Adda Viola Petty - Cunningham

Obituary:

    Adda Viola Perhamus, Eldest daughter of Mary Elizabeth Hitesman and George Perhamus, was born July 22, 1858. Her parents were pioneer settlers coming from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She had one sister, Florence Amelia Perhamus, who passed away in in 1934. 

 Her father was wounded as a soldier of the Union Army and Passed away soon after the Civil War.

 The mother and two daughters kept their home in Dyersville until they came to Storm Lake in 1888. Shortly after coming to Storm Lake they purchased property on Onieda Street, Land which was then only prairie.  The old home still stands. Her mother died May 24, 1922.

 Adda Viola was united in marriage to John Morgan Petty on January 22, 1891. Six children were born to them. Merlin Raymand, Frances Elizabeth, Florence Viola, Lloyd Alva, Audrey Eufalla, and Edna Margaret.  The father of these children passed away in 1909. Audrey passed away in Glendale, California in 1934. The other five children are all together today. 

 The two sons served thier country during the first world war, Merlin in the Army, and Lloyd in the Navy. Lloyd also served in World war II. Three Grandsons, Orville Nixon, Leroy Petty, and Franklin Spooner also serves in the Army in World War II. 

  In 1927, after this mother had raised her children, she was married to George Cunningham, of Fonda, Ia. Mr. Cunninham passed away in 1929 and she returned to Storm Lake to live in the old home on Onieda Street. 

  She lived there until 1945 when her daughter Florence took her to her home to care for her because of failing health. She was tenderly cared for during this time solely by the this one daughter until a few days before her death, when she fell, injuring her hip. She was taken to Swallum Hospitol and passed away April 15, at the age of 88 years, 3 months, and 23 days. 

Surviving besides the five children are 14 grandchildren and  33 great grandchildren.