Born: Indiana, 1831.
Died: Paris, Illinois, 1913.
Shortly after his birth, the parents of Mr. Hunter moved from Greencastle, Ind., to Illinois, and settled on a farm in Hunter Township. He graduated from Edgar Academy in 1848 and began his business life as a civil engineer. Then he studied law, was admitted to the bar and in a few years became a prominent attorney.
In 1864 he was elected to the State Senate. He was a member of the National House of Representatives in the fifty-third and fifty-fifth Congresses, and rendered efficient service on various committees. During the latter, he voted for the appropriation of fifty million dollars to be put into the hands of President McKinley for carrying on the war with Spain. Mr. Hunter was a lifelong Democrat, but he was always stronger than his party, because he possessed the confidence and respect of the people on account of his character. His heart always beat in sympathy with the sons of toil, for from them he sprang. Hence he championed the interests of the laboring people.
He was a large-hearted, generous and broad-minded man, a splendid "mixer." In the days of his prime he was a superior platform orator. For more than fifty years he was a member of the church at Paris. In addition to serving the church as trustee and elder, during all this period he was the chief usher stationed at the main entrance at both Sunday meetings, where he received the people with dignity and cordiality. And thousands found pleasure in going to worship there because of this sincere and hearty welcome.