Edwin Gardner Hunter, Rapides Parish, Louisiana 
Submitted by Mike Miller  
 
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Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, 
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 213-214.  
Edited by Alice Fortier, Lit.D.  
Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. 

EDWIN GARDNER HUNTER  
Edwin Gardner Hunter, attorney, jurist, orator, was born in Rapides Parish, 
Sept. 16, 1852. His grandfather, Pleasance Hunter, was of Scotch-Irish 
descent, but was a native of Virginia. He removed to Mississippi, and his 
son, Robert A., father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Natchez, 
in the latter state. In 1812, when Robert A. was only a small boy, the 
family came to Louisiana, where Pleasance Hunter became a large land owner 
and one of the earliest merchants, at Alexandria. On completing his education, 
Robert A. became an attorney and planter, and in the course of his public 
career occupied the position of treasurer of the State of Louisiana. He served 
throughout the Mexican war, enlisting as a private and by gallant conduct 
winning promotion to the rank of colonel before the end of the war. He also 
served as a Confederate soldier, commanding a company until he was wounded a 
few days prior to the battle of Baton Rouge. His first engagement was at the 
battle of Shiloh. He died at the age of 72 years.   

Sarah Jane (Ford) Hunter, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in 
Kentucky, but her parents removed southward when she was small and were among 
the early settlers of Louisiana, the family name having since become intimately 
identified with the affairs of this state. She died when E. G. Hunter was about 
3 weeks old, having been the mother of 13 children, only 4 of whom grew to maturity.  
These are all living at this writing.    

Edwin Gardner Hunter was reared by an aunt until he was large enough to attend 
school. After attending a private school at home, he was sent to Baton Rouge, 
later to Louisiana State university, and finally to the Louisiana State law school 
(now a department of Tulane university), from which institution he graduated in 
1874. In the same year he began the practice of law at Alexandria. He served as 
district attorney continuously for 10 years, and on the bench of the district 
court from 1896 to 1900. Being a staunch democrat and gifted as a public speaker, 
Judge Hunter's services have been in demand during most state campaigns since his 
early manhood, and he has always responded to these calls as liberally as his 
personal affairs would admit.   

In 1875 Judge Hunter was married to Miss Lucy, daughter of Lewis Texada, a 
prominent politician of that time. Mrs. Hunter was born and educated in 
Louisiana. Eight children were born to them, 7 of whom are living at this 
writing. Edwin Ford, commissioner of finance of the city of Alexandria;  
Allen T., at this writing representative of Rapides parish in the state 
legislature and law partner of his father; Thomas Frith, employed at the 
office of the conservation commission, New Orleans; Lewis Hall, real estate 
dealer, Alexandria; Sarah Jane, wife of Dr. Henry Irion, New Orleans;  
Mary Martha, wife of Morase Tooraen, druggist, Colfax, La., and Lucy.  
Judge Hunter is a member of the Knights of Pythias.