NOTE: I have no connection, no further information and am not seeking additional information. 11379 MUHLENBERG CO PAUL RAYMOND CUNNINGHAM, D.D.S Cunningham, Carr, Crute, Gresham, Tidwell, Baker, Mitchell, Pool, Wimbly, Wallace, Civils, Adams, Piercy 11379 History of Kentucky, The Blue Grass State. Volume III Illustrated. The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago Louisville, 1928 Dr. Paul Raymond Cunningham, a prominent member of the dental fraternity of Muhlenberg county, is practicing in Central City and represents the fourth generation of the family in Kentucky. His great-grandfather, William Cunningham, was born in Bonnie, Scotland, a coast town, in 1765, and was the youngest of three children. His brother died in early life and his sister came to the United States soon after her marriage, settling on the James River in Albemarle county, Virginia, in 1780. William Cunningham received a common school education and learned the tailors trade under the direction of his father. According to the laws of his country he as obliged to spend at least two years in the regular army and in order to avoid military service he left home. With the assistance of his maternal uncle, a sailor, he stowed himself away on a sailing vessel bound for America and remained hidden until the ship was in mid-ocean. After a six months voyage the boat reached Chesapeake bay and was anchored in the harbor at Norfolk, Virginia. Obtaining permission to go ashore, Mr. Cunningham traversed the city and managed to elude his uncle, for a seafaring life was thoroughly distasteful to him. Proceeding to Albemarle county, he joined his sister, with whom he made his home for a number of years, and from 1792 until 1794, during the whiskey rebellion in Pennsylvania, was a solder in the United States Army. After the expiration of his term of service he returned to his sisters home and resumed his former occupation. In 1795 William Cunningham was married in Albemarle county to Miss Nancy Carr, daughter of a wealthy planter and for a time they lived on a small farm in the county. In the spring of 1818 Mr. Cunningham migrated to western Kentucky and with the assistance of one of his sons and a negro slave built a house and stable on his property in Trigg county, also raising a crop of corn. In the fall of 1818 he again journeyed to Virginia, disposed of his land in that state, and brought his family to the new home in Kentucky. He erected a mill on the present site of Trigg Furnace, cleared his farm and prepared the land for cultivation of corn and tobacco. He was one of the pioneer horticulturists of that locality, bringing his trees from Virginia, and became the owner of a large orchard which bore fruit for nearly a hundred years. Through hard work and good management he developed a highly productive plantation, which is now known as the John Crute farm. Mr. Cunningham also found time for public affairs and was an officer at the first election ever held in Trigg county, formerly a part of Christian county. He figured conspicuously in events which shaped its early history, becoming a member of the third session of the circuit court in 1820, and was appointed by the judge as road commissioner, in which connection he opened up the public highways in the western part of the county. Although not a medical practitioner he was successful in his efforts to combat disease and his skill was much in demand. He was long a leader of progress in his district and served the community to the best of his ability until his death in 1823, at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife was born in 1770 and passed away in 1833. She had reached the sixty-third milestone on lifes journey and was laid to rest in the Trigg Furnace cemetery beside her husband. In their family were twelve children. John, the eldest, who was born in 1796 and died in 1854, married Polly Gresham, who was born in 1799 and died in 1870. They had eight children: William, Jasper, Betsy, John, Mary, Belle, Eddie and Helen. Gideon was born in 1798 and died in 1865, while his wife, Harriet Tidwell, was born in 1800 and died in 1860. They were the parents of five children: Andrew, Michins, Jack, Nicholas and Beadie. Thomas, who was born in 1799 and died in 1870, married Malinda Baker, who was born in 1802 and died in 1870. Their family numbered eight children: William, Thomas, Fream, Frances, Blake, Caroline, Adliza and Alexander. William was born in 1800 and died in 1878. His wife, Jennie Mitchell, was born in 1811 and died in 1875, and they had nine children: Nancy, Andrew, David, Thomas, Mickins, Alexander, Eliza, John and Dabney. Andrew, who was born in 1804 and died in 1879, married Nancy Pool, who was born in 1806 and died in 1886, and they were the parents of six children: Morgan, Green, Bruce, Mary, Eliza and Josie. Dabney was born in 1806 and died in 1866. Mickins was the next of the family. His sister, Mrs. Rebecca (Cunningham) Wimbly, who was born in 1809 and died in 1869, was the mother of eight children: James, Jack King, Clint, Vertura, Emmie, Sarah, Mat and Alice. James, who was born in 1810 and died in 1888, married Sarah Wimbly, who was born in 1815 and died in 1882 and they had ten children: John, Perry, Penelope, Polly, Helen, Malissa, Victoria, Sallie, Nannie and Bettie. Alexander was born in 1813 and died in 1882, while his wife, Cynthia Wallace, was born in 1816 and died in 1887 and they were the parents of eight children: Alexander, Zachariah, Axom, Lida, Malissa, Kate, Malinda and Duncan. Robert, who was born in 1816 and died in 1884, married Mary Civils, who was born in 1818 and died in 1890 and they had a family of eleven children: Leander, William, James, Robert, Mack, Rufus, Washington, Elizabeth, Eudorda, Aurora and Signora. Nancy was born in 1818 and died in 1830. Mikins Cunningham, the seventh child of William and Nancy Cunningham, was born in 1808 and died in 1888. He followed the occupation of farming, was a life-long resident of Trigg county, was an adherent of the democratic party and a Baptist in religious faith. He wedded Betsy Civils, who was born in 1811 and died in 1899. They were the parents of ten children: Robert, Arnold, James, Warren C., Ruth, Eliza, Zurea, Kittie, Bettie and Tishie. Their son, Warren C. Cunningham, father of Dr. Cunningham, was born in Trigg county and studied dentistry under a preceptor. He acquired marked skill in the profession, which he followed during the later part of his life in Cadiz, Kentucky, in partnership with his son, Dr. H. G. Cunningham, who is now practicing in Bristol, Tennessee. The father remained in Cadiz until his demise and was a faithful member of the Baptist church, while in politics he was a democrat. The mother, Julia (Adams) Cunningham, was born in Trigg county and still resides in Cadiz. Her parents were Clay and Sarah Adams, of whom the latter was born in Trigg county and resides on the homestead near Cadiz. Mr. Adams was a native of the Blue Grass state and served in the Civil War. He was a Baptist in religious faith and his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits. Dr. Paul R. Cunningham has four half-brothers and one half-sister, namely: Jewell, who operates a farm in Trigg county; Herbert G., a prominent dentist of Bristol, Tennessee; Fenton, who is a printer and lives in Asheville, North Carolina; Mark C., an accountant, with the Illinois Central Railroad, who resides in Chicago, Illinois; and Mrs. Bentley Piercy, of Cadiz, Kentucky. Dr. Paul R. Cunningham was born October 20, 1901, in Trigg county, and received his early education in Cadiz. He completed a course in the Hopkinsville high school and in 1924 was graduated from the University of Louisville with the degree of D. D. S. He served for a year as an interne of the City Hospital in Louisville and then came to Central City. He is located in the building of the United Mine Workers of America and his office is equipped with the most modern appliances used in dental surgery. He has a natural talent for the profession and the rapid growth of his practice testifies to the confidence reposed in his ability. Dr. Cunningham is a member of the Delta Sigma Delta dental fraternity and acts as scribe of the Kentucky branch of the organization. He is a member of the State, Western Central and American Dental Associations and keeps in close touch with the progress that is constantly being made by his profession. He belongs to the Central City Board of Trade and champions every project for the good of his community. He is a Mason, belonging to the Cadiz Lodge, No. 121, F. & A. M.; Central City Chapter, o. 147, R. A> M.; Central City Commandery, No. 41, K. T.; and Rizpah Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Madisonville. He is affiliated with the Baptist church and his political views are in accord with the tenets of the democratic party. Dr. Cunningham is a young man of serious purpose, keen intelligence and pleasing personality and the respect accorded him is well deserved. KYBIOGRAPHIES Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index?list=kybiographies KYRESEARCH: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.kentucky.tips/mb.ashx