Pioneer Family: John Cunningham and His Son
Michael Hayes Brannigan Cunningham
Written by Robert Lee Cunningham and Gregory Robert Cunningham
April 3, 2002
Michael Hayes Brannigan Cunningham was born in Huntingdon County,
Pennsylvania on April 11, 1842. He was the first of nine children to be born
to John and Susan (Deam) Cunningham. Michael Cunningham’s active and
adventurous life started at a very early age. The Cunningham family left
Pennsylvania by wagon train with the Stoner and Deam party shortly after
Michael’s birth. Those in the covered wagon train that traveled westward in
1842 were: David Stoner, his wife Elizabeth Ann (Deam) Stoner, their two
children John and Suzannah, John Cunningham, his new wife Susannah (Deam)
Cunningham, their first born Michael H.B. Cunningham, and George and Ellen
Deam. Also in the party were newly weds John Deam and Elizabeth (Hughes)
Deam, and David Hughes (brother to Elizabeth Hughes) and his wife. The
Stoner’s, Deam’s, Hughes, and the Cunningham’s totaled fourteen in all. Most
were following the calling of the Latter Day Saints and were heading for
Nauvoo, Illinois to join with prophet Joseph Smith, Jr.
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