Hunter, Oziel

HUNTER, QUIVEY, BAILEY, SMITH, JONES

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/14/2003 at 20:14:21

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

OZIEL HUNTER.

Oziel Hunter, a retired agriculturist residing on section thirty, DeWitt township, is a worthy representative of the honored pioneers of this county, and a true type of the energetic, hardy men who have actively assisted in the development and improvement of this rich agricultural region. He was born in Cortland county, New York, on the 23d of September, 1815, and is a son of Robert Hunter, a native of Vermont, born in Windham county, in 1792. The father was only sixteen years of age when he removed to New York and settled in Cortland county, where he married and reared his family. By occupation he was also a farmer.

Mr. Hunter, of this review, was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys of his day, and on reaching manhood was married in his native county, May 16, 1843, to Miss Phebe Jane Quivey, who was born in Saratoga county, New York, September 26, 1822. The year of his marriage Mr. Hunter came to Clinton county, Iowa, and settled in Deep Creek township, where he lived twelve years, during which time he bought two hundred acres of government land in Waterford township, where he took up his residence in 18 55, which he at once began to break, fence and improve. To the improvement and cultivation of that place he devoted his time and attention for eighteen years, and then sold the place and removed to DeWitt, where he lived retired for sixteen years. At the end of that time he bought his present farm, which is a well improved place, and was engaged in its cultivation for some years, but is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of former toil.

Mrs. Hunter died June 27, 1890, and was laid to rest in Elmwood cemetery, DeWitt. Of the four children born to our subject and his wife, three are still living, namely: (1) Mary is the wife of Darius Bailey, a farmer of Clinton county, and they have two children: Maud, now the wife of F. F. Smith; and May, at home. (2) Aurelia lives with her father. (3) Cynthia is the wife of P. C. Jones, who now operates the Bunter farm. Julia, the other daughter, died at the age of two years.

On attaining his majority Mr. Hunter became identified with the Whig party, and cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison in 1840, but since the organization of the Republican party since 1856 has been one of its stanch supporters. Mr. Hunter and his daughter Aurelia are members of the Congregational church of DeWitt, while Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Jones holds office. He is also a member of the Masonic lodge at DeWitt. For fifty-eight years Mr. Hunter has been a resident of this county, and has therefore witnessed almost its entire growth and development. When he located here wolves, deer and wild game of all kinds were numerous, and some Indians were also occasionally seen, but they have now disappeared, and where once was wild prairie we now see beautiful homes and farms. Villages have grown into thriving cities, and the county is crossed and recrossed by railroads, telegraphs and telephones. Mr. Hunter has not only seen all of these changes take place, but in the improvement of the county has borne an active part. As one of the honored pioneers and representative citizens of the county he is justly deserving of prominent mention in its history.