Nelson Wilber Cunningham
Nelson Wilber Cunningham, cashier of the Commercial Bank & Savings Company, of Bluffton, was born at Lima, Ohio, February 24, 1856, and is a son of Col. James and Martha (Kennedy) Cunningham.
The late Col. James Cunningham was pioneer in Allen County and for years was one of its most prominent men, serving two terms as a member of the State Senate and filling many offices with honor and efficiency. Extended mention of Colonel Cunningham will be found in the historical portion of this work.
Nelson W. Cunningham was a student in the local schools until 14 years of age and then entered another school, a printing office. For the following five years he worked in the office of the Allen County Democrat, which was then under the editorial charge of D. S. Fisher, at Lima, after which he came to Bluffton, then a village, and founded the Bluffton News, which he ably conducted for the succeeding 16 years. In 1893 Mr. Cunningham purchased a half interest in the Commercial Bank, a private banking institution which had been founded at Bluffton in 1887 by Frank Scott. Mr. Scott and Mr. Cunningham continued sole owners until June 3, 1902, when it was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio, commencing business as a State Bank on July 1, 1902. At this time Mr. Scott became president and Mr. Cunningham, cashier. The institution is one which commands the confidence of the public. It is
under the management of men of proved business integrity. There is probably no sounder, safer banking institution in Allen County than the Commercial Bank & Savings Company, and the citizens of Bluffton and vicinity readily give it support and reap accruing benefits.
In 1883 Mr. Cunningham was married to Eva A. Ballard, who was born in Allen County.