Married Virginia Ann Funk February 18, 1849 in Harrison County, Indiana.

Children: Zachariah (Zachary) Taylor, Martha Ann, Francis Marion, Amy Louisa, Rachel Catherine, Elizabeth Ellen, Fanny Isabella, Isaac Hayes, Frederick, Thomas Robert, Charles.

Wilford and Virginia were the first of the Cunningham family to settle in Knox County, Missouri in 1851 from Harrison County, Indiana, followed later by his parents and family.

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Wilford Cunningham, a prominent citizen of Benton Township, Knox County, was born in Harrison County, Ind., December 26, 1826, and is the son of Robert and Rachel (Moyers) Cunningham. The father was a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, born in April, 1805, and was of Irish descent. He died in Knox County, Mo., in March, 1885. He was a boatman in his youthful days, and made many trips to New Orleans. This was before many steamboats were on the Mississippi River. He was also engaged in the saw mill business, but the latter part of his life was passed on the farm. He moved to Harrison County, Ind., with his parents, when but nine years of age, and remained a resident of that county until 1851, when he came to Knox County, Mo. After the war he held the office of register for one year. He was a Union man, and took an active part during the late war, and freely expressed his opinion. He was shot at while in his own house, and the same time his son, the brother of our subject, Robert M., was killed. The boy at this time was about sixteen years of age. The mother of our subject was born in Shenandoah County, Va., in August, 1805, and was of German descent. She is now living, and is a resident of Knox County, Mo. Her father came to Harrison County, Ind., during the early settlement of the country, and her mother died when she was quite young. Her father was a member of the United Brethren Church, of which she has been a member for the past forty years. Our subject is the eldest of nine children, six now living. He received the rudiments of an education in Harrison County, Ind., and assisted his father on the flatboat, in the saw mill, and on the farm. February 18, 1849, he married Virginia A. Funk, who was born in Harrison County, Ind., February 28, 1831. Her parents, Amos and Catherine Brown, were natives of Indiana and Virginia, respectively. They were married in Virginia, and moved to Indiana, and then to Louisiana, and from there to Missouri in 1851. This marriage of our subject resulted in the birth of twelve children—seven sons and five daughters—five sons and four daughters now living. In 1850 our subject moved to some land that his father had entered, in Knox County, Mo., and after living on this five years moved to the property that he now owns. Although starting with very little means, he possesses 215 acres of the best land in the county. During the early part of the late war he was second lieutenant of the Home Guards. After they had disbanded he joined Company C, of the Fiftieth Enrolled Militia, was corporal, and was in two skirmishes. Since coming to Missouri he has been engaged in farming and stock dealing. He is an ardent supporter of the Republican party.
The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.

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The obituary found in the Memphis, Reveille on June 10, 1897 as taken from the Rutledge Record reads:
Wilford Cunningham, of this place, passed away very suddenly last Sunday afternoon about 3 o'clock. He had been lingering with the terrible disease, heart trouble, for some months when at last it claimed its victim.

Mr. Cunningham was a highly respected and well known citizen of this vicinity, having been a resident of same for a number of years. He was born in Indiana, December 26, 1826, and married to Virginia Funk, February 18, 1849. In 1850 they moved from Indiana to Missouri where he remained until death called him to another world.

The funeral took place Tuesday at 9:40 o'clock a.m. at the residence, conducted by Elder A. E. McQuoid, after which they repaired to the family burying ground near Sand Hill, where the interment was made. As the long procession moved quietly along, the bell tolled the knell of a departed father, all hearts were saddened and brought to mind the fact that "the son of man calleth at an hour when we know not."

The pallbearers, six in number, were each a grandson of the deceased. After the interment, all the graves were beautifully decorated by the friends. He leaves three brothers, two sisters, a wife and nine children and a host of friends to mourn his death.

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CUNNINGHAM, WILFORD Corporal Civil War
Union Enrolled Missouri Militia
50th Regiment E.M.M. Company C

CUNNINGHAM, WILFORD 2nd Lieutenant Civil War
Union Home Guards
2nd N. E. Missouri Home Guards, Company G

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The Cunningham cemetery is on land once owned by Robert and Rachel Cunningham and is located on a hillside overlooking the wide expanse of farmland owned by them. The homestead was located about a half mile from the cemetery.