A. CUNNINGHAM, farmer, P.O. Boyleston, was born in what is now Lawrence County, then Beaver County, Penn., on February 20, 1840, and was a son of Thomas and Hannah (Beer) Cunningham, natives of that State, the father being of Irish descent and the mother probably of German.  Subject was the youngest of six children, of whom five are now living.  His education was received in the free schools of his native county, but he lent an assisting hand on his father's farm whenever is was necessary.  In 1859, he came to Wayne County, Ill., and at first worked around for some of the farmers who were then residing here.  He afterward commenced life for himself on a farm adjoining the one he now occupies in Big Mound Township.  On that farm he resided until 1871, and then came to his present farm, where he now owns 180 acres, situated in Sections 4, 5 and 33, of Township 2 south, Range 7 east.  Mr Cunningham was married, in Lamard Township, Wayne County, on October 18, 1860, to Mary J. King, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Ann (McLung) King.  The parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and came to this county about 1840, where they resided until their deaths, that of the mother occurring on August 14, 1864, and the father's on May 15, 1868.  Mrs. Cunningham was born in Lamard Township, Wayne County, on February 28, 1843, and is the mother of four children, all of whom are now living, viz; Edward S., born March 24, 1862; Jessie M., born January 11, 1864; Cora L., born August 16 1868, and Mary E., born July 13, 1880.   She is a member of the Jeffersonville Methodist Episcopal Church.  In politics our subject is a Democrat.  On June, 1861, Thomas Cunningham, the father of subject, came to Wayne County and lived with his son until his death, on May 2, 1864.