Van Sanford Cunningham ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8}

  General Notes:

Van Sanford Cunningham died just 3 days after his wife was buried on 6 Mar 1937. She was 70 years old and he was 71.
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  Birth Notes:

Name: S. Cunningham
Sex: Male
Birth Date: 31 Dec 1865
Birthplace: Ritchie, West Virginia, United States
Father's Name: Wm. S.
Mother's Name: Catherine E.

Citing this Record
"West Virginia Births, 1853-1930," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NM4R-1RK : 9 March 2018), S. Cunningham, 31 Dec 1865; citing Ritchie, West Virginia, United States, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,887,475.
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  Death Notes:

Name: Van Sanford Cunningham
Event Date: 09 Mar 1937
Event Place: Wood, West Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Laura Ferrell
Father's Name: William Cunningham
Mother's Name: Kathryn Cross
Affiliate Repository Type: County Records

Citing this Record
"West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NM33-BSQ : 10 March 2018), Van Sanford Cunningham, 09 Mar 1937; citing Wood, West Virginia, County Records, 5196, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,983,276.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1900 US Census in Sherman Magisterial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States on 23 June 1900. ²

1900 US Census
Sheet 10B, District 25, Family 167
Sherman District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States
Farm owned, with mortgage
Married 11 years
Van S. Cunningham..Head..Dec 1866..33..West Virginia..Farmer

(Living with wife and 4 children.)

NOTE - His birth date was 31 Dec 1865 instead of in Dec 1866. Therefore his age should have been 34 instead of 33.
.

• He appeared on the 1910 US Census in Sherman Magisterial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States on 23 April 1910. ³

1910 US Census
Sheet 4B, District 22, Family 68, Roll 1677
Sherman Managerial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States
Farm owned, no mortgage
Married 21 years
Sanford Cunningham..Head..44..West Virginia..Farmer, General Farm

(Living with wife and 6 children.)
.

• He appeared on the 1920 US Census in Lee Magisterial District, Calhoun County, WV on 21 January 1920. ⁴

1920 US Census
Sheet 8A, District 20, Family 128, Roll 1950
Lee Magisterial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States
Farm owned
Van Sanford Cunningham..Head..53..West Virginia..Farmer, Home Farm

(Living with wife and 4 children.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 31 Dec 1865, then his age should have been 54 instead of 53.
.

• He appeared on the 1930 US Census in Center District, Calhoun, WV on 26 April 1930. ⁵

1930 US Census
Sheet 12B, District 7-2, Family 222, Roll 2530
Center Magisterial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States
Home rented
Sanford Cunningham..Head..65..West Virginia..married at age 22..Farmer, General Farm

(Living with wife, widowed daughter, granddaughter, and 3 sons.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 31 Dec 1865, then his age should have been 64 instead of 65.
.

• He was buried on 11 March 1937 in the Mount Zion Cemetery in Grantsville, WV.

Find A Grave Memorial 65553194. ⁸

Van married Laura Frances Ferrell, daughter of Robert R. Ferrell and Adelia Margaret Fast, on 13 September 1888 in Calhoun County, WV.^{1 2 3 4 5} (Laura Frances Ferrell was born on 14 November 1866 in West Virginia,^{2 3 4 5 10} died on 3 March 1937 in Parkersburg, WV ^{10 11} and was buried on 6 March 1937 in Mount Zion Cemetery, Grantsville, WV ¹⁰.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1900 US Census in Sherman Magisterial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States on 23 June 1900. ²

1900 US Census
Sheet 10B, District 25, Family 167
Sherman District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States
Farm owned, with mortgage
Married 11 years
Van S. Cunningham..Head..Dec 1866..33..West Virginia..Farmer
Laura A. Cunningham..Wife..Nov 1866..33..West Virginia..5/4
Bessie Cunningham..Daughter..Jun 1898..10..West Virginia..At School
William R. Cunningham..Son..Aug 1894..5..West Virginia..At School
Cecil G. Cunningham..Son..oct 1896..3..West Virginia
Romeo Cunningham..Son..Jan 1900..4m..West Virginia
.

• They appeared on the 1910 US Census in Sherman Magisterial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States on 23 April 1910. ³

1910 US Census
Sheet 4B, District 22, Family 68, Roll 1677
Sherman Managerial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States
Farm owned, no mortgage
Married 21 years
Sanford Cunningham..Head..44..West Virginia..Farmer, General Farm
Laura F. Cunningham..Wife..43..West Virginia
Bessie Cunningham..Daughter..20..West Virginia..7/6
Willie Cunningham..Son..16..West Virginia
Cecil Cunningham..Son..13..West Virginia
Romeo Cunningham..Son..10..West Virginia
Rosevelt Cunningham..Son..8..West Virginia
Madge Cunningham..Daughter..2..West Virginia
.

• They appeared on the 1920 US Census in Lee Magisterial District, Calhoun County, WV on 21 January 1920. ⁴

1920 US Census
Sheet 8A, District 20, Family 128, Roll 1950
Lee Magisterial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States
Farm owned
Van Sanford Cunningham..Head..53..West Virginia..Farmer, Home Farm
Laura Cunningham..Wife..52..West Virginia
Velt Cunningham..Son..17..West Virginia
Madge Cunningham..Daughter..11..West Virginia
Cecil Cunningham..Son..21..West Virginia..Farm Laborer, Working Out
Romeo Cunningham..Son..19..West Virginia..Farm Laborer, Home Farm
.

• They appeared on the 1930 US Census in Center District, Calhoun, WV on 26 April 1930. ⁵

1930 US Census
Sheet 12B, District 7-2, Family 222, Roll 2530
Center Magisterial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States
Home rented
Sanford Cunningham..Head..65..West Virginia..married at age 22..Farmer, General Farm
Laura Cunningham..Wife..63..West Virginia..married at age 20
Bessie Keith..Daughter..41..Widowed..West Virginia..Servant, Private Home..Widowed
Roosevelt Cunningham..Son..14..West Virginia
Robert Cunningham..Son..13..West Virginia
Gilbert J. Cunningham..Son..12..West Virginia
Ora Keith..Granddaughter..8..West Virginia
.

  Marriage Notes:

Event Type: marriage
Name: Vandandfed Cunningham
Event Type: Marriage
Age: 22 years
Marital Status: Single
Birth Year (Estimated): 1866
Birthplace: Ritchie
Marriage Date: 13 Sep 1888
Marriage Place: Calhoun, West Virginia
Father's Name: W L Cunningham
Mother's Name: Catharine
Spouse's Name: Laura F Ferrell
Spouse's Age: 21 years
Spouse's Marital Status: Single
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1867
Spouse's Birthplace: Calhoun
Spouse's Father's Name: R R Ferrel
Source Reference: County Records
Record Number: 382
Reference ID: v 1 p 110

Citing this Record
"West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FRDL-LVT : 16 March 2020), Vandandfed Cunningham and Laura F Ferrell, 13 Sep 1888; citing Calhoun, West Virginia, v 1 p 110, county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 807,456.
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The 1930 US Census for this family is somewhat ambiguous as to the names, ages, and relationships of the family members. The oldest daughter, Bessie, was living back with her parents but was listed as widowed with the surname of Keith. The only data for her husband, Gilbert Moore Keith, shows that he did not die until 3 years later in 1933. There is only one daughter listed for Bessie and that was Ora Keith who was listed as a granddaughter which was the correct relationship to the head of household, Van Sanford Cunningham.

Also listed with the family was Roosevelt, Robert, and Gilbert but they were all listed as sons with the surname of Cunningham. Based on their ages, they were probably children of Bessie Keith and should have been listed as grandsons with a surname of Keith. Bessie did have 2 brothers named Roosevelt Cunningham and Robert Cunningham but they would have been 36 and 25 years of age respectively instead of the 14 and 13 shown on the 1930 census.
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