SAMUEL K. CUNNINGHAM
Suggested edit: Note date here on death certificate for birth is different than what was printed on the headstone. Birth is at 1855 as are other documents, wanted you to be aware.
Contributor: Lori Jarvis (47689549) •
According to Silena's Memoirs she writes marrying Samuel Cunningham at the age of 14 and he age 15 married by Deacon Eldridge parents consented, Mormon high officials opposed. So they married in secret before the wedding could be halted by anyone (neither Silena nor Samuel were Mormon). They had one son, Albert Edward Cunningham "Bert".
Samuel at the time was a wagon master for the Utah area. After they separated and she got a release from the marriage from the Mormon bishop possibly about 1875 as Bert was only about 18 mths old.
Later Samuel was married to Jane Kavenaugh. Samuel' sister Mary Simmerson Cunningham Logan sent Samuel to West Point, he later became a postmaster. Silena later married Gideon Giroux. Son Bert ran copper mines in Arizona and Mexico areas and later retired and worked for Nogales, Arizona Water Company.
Contributor: Lori Jarvis (47689549)
Samuel Cunningham MEMORIAL ID 182464942
The information I can send but it is a large Memoir that Selina wrote when she was 75 years old about her marriage to Samuel. I will try to get a shot of it in a smaller version
Chapter 7
Father’s gruffness made my heart sink until I detected a friendly gleam behind his
mock severity. “How old are you my boy?” he asked, looking Sam over from head to
foot. “Fifteen”, answered Sam and as he saw father about to speak, he added quickly, “but, I’m doing a man’s job, sir and will advance you know.”
“Yes, I know father answered kindly when he saw how deeply and earnest we
were. “But you are both just children. Silena’s only fourteen.” Neither of you are old
enough to take on such responsibilities. Wait a year or two and if you still feel the same as you do now, I will give you my blessing.”
He turned back to his paper, but Sam begged: “Give us your consent and blessing
now. We never know what a year or two will bring. I love Silena, Mr Kenney and I will
do my best to make her a good husband. Her mother is willing for us to get married now, if you will give your consent.” “Oh please do, father,” I begged, speaking for the first time. “I love Sam and we will be happy together, I know we will.”
Father looked a long and earnestly into our faces before he answered. “Take her
son and make her happy and my blessing go with you both.” “Thank you, sir,” said Sam and he took me in his arms for our first kiss.
Soon the news of our engagement was known all over town and I was the envy of
all the girls. The high officials of the Morman Church opposed our marriage because
neither of us was a Morman. Although my parents were staunch members of the Morman church and I had attended it all my life, I had not joined it. In the early teens each child is given an opportunity to decide for himself whether or not he wishes to join the Church. While I loved the Morman people and admired their faith and loyalty in their belief, I could not quite bring myself to accept it, marry a Mormon boy and settle down in Utah for life, before I had seen something of the rest of the world.
Neither Sam nor any of his people were Mormans and he was new to Utah. It was
probably that which attracted me to him. At first. Sam’s father, Captain Cunningham,
served during the Mexican War and was later appointed Registrar of Lands at
Shawneetown, Illinois. His mother was Elizabeth Fontaine, of French Huguenot descent.
They were very fine people and held in high esteem by all who knew them.
Sam’s sister, Mary, had married John A. Logan, who served with Captain
Cunningham in the Mexican war and later in the Union Army during the Civil War and was a member of Congress, when I met Sam. He was very proud of his sister and often told me of her experiences nursing the soldiers. She followed her husband all during his service and helped establish hospitals and nurse the wounded. She solicited supplies from neighbors and equipped a hospital at Cairo, Illinois. After the war, she went with him on all his political tours in his campaigns for Congress and later on his two campaigns for President.
After Sam’s mother died of cholera, contracted from a neighbor whom she nursed
through the illness, Captain Cunningham moved to Provo, Utah, where he was made Postmaster
A short copy of Chapter 7 of Title:
Tangled Threads
The life of Silena Elsie Kenney-Cunninghham-Giroux
December 9, 1855 to August 4, 1946
Suggested edit: Note date here on death certificate for birth is different than what was printed on the headstone. Birth is at 1855 as are other documents, wanted you to be aware.
Contributor: Lori Jarvis (47689549) •
According to Silena's Memoirs she writes marrying Samuel Cunningham at the age of 14 and he age 15 married by Deacon Eldridge parents consented, Mormon high officials opposed. So they married in secret before the wedding could be halted by anyone (neither Silena nor Samuel were Mormon). They had one son, Albert Edward Cunningham "Bert".
Samuel at the time was a wagon master for the Utah area. After they separated and she got a release from the marriage from the Mormon bishop possibly about 1875 as Bert was only about 18 mths old.
Later Samuel was married to Jane Kavenaugh. Samuel' sister Mary Simmerson Cunningham Logan sent Samuel to West Point, he later became a postmaster. Silena later married Gideon Giroux. Son Bert ran copper mines in Arizona and Mexico areas and later retired and worked for Nogales, Arizona Water Company.
Contributor: Lori Jarvis (47689549)
Samuel Cunningham MEMORIAL ID 182464942
The information I can send but it is a large Memoir that Selina wrote when she was 75 years old about her marriage to Samuel. I will try to get a shot of it in a smaller version
Chapter 7
Father’s gruffness made my heart sink until I detected a friendly gleam behind his
mock severity. “How old are you my boy?” he asked, looking Sam over from head to
foot. “Fifteen”, answered Sam and as he saw father about to speak, he added quickly, “but, I’m doing a man’s job, sir and will advance you know.”
“Yes, I know father answered kindly when he saw how deeply and earnest we
were. “But you are both just children. Silena’s only fourteen.” Neither of you are old
enough to take on such responsibilities. Wait a year or two and if you still feel the same as you do now, I will give you my blessing.”
He turned back to his paper, but Sam begged: “Give us your consent and blessing
now. We never know what a year or two will bring. I love Silena, Mr Kenney and I will
do my best to make her a good husband. Her mother is willing for us to get married now, if you will give your consent.” “Oh please do, father,” I begged, speaking for the first time. “I love Sam and we will be happy together, I know we will.”
Father looked a long and earnestly into our faces before he answered. “Take her
son and make her happy and my blessing go with you both.” “Thank you, sir,” said Sam and he took me in his arms for our first kiss.
Soon the news of our engagement was known all over town and I was the envy of
all the girls. The high officials of the Morman Church opposed our marriage because
neither of us was a Morman. Although my parents were staunch members of the Morman church and I had attended it all my life, I had not joined it. In the early teens each child is given an opportunity to decide for himself whether or not he wishes to join the Church. While I loved the Morman people and admired their faith and loyalty in their belief, I could not quite bring myself to accept it, marry a Mormon boy and settle down in Utah for life, before I had seen something of the rest of the world.
Neither Sam nor any of his people were Mormans and he was new to Utah. It was
probably that which attracted me to him. At first. Sam’s father, Captain Cunningham,
served during the Mexican War and was later appointed Registrar of Lands at
Shawneetown, Illinois. His mother was Elizabeth Fontaine, of French Huguenot descent.
They were very fine people and held in high esteem by all who knew them.
Sam’s sister, Mary, had married John A. Logan, who served with Captain
Cunningham in the Mexican war and later in the Union Army during the Civil War and was a member of Congress, when I met Sam. He was very proud of his sister and often told me of her experiences nursing the soldiers. She followed her husband all during his service and helped establish hospitals and nurse the wounded. She solicited supplies from neighbors and equipped a hospital at Cairo, Illinois. After the war, she went with him on all his political tours in his campaigns for Congress and later on his two campaigns for President.
After Sam’s mother died of cholera, contracted from a neighbor whom she nursed
through the illness, Captain Cunningham moved to Provo, Utah, where he was made Postmaster
A short copy of Chapter 7 of Title:
Tangled Threads
The life of Silena Elsie Kenney-Cunninghham-Giroux
December 9, 1855 to August 4, 1946
SAMUEL K. CUNNINGHAM
Suggested edit: Note date here on death certificate for birth is different than what was printed on the headstone. Birth is at 1855 as are other documents, wanted you to be aware.
Contributor: Lori Jarvis (47689549) •
According to Silena's Memoirs she writes marrying Samuel Cunningham at the age of 14 and he age 15 married by Deacon Eldridge parents consented, Mormon high officials opposed. So they married in secret before the wedding could be halted by anyone (neither Silena nor Samuel were Mormon). They had one son, Albert Edward Cunningham "Bert".
Samuel at the time was a wagon master for the Utah area. After they separated and she got a release from the marriage from the Mormon bishop possibly about 1875 as Bert was only about 18 mths old.
Later Samuel was married to Jane Kavenaugh. Samuel' sister Mary Simmerson Cunningham Logan sent Samuel to West Point, he later became a postmaster. Silena later married Gideon Giroux. Son Bert ran copper mines in Arizona and Mexico areas and later retired and worked for Nogales, Arizona Water Company.
Contributor: Lori Jarvis (47689549)
Samuel Cunningham MEMORIAL ID 182464942
The information I can send but it is a large Memoir that Selina wrote when she was 75 years old about her marriage to Samuel. I will try to get a shot of it in a smaller version
Chapter 7
Father’s gruffness made my heart sink until I detected a friendly gleam behind his
mock severity. “How old are you my boy?” he asked, looking Sam over from head to
foot. “Fifteen”, answered Sam and as he saw father about to speak, he added quickly, “but, I’m doing a man’s job, sir and will advance you know.”
“Yes, I know father answered kindly when he saw how deeply and earnest we
were. “But you are both just children. Silena’s only fourteen.” Neither of you are old
enough to take on such responsibilities. Wait a year or two and if you still feel the same as you do now, I will give you my blessing.”
He turned back to his paper, but Sam begged: “Give us your consent and blessing
now. We never know what a year or two will bring. I love Silena, Mr Kenney and I will
do my best to make her a good husband. Her mother is willing for us to get married now, if you will give your consent.” “Oh please do, father,” I begged, speaking for the first time. “I love Sam and we will be happy together, I know we will.”
Father looked a long and earnestly into our faces before he answered. “Take her
son and make her happy and my blessing go with you both.” “Thank you, sir,” said Sam and he took me in his arms for our first kiss.
Soon the news of our engagement was known all over town and I was the envy of
all the girls. The high officials of the Morman Church opposed our marriage because
neither of us was a Morman. Although my parents were staunch members of the Morman church and I had attended it all my life, I had not joined it. In the early teens each child is given an opportunity to decide for himself whether or not he wishes to join the Church. While I loved the Morman people and admired their faith and loyalty in their belief, I could not quite bring myself to accept it, marry a Mormon boy and settle down in Utah for life, before I had seen something of the rest of the world.
Neither Sam nor any of his people were Mormans and he was new to Utah. It was
probably that which attracted me to him. At first. Sam’s father, Captain Cunningham,
served during the Mexican War and was later appointed Registrar of Lands at
Shawneetown, Illinois. His mother was Elizabeth Fontaine, of French Huguenot descent.
They were very fine people and held in high esteem by all who knew them.
Sam’s sister, Mary, had married John A. Logan, who served with Captain
Cunningham in the Mexican war and later in the Union Army during the Civil War and was a member of Congress, when I met Sam. He was very proud of his sister and often told me of her experiences nursing the soldiers. She followed her husband all during his service and helped establish hospitals and nurse the wounded. She solicited supplies from neighbors and equipped a hospital at Cairo, Illinois. After the war, she went with him on all his political tours in his campaigns for Congress and later on his two campaigns for President.
After Sam’s mother died of cholera, contracted from a neighbor whom she nursed
through the illness, Captain Cunningham moved to Provo, Utah, where he was made Postmaster
A short copy of Chapter 7 of Title:
Tangled Threads
The life of Silena Elsie Kenney-Cunninghham-Giroux
December 9, 1855 to August 4, 1946
Suggested edit: Note date here on death certificate for birth is different than what was printed on the headstone. Birth is at 1855 as are other documents, wanted you to be aware.
Contributor: Lori Jarvis (47689549) •
According to Silena's Memoirs she writes marrying Samuel Cunningham at the age of 14 and he age 15 married by Deacon Eldridge parents consented, Mormon high officials opposed. So they married in secret before the wedding could be halted by anyone (neither Silena nor Samuel were Mormon). They had one son, Albert Edward Cunningham "Bert".
Samuel at the time was a wagon master for the Utah area. After they separated and she got a release from the marriage from the Mormon bishop possibly about 1875 as Bert was only about 18 mths old.
Later Samuel was married to Jane Kavenaugh. Samuel' sister Mary Simmerson Cunningham Logan sent Samuel to West Point, he later became a postmaster. Silena later married Gideon Giroux. Son Bert ran copper mines in Arizona and Mexico areas and later retired and worked for Nogales, Arizona Water Company.
Contributor: Lori Jarvis (47689549)
Samuel Cunningham MEMORIAL ID 182464942
The information I can send but it is a large Memoir that Selina wrote when she was 75 years old about her marriage to Samuel. I will try to get a shot of it in a smaller version
Chapter 7
Father’s gruffness made my heart sink until I detected a friendly gleam behind his
mock severity. “How old are you my boy?” he asked, looking Sam over from head to
foot. “Fifteen”, answered Sam and as he saw father about to speak, he added quickly, “but, I’m doing a man’s job, sir and will advance you know.”
“Yes, I know father answered kindly when he saw how deeply and earnest we
were. “But you are both just children. Silena’s only fourteen.” Neither of you are old
enough to take on such responsibilities. Wait a year or two and if you still feel the same as you do now, I will give you my blessing.”
He turned back to his paper, but Sam begged: “Give us your consent and blessing
now. We never know what a year or two will bring. I love Silena, Mr Kenney and I will
do my best to make her a good husband. Her mother is willing for us to get married now, if you will give your consent.” “Oh please do, father,” I begged, speaking for the first time. “I love Sam and we will be happy together, I know we will.”
Father looked a long and earnestly into our faces before he answered. “Take her
son and make her happy and my blessing go with you both.” “Thank you, sir,” said Sam and he took me in his arms for our first kiss.
Soon the news of our engagement was known all over town and I was the envy of
all the girls. The high officials of the Morman Church opposed our marriage because
neither of us was a Morman. Although my parents were staunch members of the Morman church and I had attended it all my life, I had not joined it. In the early teens each child is given an opportunity to decide for himself whether or not he wishes to join the Church. While I loved the Morman people and admired their faith and loyalty in their belief, I could not quite bring myself to accept it, marry a Mormon boy and settle down in Utah for life, before I had seen something of the rest of the world.
Neither Sam nor any of his people were Mormans and he was new to Utah. It was
probably that which attracted me to him. At first. Sam’s father, Captain Cunningham,
served during the Mexican War and was later appointed Registrar of Lands at
Shawneetown, Illinois. His mother was Elizabeth Fontaine, of French Huguenot descent.
They were very fine people and held in high esteem by all who knew them.
Sam’s sister, Mary, had married John A. Logan, who served with Captain
Cunningham in the Mexican war and later in the Union Army during the Civil War and was a member of Congress, when I met Sam. He was very proud of his sister and often told me of her experiences nursing the soldiers. She followed her husband all during his service and helped establish hospitals and nurse the wounded. She solicited supplies from neighbors and equipped a hospital at Cairo, Illinois. After the war, she went with him on all his political tours in his campaigns for Congress and later on his two campaigns for President.
After Sam’s mother died of cholera, contracted from a neighbor whom she nursed
through the illness, Captain Cunningham moved to Provo, Utah, where he was made Postmaster
A short copy of Chapter 7 of Title:
Tangled Threads
The life of Silena Elsie Kenney-Cunninghham-Giroux
December 9, 1855 to August 4, 1946
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