Bartholomew County IN Archives Biographies.....Hunter, Jesse 1815 - 1877 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 21, 2007, 12:46 am Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) p. 193-195 JESSE HUNTER. In pioneer days Jesse Hunter became a resident of Indiana, and the work which he performed in the early development and improvement of Bartholomew county well entitles him to mention in this volume as one of the representative citizens to whom the county owes a debt of gratitude for what he accomplished. When he arrived much of the land was wild and where are now seen richly cultivated fields was then timber land. The towns and villages were small and some that are now enterprisng [sic] were not yet established. Adapting himself to the conditions which then existed, Mr. Hunter made the most of his opportunities and developed a splendid farm. He did much to reclaim the wild land for the purposes of civilization and at the time of his death he was a very extensive land owner. Jesse Hunter was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Westmoreland county, that state, on the 3d of January, 1815. His parents, Joseph and Jane Hunter, were both natives of Ireland and both came to America in early life. The father, leaving the Emerald isle, crossed the Atlantic when a young man-and landed at New York with only one shilling in his pocket—equal to twelve and a half cents in our coin. He worked hard, however, and in his business affairs he prospered. During a portion of the time he remained in New York he was engaged, in buying stock. He afterward removed to Pennsylvania. He seems to have been a man of excellent business ability, executive force and sound judgment, for he met with splendid success. Though he came to America empty-handed, he worked his way steadily upwards and was worth thousands of dollars at the time of his death. He died in Ohio in the year 1853. His political support was given the Democracy. He had no occasion to regret his determination to come to America for he secured him a good home and a desirable competence and also gained many friends. Jesse Hunter was reared in his father's home and was early taught to be honest, energetic and industrious. Throughout his entire life he engaged in the occupation of farming, which was the pursuit to which he was reared and concerning which he gained much practical experience in his youth. He was thus well qualified to carry on the work when he started out on an independent business career. On the 31st of March, 1842, Mr. Hunter was united in marriage to Miss Catherine W. Vanwy, a daughter of Arthur and Mary (James) Vanwy, both of whom were natives of Holland. In early life they left their native country and became residents of Ohio and afterward of Washington, Pennsylvania, where the father's death occurred in 1836. He was a farmer and owned a well improved tract of land in Pennsylvania, his cultivation and the improvements which he placed upon it making it a property of considerable worth. In his political affiliations he was a Whig, but was never an office seeker, preferring to give his time and energies to his business affairs, in which he met with gratifying success. Mr. Hunter followed farming throughout his entire life and in 1844 he purchased a tract of land in Bartholomew county, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits until his death. He also engaged in stock-raising to some extent. Few improvements had been made upon the land when it came into his possession and with resolute will he undertook the task of developing it into rich fields. He used the latest improved machinery in carrying on his work and he added many modern equipments and accessories to his place. Laboring diligently year after year, he gained prosperity and as his financial resources increased he invested in additional land until his holdings reached one thousand acres and he was numbered among the largest and most successful landholders of the county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hunter were born twelve children: Mary J., the wife of Luke Thomas, a farmer; Joseph, who also follows farming and who married Miss Louisa McCaslin; Arthur V., who wedded Jane Trent and carries on farming; William H., who married Marietta Davis and is engaged in agricultural pursuits; Lucinda, Emma and John, who all died in childhood; Lizzie died aged sixteen years; Morton Jesse, deceased; Charley G. married Emma Walker; Olive, the wife of William Vanwy, and Frank, who is a farmer and wedded Ida Walker, but his wife is now deceased. On the organization of the Republican party Jesse Hunter became one of its stalwart supporters and always voted for its men and measures. His sons have followed in his footsteps in this respect and, like him, are public-spirited and progressive men and citizens. Mr. Hunter was an active worker in the Baptist church and lived an upright life, doing unto others as he would have them do unto him. He was always honest in his dealings with his fellow men and straightforward in every trade transaction. He passed away on the old homestead November 6, 1877, respected by all who knew him. He had long been a resident of the county and was widely known as a loyal citizen, a kind friend, a good neighbor, a devoted husband and father and a consistent Christian. Mrs. Hunter still survives her husband. She has a life lease on one hundred and fifty acres of the home farm where she continued to reside until 1895 when she purchased a nice home at the corner of Ninth and Union streets in Columbus. This she has since occupied and she also owns property on Tenth street. She is now eighty-one years of age and she can see to read without glasses. She is extremely well informed, especially on political issues. and other questions of the day, and is most companionable and entertaining. She can relate many interesting incidents concerning life in Bartholomew county in pioneer times, for her residence here dates back through many decades. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/bartholomew/bios/hunter681gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 6.6 Kb