[ This text is from a book known in the family as 'The Green Hunter Book'. It contains no copyright notice, and is currently in the possession of Lynette Fincher Myers. It has the following handwritten inscription: "December 21, 1965 To Aunt Nannie On her 86th Birthday, with best wishes for a Happy Birthday and a Merry Christmas. Love, Victor Edward Hunter, Jr." ] -------------------------------------------------------------------- HUNTER FAMILY HISTORY, 1810 - 1965 "Let not Ambition mock their useful toil, Their homely joys, and destiny obscure; Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile, The short and simple annals of the Poor.111 For "a bold Peasantry, their country's pride, V,Then once destroyed, can never be supplied.,,2 Thomas Gray., "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.." 1751. 0liver Goldsmith, "The Deserted Village," 1770. Researched and Compiled by Victor Edward Hunter, Jr., B.B.A., S.T.B. Hunter Family Historian Dallas, Texas Fall, 1965 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Almighty Father, thou knowest who we are -- human beings with a good or a bad conscience, some content and others discontent, some secure and others insecure; convinced Christians and nominal Christians, believers, half-believers, and unbelievers. Thou also knowest whence we have come -- from the bonds of family and friendship or from great loneliness, from peaceful prosperity or from manifold adversities and troubles; from happy, from tense, or from broken homes; from the core of the Christian community or from its fringe. Here we are gathered now in thy presence: in all our diversity equally unrighteous before thee and before each other, equally dependent upon thy love and mercy; but also equally sharing the love and forgiveness offered to all mankind by the Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of thy Son, Jesus Christ; and by the coming of the Holy Ghost. Send us, 0 God, as thy messengers, to hearts without a home, to lives without love, to the crowds without a guide. Send us to the children whom none have made happy, -- to the hungry whom none have fed, to the sick whom none have visited, to the fallen whom none have lifted, to the bereaved whom none have comforted. Kindle thy flame on the altars of our hearts, that others may be warmed thereby; cause thy light to shine in our souls, that others may see the way; keep our sympathies and insight ready, our wills keen, and our hands quick to help our brothers in their need. This we ask for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. -------------------------------------------------------------------- [ This page contains an outline of the family tree, but it did not want to be scanned. ] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Alsa M. 1. Alsa M. Hunter, whose father is believed to have been English and whose mother is believed to have been French, was born in Georgia (see Hunter, J. T., in 1880 Census, Randolph County, Alabama2 page 34721, lines 1-8) in about 1810 (see Alsa Hunter in 1840 Census, Chambers County, Alabama2 page 205). Alsa married Martha Stilwell. Their religious preference was Baptist. Martha Stilwell, a daughter of John Stilwell and Margaret Stilwell, was born in Georgia (see Hunter, J. T., in 1880 Census s Randolph County, Alabama., page 34712, lines 1-8) in about 1810 (see Alsa Hunter in 1840 Census, Chambers County, Alabama, page 205). According to the 1840 census, Alsa and Martha were living in Chambers County, Alabama, in 1840. Alsa was born between 1800 and 1810; and Martha was born between 1810 and 1820. Thus, they probably were both born in about 1810. Alsa's occupation was Farming. He owned seven slaves. Of the slaves, one was an adult male between the age of 10 and 24, one was an adult female between the age of 10 and 24, three were males under 10 years old, and two were females under 10 years old. In 1840, Alsa and Martha had three male children -- one between the age of 5 and 10, and two under 5 years old. In 1842, Alsa M. Hunter, a trustee of the Bethel Baptist Church, bought some land for the church near Lafayette, Chambers County, Alabama. Alsa and Martha had seven children. Dockery and Lucian -------------------------------------------------------------------- Alsa M. 2. (both born between 1830 and 1838), John Thomas (born August 31, 1839), Quincy E. (born September 20, 1841). Judson Zechariah (born December 6, 1844), Augustus (born about 1846), and Margaret Agnes (born about 1849; called Maggie; Baptist; married William Puller; Fuller was killed only a few months later; Margaret later married John Bonds; lived and died in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama) were all seven born on a farm above Lafayette, Chambers County, Alabama. Unable to locate Alsa M. Hunter or Martha Hunter and family in 1850 Census of either Chambers County or Randolph County, Alabama. The 1860 Census of Chambers County, Alabama, lists Martha Hunter, age 47, born in Georgia; and Thomas 22, Quincy 18, Judson 16, Augustus 14, and Margaret 11, all five born in Alabama. Alsa must have died before 1860; and Martha and the children were living next door to Martha's parents, Also living with Martha in 1860, were Nancy Hunter, age 28, born in Georgia (about 1832) -- possibly Lucian's widow; and Mary Hunter, age 10, born in Alabama (about 1850) -- possibly Dookery's daughter. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Alsa M. 2. (both born between 1830 and 1838), John Thomas (born August 31, 1839), AlsaM. 3. Alsa had a brother (not on chart) named William, who was a Baptist Minister. He was probably the minister of the Bethel Baptist Church near Lafayette, Chambers County, Alabama. 1850 Census, Chambers County, Alabama: William A. Hunter, age 48, born in Georgia (about 1802). Elizabeth, age 29, (born about 1821), Cornelius, age 23, (born about 1827), Elizer, age 21, (born about 1829), and Columbus, age 19, (born about 1831) were all four born in Georgia. Mary, age 14, (born about 1836), William, age 11., (born about 1839), Martha, age 10, (born about 1840), Emily R., age 6, (born about 1844), Thomas.. age 4, (born about 1846), and Louise, age 2, (born about 1848) were all six born in Alabama. In 1860, they were listed: William A. Hunter 58, Elizabeth 39, Emily 16, Thomas 14, Laura 12, and Eugenia, age 8, (born about 1852). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Alsa M. 4. 1860 Census, Chambers County, Alabama: Cornelius Hunter, age 33, (born about 1827, had married) Malissa, age 25, (born about 1835. They had Thomas (Sparks), age 5, (born about 1855), Cornelius Alonzo, age 2, (born about 1858; never married), Joseph, age 1, (born about 1859; became a Baptist minister) Cornelius and Malissa later had Emma, John, and Lucius. Later: Thomas Sparks Hunter, born about 1855, married Nancy Hattie Smith, who was probably born about 1855, and had seven children. Cornelius -- dead, married Maud Harrison in Oklahoma. Lula (twin) -- dead, married Bill Hollis. Lucian (twin) -- dead, married Ellie Anderson. Millard -- never married; died at age 21. Ed -- 1442 Cedar St., Abilene, Taylor County, Texas (1965). Della -- now Mrs. Glover, 702 Chestnut St., Abilene (1965). Alvie -- called Ab, Sr., Route 1, Hawley, Jones County, Texas (1965). Ab, Jr.. -- lives in Merkel, Taylor County, Texas (1965) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Dockery 5. Lucian Dockery Hunter, the first or second of Alsa M. Hunter and Martha Stilwell Hunter's seven children, was born on a farm above Lafayette, Chambers County Alabama p sometime between 1830 and 1838. Dockery married Mary. They had one child, a daughter, whom they named Mary. Dockery is believed to have died before the Civil War (April 12, 1861 - May 26, 1865). Lucian Hunter, the first or second of Alsa M. Hunter and Martha Stilwell Hunter's seven children, was born on a farm above Lafayette, Chambers County, Alabama, sometime between 1830 and 1838. According to the (1965) probate judge in Chambers County, Alabama, a L. A. Hunter (Lucian ?) married Nancy White (no date). She could be the Nancy Hunter, age 28, born in Georgia (about 1832), who was living with Martha Hunter when the 1860 Census, Chambers County, Alabama, was taken. -------------------------------------------------------------------- John Thomas 6. John Thomas Hunter, the third of Alsa M. Hunter and Martha Stilwell Hunter's seven children, was born on a farm above Lafayette, Chambers County, Alabama, on August 31, 1839. On March 22, 1861, John T. Hunter, age 21, resident of Lafayette, Chambers County, Alabama, was one of the 80 men who enlisted for 12 months in Captain Jackson's Company, (known as "The LaFayette Guards"), 2nd Regiment Alabama Volunteers, at Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama. This organization subsequently became Company A, 7th Regiment Alabama Infantry of the Confederate States Army. During the first 12 months of the Civil War (April 12, 1861 - April 12, 1862) this company was sent to Pensacola, Escamdia County, Florida. On April 16, 1862, John T. Hunter, age 22, enlisted for "3 yrs. or the War" in Captain Talbot's Company, Alabama Volunteers. on May 13, 1862, this company became Company I, 37th Regiment Alabama Infantry of the Confederate States Army. In July and August of 1862, they were in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi. on October 1, 1862, J. T. was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. On October 13, 1862, J. T.; 2nd Lieutenant, Company I, 37th Regiment Alabama Infantry, 4th Brigade, 1st Division, Department of the West (Major General Albert Sidney Johnston, Commanding), Confederate States Army; was wounded (extent unknown) at Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi. On July 4, 1863, J. T. was captured along with the rest of Co. I, 37th Regt. Ala. Infy., at the fall of Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi. And on July 9, 1863, he was required to sign for parole a document stating that "being a -------------------------------------------------------------------- John Thomas 7. prisoner of War, in the hands of the United States Forces, ...I will not take up arms again against the United States." During the first quarter of 1864, Lt. J. T. Hunter, Commanding Co. "P", 37th Regt. Ala. Infy., was stationed at Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia. U.S. Major General William Tecumseh Sherman's 24 day march from Atlanta to Savannah, known as "Sherman's March to the Sea", took place from November 14, to December 8, 1864On December 31, 1864, 2nd Lt. J. T. Hunter and Co. I, 37th Regt. Ala. Infy., were at Dog River (Escatawpa) Factory near Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama. By April 28, 1865, J. T. had been promoted to the rank of lst Lieutenant and was attached to Co. C, 37th Regt. Ala. Infy., which was paroled at Greensboro, Guilford County., North Carolina, in accordance with the terms of a Military Convention entered into on April 26, i865, between General Joseph E. Johnston, Commanding Confederate Army, and Major General W. T. Sherman, Commanding United States Army in North Carolina. On May 2, 1865, lst Lt. J. T. Hunter is listed with Co. D, 37th Regt. Ala. Infy.. On May 26., 1865, the Civil War (April 12, 1861 - May 26, 1865) officially ended. On September 28, 1865, J. T., age 26, married Prances Belk, age 22, in Buena Vista, Marion County, Georgia. J. T. and Frances, religious preference was Baptist. Frances Belk, the tenth of Joseph P. Belk and Margaret Belk's twelve children, was born in Buena Vista, Marion County, -------------------------------------------------------------------- John Thomas 8. Georgia, on August 13, 1843. Before their marriage, Frances graduated from Wesleyan Female College (Methodist) in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia. At Wesleyan, the first girl's college in the United States, she studied music and literature. In May of 1952, an old Negro in his nineties, who used to be a slave of Joseph P. Belk, was working for one oil the Belk's at the old Belk place* He said that "Miss Frances" had the first piano (a Pickering Square) in that part of Georgia. He could remember how, when he was a child, people would come on Sunday afternoons and sit on the lawn to listen to Frances play the piano. He also remembered how, years later, she married a "Mr. Hunter" and moved to Texas, taking the piano with them. After the Civil War., J. T.'s occupation was Farming. He and Frances had six children. Margaret Lula (born December 122 1866; Baptist; married William Humphrey Davis, a Druggist in Italy, Ellis County, Texas; died October 25, 1928, one month before her 62nd birthday; and was buried in Hugh's Cemetery, near Avalon, Ellis County, Texas), Victor Emmet (born February 27, 1868), Martha Caroline (born November 28, 1869; Baptist; later changed the spelling of her middle name to Carolyn; married William Ewel Cox, a Lawyer in Texas; died in Dallas, June 10, 1956; age 86; and was buried beside William in City Cemetery, Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas)., and Fletcher Estelle (born January 27, 1871; Baptist; married Lonnie David Morgan on November 9, 1893, in Italy, Texas; -------------------------------------------------------------------- John Thomas 9. later divorced and moved to Venice, Los Angeles County, California; never remarried; died September 19, 1955; age 84) were all four born in Buena Vista, Marion County, Georgia. J.T., Frances, and their four children moved to a farm which J. T. bought on the Tallapoosa River in Randolph County, Alabama, Thomas Lyle (born February 24, 1872) was born on this farm. After living on this farm for three or four years, J. T. sold it and moved his family to Hickory Flat, Chambers County, Alabama, where he took up Cabinet (Furniture) Making. After living in Hickory Flat for three or four years, J. T. sold again and moved his family to Forrester's Chapel, back in Randolph County, Alabama. This was only five or six miles from where they had lived on the river farm. In Forrester's Chapel, J. T. and a Mr. Floyd entered the Sawmill business together. Nannie Helene (born December 21, 1879; Presbyterian; at age 18, married Pickens Steele Fincher, a Farmer and Rancher, on January 4, 1898, in Waxahachie., Ellis County, Texas; lived in Avalon, Ellis County, Texas, from 1898 to 1905; in Fort Griffin, Shackelford County, Texas, from 1905 to 1917; in Albany, Shackelford County, from 1917 to 1957. Since Pick's death in 1957, Nannie has lived in Fort Griffin.). J. T. and Frances, sixth and last child, was born in Forrester's Chapel, Randolph County, Alabama. Martha Caroline wrote the following to her sister, Fletcher Estelle, on May 6, about 1953: "Forrester's Chapel was the church for the entire community, hence the name for that place. We went there to church from the river farm -------------------------------------------------------------------- John Thomas 10. (only five or six miles away) as well as when we were there near it at the saw mill. Mr. Forrester" (George Forrester, born November 13, 1818; Master Mason; died November 14, 1899; buried in church- yard) "there was well todo and a prosperous farmer and he had lots of land with so much big heavy timber on it and he persuaded papa to come back there and put up a saw mill and told him he would give him all the heavy timber he could saw up and sell. I am sure you can remember that big yard of lumber stacks down there at the mill don't you? and what a time we had playing all along there." While living in Forrester's Chapel, J. T., influenced by his friend, George Forrester, joined the Masonic Lodge and became a Master Mason. In December of 1883, eighteen years after the Civil War and their marriage, J. T., Frances, and their six children (ages 44, 40, 17, 15s 14, 12, 11, 4) moved from Forrester's Chapel, Randolph County, Alabama, to Texas. Catching the train in Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, their route took them by Southern Railroad to New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, where they crossed the Mississippi River on a ferryboat. Continuing by train they went to Gatesville, Coryell County, Texas. From Gatesville, they continued 16 miles north by horse and wagon to Jonesboro, Cor-yell County, where they joined Judson Zechariah Hunter and Augustus Hunter, two of J. T.'s brothers, who had moved to Texas in 1870 and about 1881 respectively. In Jonesboro, J. T. and his family lived on a farm, -------------------------------------------------------------------- John Thomas 11. where J. T. resumed his Cabinet Making. In 1884, the local school teacher moved to Glen Rose, Somervelle County, Texas. So J. T,, Frances, and their children moved there too, in order that the children might have the opportunity to get an education. On June 24, 1885, J. T. died two months before his 46th birthday, and three months before his and Frances' 20th wedding anniversary. He was buried in Glen Rose, Somervelle County, Texas. After J. T.'s death, Frances and the children moved to Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, where they lived with Martha Caroline and her husband, Will Cox, on Belknap St.. While in Fort Worth, Frances helped pay the expenses by teaching piano lessons. She later moved to Sterrett, Ellis County, Texas. Just a few -years before she died, Frances moved to Avalon, Ellis County, Texas, where she lived with Margaret Lula and her husband, Will Davis. on April 15, 1896, almost 11 years after J. T.'s death, Frances, age 52, became ill suddenly and died in Avalon. She was buried in Hugh's Cemetery, which is near Avalon on State highway 34 between Avalon and Italy, Ellis County, Texas. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Victor Emmet 12. Victor Emmet Hunter, the second of John Thomas Hunter and Frances Belk Hunter's six children, was born in Buena Vista, Marion County, Georgia, on February 27, 1868. In 1871, age 3. he moved to Alabama with his parents; and in December of 1883, age 15, he moved to Texas with his parents. On May 2, 1894, age 26, he married,Fannie Evelyn McDuffie, age 21, in Ennis, Ellis County, Texas. Their religious preference was Baptist. Fannie Evelyn MoDuffie, the third of George Graham MeDuffie and Lurana Virginia Landers McDuffie's eleven children, was born near Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas, on October 14, 1872. Sometime before her sixth birthday, she moved to Ennis, Ellis County, with her parents. Victor Emmet and Fannie had four children. Gertrude (born March 26, 1896; Disciples of Christ; married Wallace Norman Harris on January 10, 1917, in Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas; lived in Denton, Denton County, Texas, from 1924 to 1942; in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, from 1949 to the present; lives on 6210 Anita St.) and Faye (born March 27, 1898; Baptist; married Alfred Jack VanHuss on October 21, 1922, in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas; lived in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, from 1923 to the present; lives on 5786 Harvard Rd.) were both born in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas. Thomas Emmet (born December 11, 1902) and Victor Edward (born August 24, 1910) were both born in Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas. [The original book continues for a dozen or so pages]