Clearfield County PA Archives - Photos: HUNTER, Robert E.

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
Ellis Michaels, <ellisrn@gmail.com>, Oct 2008

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Robert E. Hunter, leading citizen of Clearfield County

photo scanned from Roland D. Swoopes "Twentieth Century History of Clearfield 
County, PA and Representative Citizens", published 1911, page 471

  ROBERT EUGENE HUNTER, who is engaged in the hardware and house furnishing 
business at Irvona and carries on funeral directing at Coalport, Pa., is one of 
the enterprising young business men of Clearfield county and one whose progress 
during the past ten years has been almost exceptional.  Mr. Hunter was born in 
Wells Valley, Fulton county, Pa., November 26, 1881, a son of Ezekiel and 
Margaret Jane (McNeal) Hunter.
  Ezekiel Hunter, who was born in Ireland, came to the United States when 
eighteen years of age, and here followed his trade, that of tanner.  He married 
Margaret Jane McNeal, the daughter of a paymaster of the Pennsylvania
Railroad.  
Born at Lewistown, Pa., she died December 1, 1899, having been the mother of
ten 
children, namely:  Mollie, who is the widow of Harrison Celevenger of Irvona; 
William, who died at the age of two years; Agnes M., who married Oliver M. 
DesRochers, of Instanter, Elk county, Pa.; Jennie, who died in infancy; Mattie, 
the wife of H. T. Venatta, of Aroyo, Elk county; Virginia, who married Harry 
Mays, of Anita, Jefferson county; Carrie Gertrude, who married J. A. English,
of 
Albion, Mercer county; Margaretta Frances, who is single; Alexander C., who is 
working for his brother in the store, married Catherine Harrison; and Robert 
Eugene.  After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hunter located for a time near 
Philadelphia and later went to Fulton county for seven or eight years, but 
eventually Mr. Hunter came to Irvona, before the tannery was built, and worked 
here until he had made a home for his family, who followed him here in the fall 
of 1889.  Mr. Hunter still resides in Irvona, and is now eighty-nine years of 
age, more than fifty years of his life having been spent at the tanning trade.
  Robert Eugene Hunter attended the public schools of Irvona until fourteen 
years of age, at which time he commenced working in the tannery and so
continued 
until the age of twenty years, at which time he entered the employ of J. S. 
Gordon, the house furnishing and hardware merchant, for a salary of $20 per 
month, and so efficient did he prove himself that twenty-three months later, to 
a day, he was taken into partnership by Mr. Gordon, the firm becoming Hunter & 
Co.  For nearly five years this style continued and early in 1908, Mr. Hunter 
purchased Mr. Gordon's interest in the business and he has conducted it alone
to 
the present time with great success.  Mr. Hunter took a post-graduate course in 
undertaking at Pittsburg, and on January 1, 1910, he took charge of the
business 
of J. M. Beers, at Coalport, he now being the only funeral director within some 
distance of Irvona.  His residence and the office for his undertaking business 
are located at Coalport, while his other business interests are in Irvona, and 
he is known at both places as a self-made, self-reliant business man and as an 
enterprising and public-spirited citizen.  He is fraternally connected with 
Mattawana Castle No. 152, A. O. K. of M. C., with the Rose Bud and Oconomowak 
Tribes of the Order of Red Men, and with McKinley Lodge No. 181, Knights of 
Pythias of Irvona.
  On January 11, 1911, Mr. Hunter was united with Miss Marguerite Williams, 
daughter of Miles and Susan Williams, who live at Utahville and are old 
residents of Clearfield county.  Mr. Hunter resided in Irvona until the spring 
of 1910, since which time he has been living in his comfortable residence at 
Coalport.  While making his home in Irvona he took an active interest in 
political matters and served several terms as judge of election.