Individual Details

According to family sources John was sent to the United States at the age of 12 following the eviction of the family from their farm in Mountcoal, Listowel. However, The Kerryman newspaper tells us in its edition of 30 October 1915 that John emigrated to the States at the age of 18 with his parents. His parents in fact remained in Ireland but it does appear that John emigrated around the age of 18 as the U.S. census of 1900 census gives his year of emigration as 1860. His eldest brother, Bryan, who was about 14 years his senior, also emigrated to the U.S. in 1860 so it is possible that, rather than emigrating with his parents, John went to the U.S. with Bryan and his family, who lived initially in Atchison, Kansas, where John studied for the priesthood, at St. Benedict's College. He was ordained a priest at St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1865, and at the time of his father's death in 1887 he was Vicar General of Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1898 in Leavenworth he was consecrated Bishop of Concordia.

Apparently John encouraged his brothers and sisters who remained in Ireland to move to Kansas, and eventually six of his eight siblings were settled there. He was also successful in encouraging other relatives from Cos. Kerry and Limerick to come to Kansas to enter religious life. Among those who joined him were:

Fr. John Fitzgerald (1880-1976), a probable first cousin once removed of Bishop Cunningham
Fr. William Fitzgerald (1892-1970), a first cousin of Fr. John above and probable first cousin once removed of Bishop Cunningham
Fr. Michael M. Mulvihill (born 1888), a probable first cousin twice removed of Bishop Cunningham (Michael's maternal grandmother was a Cunningham)
Sr. Ann Joseph (Mary Ann) Mulvihill (1894-1992), a sister of Fr. Michael above
Fr. Daniel B Mulvihill (1896-1972), a brother of Fr. Michael and Sr. Ann Joseph above
Fr. Daniel B Mulvihill (1927-2006), a nephew of Fr. Michael, Sr. Ann Joseph and Fr. Daniel above
Sr. Mary Ellen (Johanna) Cunningham (1895-1989), a probable first cousin twice removed of Bishop Cunningham
Sr. Mary Estelle (Margaret) Cunningham (1898-1987), a sister of Sr. Mary Ellen above
Fr. Patrick Cronin (1897-1973), a grandnephew of Bishop Cunningham (through the Fitzgeralds)
Fr. Michael Moran (1899-1983), a probable first cousin once removed of Bishop Cunningham (through the Fitzgeralds)

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Birth	21 Sep 1842	Irremore, Lixnaw; or Mountcoal, Lixnaw, Co. Kerry
Death	23 Jun 1919	Concordia, Kansas
Burial		Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery, Concordia, Kansas

Father	John Cunningham (caution: not verified) (1800 - 1887)
Mother	Catherine (Kate) Fitzgerald (1810 - 1842)
Sibling	Ellen Cunningham (1828 - 1919)
Sibling	Bryan Patrick Cunningham (1828 - 1910)
Sibling	Margaret Cunningham (1830 - 1901)
Sibling	Patrick Cunningham (1832 - 1877)
Sibling	James Cunningham (1832 - 1900)
Sibling	Mary Cunningham (1838 - )
Sibling	Bridget Cunningham (1840 - )
Sibling	Daniel J. Cunningham (1841 - 1919)