Galey and Cunningham Ancestors
Alfred Vlandingham (A.V.) Cunningham
Alfred Vlandingham Cunningham (1864-1913) was born near Onarga, Illinois, the son of James and Caroline Cunningham. The oldest of six children, A.V. married Mary Jane Poulson in 1885 at Onarga, where they started their family. By 1888, they resettled to Giltner, Nebraska and raised their family of 10 boys. A farmer, A.V. served two terms in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature (1903-05). He died at Lodgepole, Nebraska in 1913. While serving his first term as a State Senator, he was proud to receive a personal note from President Theodore Roosevelt. Subsequently, the Omaha Sun newspaper carried a story with photographs about the presidential note and acknowledged that the Cunninghams -- with eight strapping boys -- had a family of which they could be rightfully proud. A. V. Cunningham died in Lodgepole, Nebraska at the relatively young age of 49.