Augustus N. Cunningham, son of Joseph N. and Sarah A. (Bishop) Cunningham, was born on November 5th, 1841, in Seekonk MA, now East Providence.

 He began with his father, who was a civil engineer, and who laid out the Boston and Providence Road; he was foreman on the Boston and Providence Road. Under Isaiah Hoyt, and afterwards went on to the construction of the Boston , Hartford and Erie, under E.B. Crane for two years. He then returned to the Boston and Providence Road and built over the road, under Mr. Hoyt, then back to the Boston, Hartford and Erie, now known as the New York and New England Road, under N.C. Munson for two years.  He then went to the Connecticut Valley Road and took a contract to build 3 miles of road from Wethersfield to Rocky Hill, then went to work for Dylan and Clyde to finish the road. He was afterward made as superintendent of the construction under Hiram Fowler, and then appointed roadmaster and superintendent of bridges, remaining until the road changed hands. He is now an assistant roadmaster O.C.R.R.

 He was educated at Seekonk Academy, Opalic Institute, Attleboro; M. & E. Lyons private school, Providence and at Brown University. He is chess editor on staff of Providence Daily Journal, is president of Springvale cemetery, and moderator of Watchemoket Fire District and also a member of the administrative board of that district. He served two years on school committee in Windham, Conn. He was senator from East Providence in 1887 he was quartermaster three terms of Buckland Post, No. 20, G.A.R., and is now commander of Farragut Post, No. 8. He served in the early part of the rebellion in company D, 2nd R.I.  volunteers, was appointed second Lieutenant 78th N.Y Volunteers December 23rd 1861, and at the time of the consolidation of that regiment with the 102d N.Y. held by appointment the rank of captain in Company H; after the consolidation he returned to the 2nd R.I. regiment and was mustered out of service by order of the war department at Camp Falls Hill, Va., July 31st 1865. He married Hattie B., daughter of George W. Frink, of Windham Conn.