CUNNINGHAM (1882-1960)
Silas Edward FLEAK (1883-1968) married May 12 1901 Wood Co WV
Elsworth CUNNINGHAM (1885-1955)
Arthur A. CUNNINGHAM (1888-1955)
Lena LINGER (1889-1919) married Aug 3 1907 Columbiana County OH
Eleanora POPOWSKY (b.1900) married Oct 12 1921 Cuyahoga County OH
Ira CUNNINGHAM (1891-1892)
I am in debt to the late Betty Jane Hamner, Dawn Smith, and Forrest Cunningham
for some the information shown here plus details to be included
in a future printed version of the Edward Cunningham book.
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