William L. Cunningham

File prepared by RKW.
The Cunningham ancestors were Scotch-Irish and were settlers in New York in colonial times.
E. L. Cunningham was born in Ohio in February, 1832. He grew up there and married Julia Kendall, who was born in Drake County, Ohio, in 1841. They had seven children, Hattie, Henry, Marshall, William L., Guy, Clifford and Earl. The family moved to Auburn, in Shawnee county, Kansas where he homesteaded 160 acres in 1866.
William Levi Cunningham was born on December 24, 1876 at Auburn Kansas. He grew up in Shawnee county and got his early education there. He graduated from Washburn University, Topeka, in 1898. He then taught school for two years at Neosha Falls, Ks. before coming to Arkansas City. While teaching he carried on a course of law studies in Judge Guthrie's office at Topeka. He was admitted to the Kansas bar in January 1901. He came to Arkansas City and spent his first law year in the C. D. Atkinson office.
The next year he moved to the second floor offices of the Union State Bank building, where his law firm remained until in the 1980's. He was admitted to practice before the treasury department, the interstate commerce commission and the United States supreme court.
He had served as deputy county attorney, was elected to the Kansas legislature in 1906 and presided as speaker pro tem of the state house of representatives in 1907. He was reelected in 1908.
After coming to Arkansas City, he was united in mar­riage to Leola Bellamy, who was teaching school in Arkansas City, on May 20, 1903. They had four chil­dren; Wil­liam, born in 1905; Julianna, born in 1911; Carol, born in 1913; and Richard, born in 1916.
He was a captain with the Red Cross in France during World War 1. In Topeka, Kans., Jan. 16, 1919. R. C. Howard wrote a column - Dear Traveler:—It seems mighty funny to me that I should be in Topeka writing to you. It should seem much more natural if I were at home at work and Capt. W. L. Cunningham or some other one of my neighbors were here just "milling around" and writing you. The shadow of Cunningham still lingers here. He is the most asked after Arkansas Cityian. I am never introduced to anyone here but after greeting they ask, "Do you know Cunningham?"  This is especially true of the ladies I have met.
At the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Cunningham, North Third street, a surprise dinner party was given for Mr. Cunningham by Mrs. Cunningham, Saturday evening, Jan. 18, 1919. It was a complete surprise to Mr. Cunningham, and a very delightful affair.
After the excellent dinner, the guests repaired to the living room where they were entertained by Mr. Cunningham in his usual interesting and eloquent style with stories about the war, the characteristics of the French government and people, topped off with human interest tales about the American soldiers and nurses who faced the dangers at the front to perpetuate the ideals of America.
Mr. Cunningham has brought back from France a rich fund of war stories, and his capacity for observation and understand­ing of human nature makes an evening spent in his presence something to look back upon with a great deal of profit and pleasure.

Jan 22, 1919 - When Hon. W. L. Cunningham was acting as a captain for the Red Cross in France, he received an issue of the Traveler dated August 20 in which a piece had been clipped out by the censor. It aroused his curiosity and he brought the paper back with him. An issue of that date was dug up in the files this morning and it showed that the censor had clipped a short letter that had been written to Mrs. Cunningham and which had been published in the Traveler. Reference was made in the letter to the fact that some of the boys over there said they hadn't received mail from home in six months, and to an American soldier having been wounded in an offensive by the Yanks.
The censor evidently thought the paper might fall into the hands of the Germans and give them some information the American officers didn't want them to know.
Mr. Cunningham came to Arkansas City and during his more than 50 years of residence and large practice had always been concerned with the civic affairs of the city. He was one of those most instrumental in the development of this community.
He figured in many of the great legal cases which made Kansas history. He represented clients in important federal, state and county cases and in the last 30 years of his life there were few murder cases in Cowley county in which the attorney was not retained by the accused or as a special prosecutor for the state.
A case which Mr. Cunningham prosecuted in the late twenties ended any attempt by corporations to carry on big wheat farming projects. He was named assistant attorney general to prosecute the wheat farming ouster case. About six farming corporations were formed and bought up Huge areas for wheat production. It was a long and bitter trial and in winning a precedent was set. Corporations can no longer buy up land and farm it.
Among the famous cases in Kansas history in which Mr. Cunningham had a part was the trial before the state senate of Roland Boynton, attorney general. The Arkansas City attorney was head counsel for Boynton, who held office during the Finney bond scandal. The trial was held during the early thirties and Boynton was not convicted.
Another of his triumphs was in the oil conspiracy cases at Madison, Wis., in the late thirties when oil companies were accused of fixing the price of gasoline. He represented oil interests.
The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Mr. Cunningham the master to hear an ouster suit years ago in a southeast Kansas county. The defendant was a county attorney.
On the local scene his quips in court or general remarks added to the colorful history of the city. It was told that a drunk was once walking down a board sidewalk here and fell, breaking a leg because a board was missing. The case came to trial with Mr. Cunningham representing the defendant.
The opposition contended the drunk was not entitled to the protection of good sidewalks, but Mr. Cunningham retorted. "A drunk is more entitled to a good sidewalk than a sober man and much more in need of it."

Mr. Cunningham was an authority on Indian history and a student. He had the largest law library on Indian Land law in the nation. His library included a copy of the Magna Carta and English common law from 1200 to 1544. One set of 149 volume's was English law from 1766 to 1875. In the Virginia reports were many cases reported by Thomas Jefferson while he was clerk of the Virginia court. Then, in 1730 and later, it was "The king vs. McDonald," for the states had yet to gain their independence. In 1850 The West Publishing Company of St. Paul began its famous Reporter system. They published a complete report of the deci­sions of the courts of last resort. Cunningham had a complete set of the Pacific section which covered Kansas. He had the 100 volumes comprising the complete reports of the war department of the United States, including the original survey of the Arkansas and other rivers.
He put in a 12 hour day at his office, working from 6 a. m. to 6 p. m. He never learned to drive a car, play cards or golf. His hobby was reading and writing. At the time of his death, he was writing a history of Coronado.
In preparing legal cases or historical notes he would write with the stub of a pencil and it was said he could turn out sufficient longhand writing to keep two stenographers busy.
As a young man Mr. Cunningham had red hair in later years it turned white. He often let it grow long which was a trademark of the great orators of another era.
In 1921, he hired a student in the law department of Kansas University for the summer, as a collection agent. That student was D. Arthur Walker.
He was known across the state. His legal advice has been sought by many attorneys and many of his best friends were of opposite political faith to his Republicanism.
His son William E. Cunningham was born July 28, 1906 and attend local schools graduating in 1923. He was graduated from Washburn College in 1929. He moved back to Arkansas City and joined his fathers law firm. He married Virginia Snyder on January 19, 1931 and they lived their entire married life in the Arkansas City area. They had no children. He died August 12, 1980 and was survived by his wife Virginia and two sisters; Mrs. Carol Kaesbach and Mrs. Julianna Minier.
William L. Cunningham died Sunday, September 28, 1952 at his home at 903 North Third street in Arkansas City.
Traveler, January 20, 1919. At the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Cunningham, North Third street, a surprise dinner party was given for Mr. Cunningham by Mrs. Cunningham, Saturday evening, the following guests being present:  Dr. William Gardner, Mayor C. N. Hunt, Representatives James McDermott and R. C. Howard, Col. George S. Hartley, Dr. William T. McKay, Ralph Brown, W. R. Ranney, James Bellamy, Asa M. Dean, William Stryker, Rev. W. H. Moore, J. S. Mowatt, and Mr. Cunningham.
Mrs. James Bellamy, Mrs. Glen Thomson, and Mrs. C. S. Beekman served at table for Mrs. Cunningham.
It was a complete surprise to Mr. Cunningham, and a very delightful affair.
After the excellent dinner, the guests repaired to the living room where they were entertained by Mr. Cunningham in his usual interesting and eloquent style with stories about the war, the characteristics of the French government and people, topped off with human interest tales about the American soldiers and nurses who faced the dangers at the front to perpetuate the ideals of America.
Mr. Cunningham has brought back from France a rich fund of war stories, and his capacity for observation and understanding of human nature makes an evening spent in his presence something to look back upon with a great deal of profit and pleasure.
                                                                      -0-

It was due to Mr. Cunningham’s efforts that the State Fire Marshall was brought here to inspect the high school building, built in 1890. The School board had planned to raze the old stone structure, claiming that it had been condemned as unsafe. After the State Fire Marshall finished his inspection, he reported, “This is the best-built building I have ever inspected. The foundations are eight feet thick.”  Demolition of the building had already been begun with the removal of the steeple of the clock tower. Petitions to save the building were circulated all over the city, and the subject was dropped. This building is now named Ireland Hall and is a part of the Cowley County Community College.
Arkansas City Traveler, Thursday, June 16, 1921.
                                       OVER EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS
                      Fund For the Relief of Colorado Flood Sufferers is Growing.
Over eight hundred dollars has been subscribed up to date for the benefit fund for the Pueblo flood sufferers, according to an announcement made this afternoon by the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. Part of these subscriptions have not as yet been paid. The total sum now is $852.50.
Those people who have subscribed toward the fund are urged again to turn in their payments at once as it is necessary that this fund be sent out soon. The Pueblo people are in need of the money now and it is urgent that the money be taken in at once.
Following is a total list of those who have subscribed toward the fund for the Pueblo victims.
$50.00 pledges—Kanotex Refining company; Home National bank.
$25.00 pledges—Hill Investment company; A. C. Milling company; Faulconer-Dale-Swarts.
$20.00 pledges—New Era Milling company.
$15.00 pledges—Dawson-Bishop Produce Co.; Oldroyd & Sons; Keefe, LeStourgeon Co.
$10.00 pledges—Comley Lumber company; Collinson Hardware company; Mrs. A. J. Hunt; Beard Foundry; Houston Lumber company; Dr. R. Claude Young; Kirkpatrick Furniture Co.; Badger Lumber Co.; Henneberry & Company; Boyer Hdw. Co.; W. N. Harris; A. C. Transfer Co.; A. C. Sand Co.; Dr. Chas. Dunning; Daily News.
$ 5.00 pledges—C. N. Hunt; Osage hotel; W. H. Nelson; O. O. Holt; James R. Hull; John Ames; Busy Bee; A. C. Paine and Paper Co.; Mrs. Virginia Hamilton; Dr. Milton Hahn; C. C. Lytal; Hall-Finney; Mrs. Johanna Henneberry; Houston-Hill; Sturtz Inv. Co.; Co-operative grocery; Reed Farrell; A. C. Bottling works; A. C. Business college; A. C. Floral Co.; A. C. Traveler; Huffman & Ward; Lee Biggs; Geo. L. Beard; H. D. Baylis; Hill-Howard; Bunnell Inv. Co.; Saddle Rock cafe; Geo. S. Hartley; Dr. C. H. House; C. A. Bahruth; J. L. Brown; Mrs. Mary Curtis; E. G. Collins.
$ 2.00 pledges—Mrs. Mary Clarke; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Martin; W. E. Hall; Robert Cox; Chas. Herriford; H. W. Hendryx; E. C. Dye; W. T. Hamm; Mrs. Anna Ramsey; Mears Bros.; J. E. Cantrell; E. I. Leach; Russell Bros.; Mrs. J. O. Campbell; John Heffelfinger; Maude B. Harmon; Mrs. W. V. Reynolds; Mrs. Paul Way; Dr. H. J. Edwards; The Ideal grocery; J. W. Boyd.

$1.00 pledges—W. L. Martin; J. F. Maus; W. W. Rinehart; Guy Ecroyd; Duval Pharmacy; E. S. Dorrance; Mrs. Ida Buckley; Geo. M. Rooney; Mrs. J. P. Carlson; Mrs. W. G. Robson; Ms. W. V. Reynolds; Mrs. Paul Hartley; H. W. Earlougher; Miss Olive Ramage; Glenn Harrelson; Chas. Holmsten; W. L. Hopkins; John Probst; Sidle Coffee Co.; H. A. Clark; Mrs. H. H. Hill; H. B. Clapp.
Pledges on the Pueblo relief fund that are unpaid.
$25.00 pledges—Security National bank; Kininmonth Produce Co.
$10.00 pledges—A. C. Hide & Junk Co.; P. M. Clarke; J. C. Penney Co.; Drs. Day, McKay and Douglass; Wm. Cunningham.
$ 5.00 pledges—Hudson garage; Earl Baxter; E. L. McDowell; Geo. W. Saunders; Shea Furniture Co.; Devlin ready-to-wear; Economy Cash grocery; Anthony Carlton; Chicago store; Baer bakery; Ellis Billings; Palace Grocery; Newman Motor Co.; Davis Bros.; Domestic laundry; Fifth Avenue book store; Fifth Avenue hotel.
$ 3.00 pledges—J. T. Reeder; E. H. Clayton.
$ 2.50 pledges—J. R. Hayden.
$ 2.00 pledges—W. H. Hill; O. B. Seyster; R. R. Sawtell; Guy Curfman; Geo. B. Cornish; A. A. McAtee; Pete Hill; Fitch music store; C. N. Coleman.
$ 1.00 pledges—Chas. Shoup; Chester Harris; A. McAdams; G. G. Sawtell; Ray Seeley; Chas. Early; P. H. Richmond; Chas. Sills; Elston-McEwen Produce Co.; Dr. McCall; H. A. Schramm; Derry bakery; W. H. Rector.
Pledges, but no amount stated:
Doug Shaw; Service Motor shop; Scott & Son; Roseberry-MacAllister; Mattie Rice; Shrisk-Dweelaard [FIRST NAME ALMOST INDECIPERABLE...NOT SURE SHRISK IS CORRECT]; Frank Seal; Swartz Electric Co.; F. L. Richey.