William Cunningham, florist and proprietor of the Park Avenue greenhouse, Grand Rapids, is a native of Scotland, born August 16, 1848, in Sterlingshire, a son of William and Mary (Stevenson) Cunningham. These parents were both born in Scotia, and the father, a forester, still lives on his native heath. The mother died there in 1879, and lies buried in the old ancestral cemetery. They reared a family of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the third in order of birth.

William Cunningham’s youth was spent amid the hills and dales of beautiful Scotland, and he early learned the lessons of frugality and self reliance, characteristics of the people of his country, and when but twelve years of age began the study of floriculture, to which he diligently applied himself for a period of three years. He then found employment as a florist in Lancashire for one year, going thence to Midlothian, near Edinberg, where his chosen calling four years, leaving Scotland at the end of that time for Ireland. During the succeeding three months he worked in the latter country, and then went to Worcestershire, England, where for four years he had charge of large gardens and gained for himself an enviable reputation in the profession to which his life has been devoted. For one year Mr. Cunningham was employed as a

florist in London, and in September, 1882, turned his back to the old world and came to the United States, locating at Grand Rapids, Mich., where during the nine years following he was in the employ of Henry Smith, at that time the leading florist in the city. Severing

his connection with that gentleman, he engaged with F. M. Strong for one year, and at the expiration of that time became associated with A. Hanna under the firm name of Hanna & Cunningham, a partnership which lasted two years. Mr. Cunningham then disposed of his interest to his partner and purchased the well known Schmidt Bros,’ plant on Park avenue, which he has since greatly enlarged and improved in many ways, making it one of the most popular enterprises of the kind in Grand Rapids.

Mr. Cunningham possesses in a marked degree true artistic taste, which is strikingly displayed in the methodical arrangement of his gardens and greenhouse, and he pursues his profession with the enthusiasm which it justly merits. He is a close student of botany, and the careful training he received in youth, together with the many years devoted to this most fascinating of vocations, has made him an authority on all matters pertaining thereto, and is without doubt the best posted man now in the business in the city. His success financially has been commensurate with the energy displayed in the prosecution of his business, and a conservative estimate places the annual sales of his plants at $4,500. He has a city office at No. 93 Canal street, employs four assistants, and judging by the past, it is safe to predict for him a still larger measure of success in the future.

Mr. Cunningham entered into the marriage relation in Birmingham, England, September, 1879, with Miss Emma Doggett, who was born in that country on the 3^rd day of June, 1853. Five children have been born of this union namely: William, deceased; George, deceased; infant, that died unnamed; Frederick, a florist of Chicago, and Emma, who is still with her parents. The religious belief of Mr. Cunningham and family is embodied in the Episcopal creed, and in politics he voted with the republican party. The family reside at a beautiful home at No. 8 Ives avenue, and are highly esteemed in the social and religious circles.