Biography - Anderson Hunter
ANDERSON HUNTER. Men of wealth and public-spirit have abundant
opportunities for advancing the social and industrial as well as material
prosperity of the section of country where they make their home. To do this
requires a broad vision and a willingness to think of the general good as
well as of their own individual progress, yet it does not require
self-sacrifice in the long run, as the prosperity of the community in
general enhances the welfare of each man in particular, and the man of means
who takes a wise interest in his neighborhood will thereby advance his own
prosperity. Such a man we find in Anderson Hunter, who resides on section 8,
Ridge Township, Shelby County.
John Hunter the father of our subject was born in Fairfield County, Ohio,
and his wife Elizabeth Turner was a native of the same State. They came from
that county to this State and made their home in Shelby County, about the
year 1858. Their first settlement was in the country in Ridge Township, but
they lived there only a short time and then removed to Shelbyville, where
they completed their earthly pilgrimage. They were the honored and venerated
parents of a goodly family of seven sons and three daughters.
The fifth child in this family was Anderson who was born in Fairfield
County, Ohio, March 6, 1834. In that section he was given his education in
the common schools and a thorough training in farm duties and there he grew
to manhood and resided until he was about twenty-three years old, when he
came to Shelby County. He returned, however to his native home to bring back
as his wife the girl he "had left behind him." Miss Sarah A. Allen, daughter
of George and Nancy (Carlisle) Allen, became the wife of Anderson Hunter,
January 27, 1857. Her parents were natives of the Buckeye State where the
father died and the mother afterward removed to this State settling in Ridge
Township, Shelby County, where she now resides.
Mrs. Sarah Hunter was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, August 13, 1837, and
there she made her home throughout her childhood and maidenhood. After her
marriage with our subject, she became the mother of a numerous progeny,
twelve in number, four of whom died in childhood and infancy. Those who
remained to cheer the heart of their mother by their affection and to become
worthy members of society are: George who married Ida Weakly; Robert who
took to wife Sophronia Longenbough; Harold was united in marriage with Ellen
Yantis; Ida, is now Mrs. William Yantis; Preston married Mattie Eversole;
Delmer, Lorin and Eva. The beloved and revered mother of this household,
passed away from life in Ridge Township April 24, 1887. She was a woman of
beautiful Christian character and a devout and consistent member of the
Presbyterian Church.
The second marriage of Mr. Hunter took place in Hillsboro, Ill., uniting him
with Miss Lucia Jones, a capable and efficient home-maker and a woman of
great loveliness of character. Mr. Hunter while living in Ohio, carried on
for nine years the business of carriage-making, but on account of ill health
he was obliged to relinquish his trade and has found in farming an avocation
more suited to the maintenance of health. He has a magnificent farm of
twelve hundred and eleven broad acres, located in the townships of Ridge and
Pickaway and upon them he has erected an attractive home, wood barns and a
good set of outhouses.
The community in which Mr. Hunter appreciates highly his excellent
qualities, good judgment and earnest desire for its prosperity and has
instrusted to him the duties of School Director and Highway Commissioner. He
is a Prohibitionist in his political views and an active and earnest worker
in every way for the causes of religion and morality. He has been for
fifteen years an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a great
worker and where his wife joins him in efforts for the upbuilding of
Christianity. In their beautiful home they extend a hospitality to their
friends which is both generous and gracious, thus making it one of the most
delightful social centers of Ridge Township.
Extracted 13 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 462-463.
