EDWARD B HUNTER, b 1 Feb 1851

HUNTER, BATTLES, HAZEN, HARNS

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 6/5/2004 at 08:21:35

Edward B. Hunter stands among the foremost of the skillful, enterprising young farmers and stock-raisers of Richland Township, and is a fine representative of the native-born citizens of Jackson County, who have grown with its growth and are active in sustaining and extending its interests and material prosperity. He comes of good Pennsylvania stock, and his father, Joseph Hunter, was a native of the Keystone State, born in Mercer County. His grandfather, Joseph Hunter, Sr., was born in Ireland, and was of Scotch descent. After his emigration to America, he located in Pennsylvania, in Mercer County, and subsequently removed from there to Trumbull County, Ohio, where he was engaged as a farmer in pioneer times, and a part of the town of Niles was built on his homestead that he had cleared from the forests.

The father of our subject was bred to the life of a farmer, and he was married in Trumbull County, Ohio, to Miss Jane, daughter of John Battles, a native of that county. In 1848, like his father before him, Mr. Hunter became a pioneer, and sought to build up a new home on the wild prairies of Iowa, coming here with a team, and locating in Richland Township, among its earliest settlers. He bought an entire section of land, paying $1.25 an acre for it, and became the largest land owner in the township, improving a good farm and engaging extensively in stock-raising and general farming. He soon became one of the most prominent men of the county, and took a conspicuous part in public affairs for many years. He served as County Supervisor for a great many years, and also as Township Trustee for a long time, and he was one of the leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, contributed largely to its upbuilding and helped to organize several other churches, and was Class-Leader for many years. He was a man of a high order of ability, of incorruptible integrity, and of marked force of character. From the first organization of the Republican party he supported its principles and its candidates with well-directed zeal, and on all questions of public importance he was always found on the right side, and was a champion of the cause of temperance. His death, May 18, 1885, at the age of sixty-nine years, was a severe blow to his community and to the county at large. His wife, who was his devloted companion for many years, a member of the same church, and who sympathized with him in his views, preceded him in death many years, dying in 1869. Seven children were the fruit of their marriage, three of whom are now living - Edward; John, in Sioux County; Joseph, in Andrew. The names of those who died are Nancy J., Levi E., Mary, and James. Their son Levi gave up his life for his country in the late war. He was a member of Company I, 31st Iowa Infantry, and took part in the battles in which his regiment was engaged till after the siege of Vicksburg, his death occurring shortly after, he dying of congestive chills in 1863.

Mr. Hunter, of this sketch, was born in Richland Township, Jackson County, Iowa, Feb. 1, 1851, and was reared on the homestead to a stalwart, independent manhood, receiving his education in the public schools. He remained with his father till he was twenty-one, when he began life on his own account. In his boyhood the surrounding country was still in the hands of the pioneers, and retained many traces of its original wildness. He can remember seeing deer on the farm near his home, and it used to be one of his amusements, as soon as he was large enough to handle a rifle, to go hunting and trapping for wild game, and besides supplying the family larder with game, having fur to sell in Dubuque. When he was twenty-two years old he rented the old homestead where his youth had been passed, and managed the farm with excellent success until 1880, when he located on his present farm of 104 acres, on sections 27 and 28, which was given him by his father. It was in a state of nature, with no improvements whatsoever, and our subject has had the pioneer labor of clearing it and breaking the soil, putting up buildings, etc. He now has it under admirable cultivation, and has erected a fine set of farm buildings, including a well-built residence, 16x24 feet, with a wing 14x24 feet in dimensions, and two barns, one 46x62 feet and the other 30x30 feet; he has also put up a wind-mill and tank, and has all the modern conveniences and appliances for farming after the most approved methods. There is a fine orchard on the place, and it is well stocked, as our subject engages extensively in raising graded Short-Horn cattle, Poland hogs, and Percheron Norman horses, having ten of the latter of high grade, using two teams in working his land.

September 20, 1876, Mr. Hunter and Miss Lucy S. Hazen were united in marriage, and to them have come four children - Edward, deceased; Blanche, Edna, and Gladys. Mrs. Hunter is, like her husband, a native of Richland Township; she is a lady of education and refinement, and prior to her marriage was engaged in school teaching. Her parents, Monroe and Catherine (Harns) Hazen, are natives of Pennsylvania. They formerly lived in Richland Township, where the father was engaged in farming, but they are now residents of Montgomery County, and he there follows the same occupation.

Our subject is a high minded man, possessing fine mental endowments, and is well fitted by education and temperament to be an active and useful member of society. He stands at the head of the Republican party in this section of the county, and has repeatedly represented it at county conventions. He has served on the United States Jury at Dubuque. He is connected with the A.F. & A.M., as a member of Lodge No. 51, at Bellevue, and the Chapter of Bathkol, in Maquoketa. His fellow-townsmen have often shown their appreciation of his ability and worth by placing him in some of the most responsible local offices. Thus he has been Township Collector two years, School Director two years, Township Assessor two years, and has been Supervisor of the Roads. His life-record, both as a civic official and as a private citizen, is without blemish, and reflects credit on the citizenship of his native town and county.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)