INDIAN FIGHTER
VETERAN OF THE CIVIL WAR
Information provided by Linda Duncan Miles, contributor #47070549
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CUNNINGHAM, J. V.
The parents of our subject moved to Texas from Alabama in an early day, settling first in Titus County. They were both Tennesseans by birth. The father, James Cunningham, was born in 1818, while his wife, formerly Miss Susanna Tate, was two years younger than himself. Prior to their removal to Texas, two children were born: Aaron and Elizabeth, the latter of whom is now the wife of T. J. Holmesley. Later on ten more children were added to the family, namely: D. H., R. T., J. V., W. H., J. W., J. J., T. A., G. W., Mary Jane, the wife of Joe Neely, and Unita Ann, the wife of James Lewis, all of whom are living. James Cunningham took up the occupation of farming and stock raising upon his arrival in Titus County, and continued in this business until his death.
J. V. Cunningham was born on the present site of Mt. Pleasant, in Titus County, February 14, 1846. His father removed that same year to Travis County, and subsequently to Williamson County, where he remained until about the year 1856, when he made a final location in Comanche County. The Cunningham family was the sixth to settle within the limits of what is now Comanche County, those who had preceded it in locating there being the Mercers, Holmesleys, Tuggles, Colliers and McGuires. There were a great many Indians in the country, but they were very friendly to the whites at that time; and, indeed, there were but very few conflicts between whites and redskins in that portion of the State until about the breaking out of the Civil War. The settlers were ever suspicious of danger, however, and were in a constant state of watchfulness. Organizing for the common defence, the settlers formed parties to keep an eye on their dangerous neighbors, styling themselves "Independent Rangers." Every male member of the community old enough to carry arms was expected to give ten days' time in each month to this necessary duty. Co-operation was also necessary in managing their everyday affairs, and while some were doing military service their home interests were safe in their friends' care. The elder Mr. Cunningham was for many years a Captain of those Ranger companies, and was in many other ways instrumental in the advancement and improvement of the country. J. V. Cunningham, before he had reached his fifteenth year, learned to share the dangers and hardships with the older men, and was frequently away from home for weeks at a time; for the "Rangers," returning from some expedition, would frequently meet the men who had the cattle in charge on the range and exchange places with them without going into the settlements. When, at last, the Indians commenced their depredations, the citizens of Comanche suffered heavy losses of horses and cattle. The marauding bands were generally pursued, but seldom overtaken; but J. V. Cunningham was present on several occasions when the Indians were "cornered" and had to fight for their lives, and, each time, several of the thieves were killed.
As may easily be supposed, Mr. Cunningham, while learning the stern lessons of frontier life, had but little time for the gentler studies, even if opportunities had been afforded him. His bookish education was acquired in the common schools of the county, and the period covered by his school days was by no means long. The first wages that he ever received was for driving cattle into New Mexico for his father. For his services on this trip he was paid $45 a month. He clung to the cattle business, perfecting himself in its every branch and detail, and during his long experience was never at a loss to find employment or failed to secure the highest wages for the work performed. He built up until he was receiving $125 a month for trail work, and as fast as his money was drawn it was invariably invested in lands and cattle.
Tiring of working for other men, Mr. Cunningham located in business for himself in Comanche County; but after handling his cattle there for a short time he went to Bosque County, where he purchased and stocked a ranch. Later on he purchased 500 head of beef cattle and drove them to Shreveport and shipped to New Orleans. This was during the "free grass" days, when the cattle owner had to deal with advantages and disadvantages unknown at the present time. There was no scarcity of range or water, for the entire country was open to the wandering herds, but thievery was common, and Mr. Cunningham, among others, suffered heavily from this source. He next handled cattle for a man named Reed, of Comanche County, who was rounding up the strays in the country and restoring them to the proper owners. He received from every man to whom he delivered an animal ten per cent of its value, and as there was no scarcity of stray cattle in the country, Mr. Cunningham made a good deal of money out of the business, sometimes taking in as much as $1,100 in a single week. These earnings were invested in a herd of cattle, which he drove through to Wichita, Kansas, by way of Ft. Worth. He made the trip in safety, but only to meet with misfortune in the midst of his success. This was in 1873, the year of the failure of the Wichita Savings Bank, and Mr. Cunningham was among those who suffered in finances thereby. It was an almost total shipwreck of his fortunes, but his ranch in Bosque was still left, and, two years later, he sold this and moved to Taylor County, where he established a ranch and commenced a general cattle business, buying and selling, and accepting every deal that promised a certain return. He has pursued this occupation ever since, but of late years has allowed his holding of cattle to decrease and is now doing business on a moderate scale only. He has a good farm and pasture, and leases beside considerable land in Taylor County for grazing purposes. His residence is in Abilene. In 1880 he was elected Sheriff of his county and has since served fourteen years in that capacity-a fact which not only speaks volumes for his popularity among his fellow-citizens, but may also be accepted as an index of his own personal character. A braver or more determined officer never lived. All his life he has been noted for his courage and daring, and with just cause, for during his youth and early manhood his life was one of constant excitement and danger. In the old Indian days he passed through many perils. On one occasion he was shot at twenty-nine times by the Indians. At another time the horse that he rode was shot from under him. These are only two of his many narrow escapes. Once the Indians camped near his father's ranch, and suspecting their motives, Mr. Cunningham pursued them with his three brothers and an old man named Watson. The Indians were overtaken on the Cowhouse Creek, in Lampasas County, where they had concealed themselves in the mountains. Mr. Cunningham was armed only with a pistol, while the Indians had guns and bows and arrows; but he succeeded in killing one of their number and wounding two others. The Indians could not be drawn or driven from their cover, and in consequence the whites had to withdraw. In 1863, or the year following, Mr. Cunningham was in another fight with the Indians. With a party of eleven Rangers, under Col. Jack Wright, of Comanche, he had followed an Indian trail for a long distance, and the enemy was finally struck near Salt Mound, in Brown County. They had stationed themselves in a strong position under a bluff, and the Rangers had to cross a deep ravine in the face of their fire. This was done with the loss of three horses, and the Indians were driven from their position, the Rangers killing one of them and one of their horses. Since accepting the office of Sheriff Mr. Cunningham's courage and ability has been tested many times, and he has never yet been found lacking in any of the requisites of an ideal official. In 1885 he was instrumental in breaking up an organized gang of criminals known as the Cole and Lemons gang, whose haunts and depredations covered all that vast territory between the upper Red River and Del Rio. Mr. Cunningham secured a clew in Albany which led to a successful chase, terminating at Del Rio.
Our subject was married in Comanche, Texas, December 29. 1864, to Miss Martha Ligon, the daughter of a well-to-do Arkansas farmer. They have six children: Elizabeth T., the eldest, is now the wife of Sheriff R. E. Burch, of Plainview, Texas; Eldora J. married Dick Bracken, of San Antonio, and now lives in Mineola, Texas; James M. is Assistant Cashier in the Farmers and Merchants' National Bank of Abilene, and Alonzo B. is in the mercantile business with his brother-in-law, L. P. Ligon, who married Erie P., the youngest daughter. There was another son, Roy V., who is now dead.
J. V. Cunningham has been for many years a Mason; is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar. He is a member of the Methodist Church, as is also his wife. He has a host of friends, and his integrity and nerve have won recognition and praise even from those who have learned to respect in his person the majesty of the law. (Source: Historical and Biographical Record of the Cattle Industry and the Cattlemen of Texas by James Cox, Published by Woodward & Tiernan Printing Co, St Louis, 1895

information provided by Contributor: Sherry (47010546) • [email protected] (added 5/7/2021)