Cunningham - Robert J.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 19 July 1895
Crawfordsville sincerely mourns the demise of Dr. R. J. Cunningham. Dr. Cunningham was considerably more to this community than the pastor of a church or the leader of a religious sect. His mind, his work, his character were all for good and for the general good. His untimely death is one of those mysterious dispensations of Providence which, to our unknowing minds, is irreconcilable with what seems best and right. His life was not a long life, but it was beautiful and very useful. -s
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 19 July 1895
After an illness of several weeks Dr. R. J. Cunningham passed peacefully away Sunday morning at five o’clock. He was taken sick with typhoid fever during the Wabash College commencement, but his condition was not considered alarming until Saturday.
On Saturday he had several hemorrhages and Dr. McNiel, of Pittsburg, who arrived Friday night, pronounced the situation critical. At eight o’clock in the evening, however, his symptoms were better and the attendants were filled with hope. But it was hope of short duration, for at ten o’clock hemorrhages again set in and from that time on Dr. Cunningham grew gradually weaker. Shortly after midnight he called his daughter, Miss Florence, and soon after lost consciousness, which he never regained.
The city awoke to its sorrow and during the day little else was discussed or though of. In the churches touching references were made to the death, which all regarded in the light of a calamity.
Robert John Cunningham was born in Bakerstown, Butler County, Penn., May 28, 1850. He passed his boyhood on a farm, but was educated in Pittsburg by private tutors and at the University of Pittsburg. He taught school at Alleghany City and determined to study medicine, spending one year in preparation. But at this time he concluded his life should be devoted to the ministry and entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Newburgh, N. Y. Here he was graduated and in 1876 he was married to Miss Jennie Cochran, of Newburgh, going that same year to Shushan until 1887, when in April of that year he was called to the pastorate of the Center Presbyterian Church of Crawfordsville. He accepted and began his duties here on May 1, 1887. He at once endeared himself to the hearts of the people and was looked upon as a power for good. In 1888 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Wabash College, In 1890 Dr. Cunningham was bereaved by the death of his wife, who left him with six small children to mourn his irreparable loss. The oldest of these children, all of whom still live, is now eighteen years. They are Florence, Anna, Robert J., Beth, Athena, and Mary. The two last were born in Crawfordsville and all, with the exception of Miss Florence, are now with their grandfather, Mr. Cochran, of Newburgh, N. Y. There they will doubtless reside in the future.
It was decided Sunday morning to take the body of Dr. Cunningham to Newburgh, N. Y., for interment, his wife being buried in that place. This necessitated the holding of the funeral here Monday afternoon, the hour being 3 o’clock at Center Church. At this time audience and Sunday school rooms were packed by an immense concourse of friends of Dr. Cunningham. The body was escorted from the residence to the church by a number of his late parishioners, the members of the session acting as pallbearers. The floral designs were very beautiful and the church ordered an immense bank of roses and lilies for the services which were held at Newburgh. At the church the services were short and affecting. The regular choir of the church, Messrs. Chamberlain and Cox and Misses Campbell and Binford, Miss Herdman organist, rendering the music. The hymns sung were, “Abide With Me,” “Lead Kindly Light,” and “Nearer My God to Thee.” After the singing of the first hymn a scriptural lesson was read by Rev. S. H. Creighton and prayer offered by Dr. J. W. Greene. After the second hymn, Dr. W. P. Kane, of Bloomington, Ill., and Dr. E. B. Thomson, of this city, made short addresses full of feeling and pathos. Dr. Thomson’s remarks were followed by prayer by Dr. John Mason Duncan, President of Coates College at Terre Haute. After the final hymn the audience sorrowfully disbanded, the body of the beloved pastor being taken east on the 4:53 p.m. train. Capt. R. E. Bryant accompanied Dr. McNiel and Miss Cunningham to Newburgh where they arrived on Tuesday night. The funeral at Newburgh probably occurred Wednesday morning.
Crawfordsville sincerely mourns the demise of Dr. R. J. Cunningham. Dr. Cunningham was considerably more to this community than the pastor of a church or the leader of a religious sect. His mind, his work, his character were all for good and for the general good. His untimely death is one of those mysterious dispensations of Providence which, to our unknowing minds, is irreconcilable with what seems best and right. His life was not a long life, but it was beautiful and very useful.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 26 July 1895
The Newburg, N. Y. Daily News of Wednesday, July 17, contains the following item: “After a private funeral service at the residence of Isaac Cochran, Esq., the body of Rev. Robert J. Cunningham, D. D., of Crawfordsville, Indiana, was interred beside his dead wife in Cedar Hill Cemetery this afternoon.
Source: Crawfordsville (Indiana) Weekly Argus News July 20, 1895 p 1
The only member of Dr. Cunningham's family present at the time of his death was his oldest daughter, Florence, aged 18, the other children having been sent to New York last week to spend the summer. Dr. Cunningham was told a few days before his death of his critical condition and just before he died, he called his daughter to his bedside, probably realizing that the end was near; he had spoken but a word when he became unconscious and never recovered. His thought was no doubt of his little ones and their future. It is said Mrs. Cochran, his mother-in-law is quite wealthy so that the little ones will be well cared for. Dr. Cunningham received a salary of $1,800 but it is not likely that he saved much out of it. Dr. Cunningham was a member of Washington Lodge AOUW No. 24 of this city and his children will get $2,000 from this organization, a sum which each member's family gets on his death.
At the funeral services yesterday afternoon the church was crowded. Remarks were made by Dr. WP Kane and Dr. EB Thomson and several hymns were sung by the regular choir. There were numerous floral tributes and the services were most impressive. At their conclusion those present were given an opportunity to look for the last time on the handsome face of the beloved pstor and every one did so, something unusual on such occasions. The remains were taken to the Big Four station and a great many of those at the church accompanied the pall bearers testifying to their intense esteem for the dead pastor. Miss Florence accompanied her father and will reach Newburg NY this evening. The funeral services will be held there in the morning. - kbz
Source: CWJ 19 July 1895 p 3
A simple wreath of ribboned roses and ivy hanging upon the closed door of Center Church Sunday was mutely eloquent of the bereavement not only of one religious faith but of the affliction of the community. After an illness of several weeks Dr. RJ Cunningham passed peacefully away Sunday morning at 5 o’clock. He was taken sick with typhoid fever during the Wabash College commencement but his condition was not considered alarming until Saturday. On Saturday he had several hemorrhages and Dr. McNeil of Pittsburg who arrived Friday night, pronounced the situation critical. At 8 o’clock in the evening, however, his symptoms were better and the attendants were filled with hope. But it was hope of short duration for at 10 o’clock hemorrhages again set in and from that time on Dr. Cunningham grew gradually weaker. Shortly after midnight he called his daughter, Miss Florence and soon after lost consciousness, which he never regained. The city awoke to its sorrow and during the day little else was discussed or thought of. In the churches touching references were made to the death, which all regarded in the light of a calamity.
Robert John Cunningham was born in Bakerstown, Butler County, Penn May 28, 180. He passed his boyhood on a farm but was educated in Pittsburg by private tutors and at the University of Pittsburg. He taught school at Alleghany City and determined to study medicine, spending on year in preparation. But at this time he concluded his life should be devoted to the ministry and entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Newburgh, NY. Here he was graduated and in 1876 he was married to Miss Jennie Cochran of Newburgh, going that same year to Shushan, NY as pastor of the Presbyterian Church. He remained in Shushan until 1887, when in April 9of that year he was called to the pastorate of the Center Presbyterian Church of Crawfordsville. He accepted and began his duties here May 1, 1887. He at once endeared himself to the hearts of the people and was looked upon as a power for good. In 1888 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Wabash College, In 1890 Dr. Cunningham was bereaved by the death of his wife, who left him with six small children to mourn her irreparable loss. The oldest of these children all of whom still live is now 18 years. They are: Florence, Anna, Robert J, Beth, Athena and Mary. The two last were born in Crawfordsville and all, with the exception of Miss Florence, are now with their grandfather, Mr. Cochran of Newburg, NY. There they will doubtless reside in future. It was decided Sunday morning to take the body of Dr. Cunningham to Newburg for interment, his wife being buried in that place. This necessitated the holding of the funeral here Monday afternoon, the hour being 3 o’clock at Center Church. At this time audience and Sunday School rooms were packed by an immense concourse of friends of Dr. Cunningham. The body was escorted from the residence to the church by a number of his late parishioners the members of the session acting as pallbearers. The floral designs were very beautiful and the church ordered an immense bank of roses and lilies for the services which were held at Newburgh. At the church the services were short and affecting. The regular choir of the church, Messrs Chamberlin and Cox and Misses Campbell and Binford, Miss Herdman organist, rendering the music. The hymns were, Abide With Me, Lead Kindly Light and Nearer My God to Thee. After the singing of the first hymn a scriptural lesson was read by Rev. SH Creighton and prayer offered by Dr. JW Greene. After the second hymn, Dr. WP Kane of Bloomington Ill and Dr. EB Thomson of this city, made short addresses full of feeling and pathos. Dr. Thomson’s remarks were followed by prayer by Dr. John Mason Duncan, President of Coates College, Terre Haute. After the final hymn the audience sorrowfully disbanded, the body of their beloved pastor being taken east on the 4:53 p.m. train. Capt. RE Bryant accompanied Dr, McNiel and Miss Cunningham to Newburgh where they arrived on Tuesday night. The funeral at Newburg (sic) probably occurred Wednesday morning. It is seldom, indeed that a community is called upon to mourn the untimely death of one so universally loved, honored and esteemed. The veneration of this good man was not circumscribed by the pale of his church or of the churches but extended to all classes and conditions of society. Even the bad and dissolute honored him and as he walked the city’s streets he was pointed out as a man who preached the nobles principles of human life and who exemplified his teachings in his intercourse and communion with all whom he came in contact His nature was essentially religious and his religion was essentially the religion of daily life. Said he once: “I do not preach creed nor doctrinal sermons but character. It is Christian character and not creed that must make the world better.” The kindly hand, the loving word, the rare power to always discern and advise the right course, were eminently his and to hundreds he occupied the province of guide, philosopher and friend. Molded of that clay of which nature is most sparing he was able to bring the loftiest and purest principles into the practical affairs of everyday life. Scores of people in our city today mourn for their counsellor and comforter – for that strong hand which helped to buoy them up. Dr. Cunningham’s life was an exceptionally busy one. His pastorate was large and it has seldom fallen to the lot of any man to be so generally sought for service on all matters. Besides the innumerable duties and responsibilities of his holy office he had his private cares and sorrows – few men more. But no word of complaint ever escaped him. He seemed somehow a man made for others and the world and through trials, that would have broken men less strong in love and mind, he stood in character: “Like some tall cliff that lifts its awful form – Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm. Though ‘round its breast the battling clouds are spread – Eternal sunshine settles on its head.” A ripe scholar, a master mind, a Christian gentleman, he leaves something more than a memory – a life that is a bright example. - s