Los
Angeles County
Biographies
THOMAS J. CUNNINGHAM
When the subject of this memoir
passed away, the following tribute appeared in the Catholic Tidings:
“The death of Thomas J. Cunningham,
an old and respected resident of Los Angeles, brought sorrow to a wide circle
of friends and acquaintances last Friday, March 13, 1931. The end came unexpectedly although Mr.
Cunningham had been in poor health several years. Few men in southern California were better
known, and none commanded the respect and confidence of the community to a
greater degree. Those who had the honor
of his friendship will long mourn his loss.
Mr. Cunningham was born in Randolph,
Massachusetts, September 28, 1859, the son of William and Mary (Lawless)
Cunningham. At the age of fourteen he
became an apprentice in the shop of his father, who was a shoemaker, and
remained in the business until he was twenty-one. In 1880 he came to California, and located in
San Francisco, where he remained for two years.
He then returned to Massachusetts, but again turned his face westward in
1884. He lived in Tombstone, Arizona,
until 1886, when he settled in Los Angeles and remained a resident of this city
until his death. In 1888 Mr. Cunningham
formed a partnership with James Cussen, and the firm conducted an undertaking
business under the name of Cussen & Cunningham. With a slight temporary change of title when
Michael Hopkins was for two years a member, the firm continued until 1898, when
Mr. Cunningham became associated with P. J. O’Connor, the firm under the name
of Cunningham & O’Connor, continuing at the present time. The establishment was located on Main Street
near Fifth, and remained there until 1906, when increasing business caused a
removal to the building on Grand Avenue now occupied by the firm.
On April 27, 1893, Mr. Cunningham
married Miss Mary Molony, daughter of Richard and Ellen (Mulcahy) Molony. Richard Molony was born in New York and Ellen
Mulcahy in Limerick, Ireland. Both of
them were pioneer residents of Los Angeles and the former is still living at
the age of ninety-four. The wedding of
Mr. Cunningham and Miss Molony was solemnized in the historic church of Our
Lady of Angeles at the Plaza. Ten
children were born of the union: Vincent
Richard, who married Margaret O’Reilly and has three children, Mary Margaret,
Vincent Richard, and Thomas Joseph III; William Clement, M. D., of Lancaster, California,
who married Ruth George and has three children living, William Joseph, Mary Ann
and Carl Robert; Mary Kathleen, married Edward C. Purpus,
an attorney and they have five children, Thomas J., James Patrick, John Joseph,
Edward Charles and Mary Kathleen; Thomas Joseph, Jr., who died at the age of
five years; George Gregory, who married Elizabeth Dolan and they have three
children, Patricia, G. Gregory, and Mary Josephine; Frances Lucille; Ellen
Rose; Edward Paul; Agnes Margaret; and Louis Leo. Two of the sons are ably carrying on their
father’s business.
For many years the family lived in
St. Joseph’s parish, moving to the present home, 1802 Crenshaw Boulevard, in
1915. Two years later St. Paul’s parish
was established in the district and Mr. Cunningham was one of its chief
benefactors from the beginning. All the
interests of religion commanded his favor and support. He was active and influential in Catholic
fraternal circles, especially in his younger and middle life. A charter member of the Los Angeles Council
No. 621, Knights of Columbus, he served the council as its first treasurer, a
post which he held for more than fifteen years.
He filled all the important offices of the Ancient Order of Hibernians,
was an influential and active worker in the Catholic Order of Foresters, and
became a member of the Newman Club twenty years ago. He was also affiliated with the Elks. In addition to his work for these
organizations, Mr. Cunningham acquitted himself well in all the duties of good
citizenship. His interest in civic
affairs and in politics was unflagging, and his good judgment often caused his
advice to be sought in such matters. He
always worked consistently for the best upbuilding of his city and state.
Sunday evening, March 15th,
at the family home, a large number of friends gathered to pay their respects to
the memory of the deceased. The Elks held
brief exercises at 7:30 o’clock, after which Hon. Joseph Scott delivered an
eloquent tribute to Mr. Cunningham’s Christian life and character. The rosary was then recited by Rev. Thomas
Blackwell, Mr. Cunningham’s pastor, and the members of the Holy Name Society of
St. Paul’s parish assisted in a body.
The funeral services took place in St. Paul’s Church on Monday morning,
March 16, at 9:30. Right Reverend Bishop
Cantwell was present in the sanctuary, and was attended by Rev. Zacheus J. Maher, S. J., and Rev. Nicholas Conneally. Right
Rev. Monsignor John M. McCarthy of Pasadena, who officiated at Mr. Cunningham’s
wedding in 1893, was celebrant of the mass.
Very Rev. Monsignor Francis J. Conaty was
deacon, Rev. Thomas Blackwell, sub-deacon, and Rev. Dr. Joseph T. McGucken and Rev. Patrick O’Dwyer,
masters of ceremonies. The music of the
mass was rendered by the choir of the Cathedral. Many representatives of the clergy were
present, and representatives of all the communities of Sisters in the city occupied
places in the church. After the mass
Monsignor McCarthy paid a touching tribute to the Christian fortitude and
resignation with which Mr. Cunningham bore his long illness, and offered the
sympathy and prayers of the clergy and people to the bereaved family. The remains were borne to Calvary Cemetery
for interment.”
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 405-408, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES