The Scheatzle and Smith Family Origins:Information about James D. Cunningham
James D. Cunningham (b. 1781, d. February 7, 1863)
Notes for James D. Cunningham:James Cunningham and Mary Ann Cruise had 10 children--eight daughters
and two sons. James served in the War of 1812 and is listed in the
Index To War Of 1812 Pension Files, Vol I, p.518, claim WC-6689, The
National Historical Publishing Company, Waynesboro, TN, 1989, transcribed
by Virgil D. White. They are listed in the 1850 census, Lawrence Co.,
James Cunningham (71), and in the household, Mary (67), Julia (20),
Sarah (17).
"James Cunningham, familiarly known as "Uncle Jimmy," was quite
an early settler. It is said that he was the first owner of a frow,
a broad axe and an auger in New Castle. He was a shingle-maker by trade,
but his calling would not be very profitable in New Castle at the
present day. Shingles were made in those days, from sections of trees
sawed of the required length, which were split into bolts by the frow,
and then into an approximate thickness, and afterwards shaved on a
"horse" with a drawing-knife. They were made of pine or any durable
timber which had a straight grain and would rive well.
Mr. Cunningham served during the war of 1812. He married, in 1813,
Mary A. Cruise, an orphan girl, native of Delaware, who lived in the
family of Cornelius Hendrickson. She often assisted at the ferry kept
by Mr. H., crossing in a "dug out," which was propelled by an oar or
setting-pole as occasion required. She was remarkably skillful, and
often crossed when ice was running in the stream to a dangerous extent.
Her performances on the "deep" may have first attracted the admiration
of Mr. Cunningham. The new-married couple first lived in a log house,
which is still standing (weather-boarded), on the northwest corner of
the "Diamond." He paid a rental of one dollar per month. The same
building has lately rented for seven dollars per month.
He afterwards built a log cabin of his own on the lot now owned
by Webster Justice. In clearing away for the foundation there were
found among the bushes growing on the ground a great quantity of flint
arrow heads, the remains of a stone chimney, and various other evidences
of an Indian encampment or dwelling."
[From History of Lawrence County 1877 and Atlas of County of Lawrence
and State of Pennsylvania 1872, published by G.M. Hopkins and Company,
320 Walnut Street. Philadelphia. Registered Library of Congress 1872 by
G.M. Hopkins.]
Other than the daughters listed above and Washington, I have not been able to
identify the other children.
More About James D. Cunningham and Mary Ann Cruise:
Marriage: March 5, 1813, Newcastle, PA.
Children of James D. Cunningham and Mary Ann Cruise are:
- +Washington Cunningham, b. October 15, 1815, Harlansburg, PA, d. July 25, 1890, Harlansburg, PA.