Pickens, West Virginia

James L. Cunningham (1863-1965), a physician in Pickens at the time of his death was the eldest physicain in the USA.  In 1894 he married Mary Roberts and built a home in Pickens and he continued his practice for 64 years, most of that time the sole physician in his town.  Dr. Cunningham never lost a mother in 3600 cases of belivering babies, he delivered his last baby when he was 94 years old.  His 2% rate of mortality in some 1300 typhoid cases is considered extraordinary, and he was remembered for his excellent care of patients in the 1930 flu epidemic.  He became famous for his humane treatment of George Raschid, railroad construction hand who had contracted leprosy.