EIGHTH GENERATION

1848. Emmett Leslie Hunter was born on 9 May 1898 in Battle, McLennan County, Texas. ⁽¹⁰⁹⁰⁾ He died on 9 Apr 1975 in Midland, Midland County, Texas. ⁽¹⁴¹⁶⁾ He was buried in Resthaven Memorial Park, Midland, Texas.

REYNOLDS-HUNTER {April, 1920}

Wedding bells continue to ring for our Midland girls, both far and near, and wherever they go they are soon decorated with orange blossoms, bridal veil and wedding ring. The Reporter cordially shares the pretty sentiment expressed by our deceased friend, William Shakespeare, "all the world loves a lover," hence it is with pleasure we chronicle the marriage of pretty little Manilla Reynolds to Mr. Emmett L. Hunter, of Merkel.

The wedding was beautifully solemnized in Pecos on April 17, the service being read by Rev. Homer Magee, pastor of the Christian Church. Immediately following the ceremony the happy newly-weds came to Midland and spent a few days visiting the bride's parents, Mr. & Mrs. John Reynolds. They then went to Eastland where they expect to reside. The bride is a lovely girl, has lived in Midland all her young girlhood and has many friends who wish her and the young husband every possible happiness during the journey upon which they have so joyously embarked.



Former Midland Boy With Border Patrol {1925}

E. L. Hunter, formerly of Midland an now with the border immigration service, was in Midland with G. C. Dennis, also of that service Sunday afternoon and this morning.

Hunter, son of J. H. Hunter who left Midland for Uvalde in 1917, joined the immigration service after the war, during which he served overseas with the 40th Division, belongs to a group which numbers approximately 800, divided between the borders of Canada and Mexico.

He married a Midland girl, Miss Manilla Reynolds, daughter of John Reynolds, who now lives in Los Angeles. Hunter lived on a farm ranch, 15 miles northwest of Midland.

The men had been on a special mission when night overtook them in Midland.

"We have to watch for aliens," Hunter said: "Those natives of Mexico who are literate, healthful and not seditious are admitted by passport to this country, but there are many of the opposite kind who try to come in illegally. Those are the kinds we have to watch."

The patrol guardsmen also told of underground running of Mongolians, one of the chief worries of the patrol.


Former Border Patrolman is Deputy Sheriff {Jan. 1940}.

E. L. Hunter, for nearly 20 years a member of the Border Patrol of the U. S. Immigration Service, has resigned his position with the federal government and has accepted, appointment as a deputy sheriff of Pecos County under Sheriff Dan B. Bihl.

Mr. Hunter and A. K. Moe had been stationed in Fort Stockton for the last two years or more, and their transfer to Alpine and Marfa, respectively, was announced recently. Mr. Hunter's' resignation left open the place he would have filled in Alpine; and Mr. Moe was stationed there instead of in Marfa. He, and Mrs. Moe moved to Alpine this week.

Mr. Hunter owns a home in Fort Stockton, and preferred to remain here in a new position rather than be transferred.


Hunter Resigns as Deputy Sheriff to Resume Patrol Work {March 1940}

E. L. Hunter, veteran member of the Border Patrol of the U. S. Immigration Service, resigned Saturday after a brief tenure of office as a deputy sheriff of Pesos County under Sheriff Dan B. Bihl, when a leave of absence granted him from the Border Patrol was revoked, resulting in an order to report for duty in Alpine.

Mr. Hunter had secured a leave of absence he, thought would be effective until next fall, but changes in the Border Patrol order required his resignation from the sheriff's force soon after he began work.

The Hunter home here is being traded to W. F. Scudday for a home owned by Mr. Scudday in Alpine. The Fort Stockton property will be rented by the new owner.


Patrol Inspector Retires Saturday {Dec. 31, 1950}

E. L. HUNTER IS HONORED AT DINNER HERE ON EVE OF 26TH YEAR

Emmett Hunter, patrol inspector with the Border Patrol, was retired from the service last Saturday, and fellow patrolmen from the Marfa sector honored him at a dinner at the Green cafe Saturday evening at 8 o'clock. About 80 patrolmen, their wives and guests were present for the occasion.

Mr. H. L. Hudson of the El Paso office was in charge of the informal program and called for comments from the men who know and served with Mr. Hunter during his years with the Border Patrol. All these were filled with commendations for the retiring inspector and with regrets at seeing him retire.

To show their appreciation for Mr. Hunter the men presented him with, first, a can of Brer Rabbit syrup his favorite dish after camp meals; next a box of his favorite cigars, and finally with a .30-30 cal. Winchester rifle - the same kind of gun he had been using for some 26 years - in a hand-tooled boot with his name tooled on the top.

28 Years Service

Following two years in the army in World War I, Mr. Hunter reported for duty in the Border Patrol at Marfa first on Sept. 16, 1924, and was transferred to Presidio in October. He later went to Marathon where he served about three years and was sent back to Presidio. He was promoted to senior patrol inspector Sept. 11, 1929.

During his years of service in this area Mr. Hunter served at the places named above, and Valentine, Fort Stockton and Alpine. With 26 years in the patrol, and his army service, he had 28 years to his credit, and, according to those who served with him, they were efficient and fruitful years for the Border Patrol.

Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have lived in Alpine for several years, and according to his statement Saturday "we are not planning to go anywhere."



Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Hunter, Moved From Alpine To San Angelo {August 1951}

Mr. And Mrs. Emmett L. Hunter, have moved from Alpine and have bought a home in San Angelo, Mr. Hunter has also purchased the Perry Courts on W. 29th St. and they'll be managed by his son Eugene Hunter.

Eugene moved to San Angelo to from Midland where he was employed by the Halliburton Oil Co.

Mr. Hunter retired last December from the Immigration Border Patrol, having served with that organization 28 years, During that time he was on duty in Marfa, Presidio and Alpine for many years he was well liked by both Mexican and American people, the Mexican people on the border used to identify Mr. Hunter as "El Tejano."

The Hunters have another son, John Leslie, who is serving with the U. S. Army on Okinawa. He has been there for the last 20 months.


Undated Clipping:

1925 Clipping Tells Deputy's Days As Border Patrolman

A yellowed 1925 clipping from the Midland Reporter-Telegram is a prized possession of Emmett L. Hunter, Midland County deputy sheriff and jailer. It tells of the time when he was a border patrolman with the U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Kept carefully among his papers all these years, the article relates that Hunter, "a former Midland boy," had joined the Border Patrol in the Big Bend country, and six and one-half years as a Midland County deputy sheriff. He was in Military Intelligence in World War I.

He joined the Border Patrol in 1924, and for the ensuing 26 years was stationed with it in such localities as Alpine, Marfa and Fort Stockton.

His job in that capacity was to look for "mojados," or "wetbacks" - aliens who had entered the United States illegally.



They Cared Him 'El Tejano {September 29, 1968}

Ex-Lawman Recalls Early Days In Border Patrol

By COPE ROUTH American Staff Writer

MIDLAND - El Tejano they called him. El Tejano - the Texan.

Sinewy thin was his five-foot eight frame, toughened by a cowboy's life on the rangelands of West Texas.

El Tejano . . . six-gun on his hip land big hat pulled low as he strode through the dusty streets of Lajitas, his eyes on the Rio Grande, which was has domain.

El Tejano ... already schooled in the value of silence as he rode through the mesquite, his ears alert to the sound of an alien splashing across the river. Or a burro loaded with contraband whiskey being sneaked into the United States.

Right out of a Max Brand Western, those were the exciting first years of the U. S. Border Patrol, given the responsibility in 1924 of protecting the borders of the nation.

AND THE ROMANCE of the times still has not left the eyes of 70-year-old Emmett L. Hunter, one of the first of them.

"They called 'em the River Riders before the Border Patrol was organized," he reminisced as he sat in the modest bungalow in which he land his wife of 48 years live in retirement.

"I was working on the old Figure Two Ranch north of Van Horn when I heard about the Border Patrol. I joined in September of the same year place until World War I came it was organized."

Hunter is a native of Central Texas but his family moved into the Odessa-Midland area in 1906 and he grew up on a small spread his father had 10 miles north of Odessa, adjoining the Ratcliff ranch.

For a while the family lived on Blue Mountain in Winkler County and young Hunter attended the Henry Cummings School.

After moving to the Ector County ranch he attended Anderson school.

He worked on his father's place until World War I came along and he hurried to Albuquerque, N. M., and enlisted in the U. S. Army.

AFTER THE WAR, in which, he served one year in combat in France, Hunter returned to Texas, was married in 1920 to Manilla Reynolds, daughter of John Reynolds, pioneer Midland County rancher, and then went to work on the Figure Two Ranch.

In May of 1924 the Border Patrol was authorized as an agency of the U. S. Department of Labor. It was not until the late 1930s that the Border Patrol was placed under the Department of Justice.

"They were charged with the prevention of illegal entry of aliens into the U.S.," Herman Moore, chief patrol inspector in El Paso, explained.

Although the Border Patrol was created in April, 1924, it was not until September that it began operations.

And Hunter was in the original group.

"I went out to El Paso and applied for the job," he recalled. "They didn't give fall those tests they do today.

"IF YOU HAD an Army discharge - and that was one of the requirements - you'd be interviewed orally, and if you passed, you were hired.

"The pay was $1,680 a year. That doesn't sound like much now but it was pretty good pay in those days."

The 26-year-old Hunter was sent to Marfa on his first assignment, but a short time later he was transferred to Presidio and that area was to be his domain for the next 13 years.

"We'd go out on patrol on horseback and maybe we'd be gone all week," he explained.

"Each night we'd meet at a prearranged spot with the pickup truck, which carried our food and bedding.

"The food was mostly canned stuff and maybe salt pork. We didn't have ice chests like we do today and couldn't have much fresh meat."

Aliens trying to enter the country illegally were the main targets sand they were nabbed regularly.

"There's an old Mexican man living (here in Midland that I used to catch almost every day," Hunter recalled.

"The strange part of it was that he was an American; his folks lived in Ojinaga but he was born in Presidio.

He could have walked across the bridge at the port of entry any time he wanted. But almost every day we'd catch him wading across the river, which was illegal.

"HE'S A GOOD friend of mine now and we laugh about those days."

Smugglers also kept the' patrolmen busy.

The Shafter silver mines were going full blast in those days and Mexicans who could manage to smuggle in liquor found a ready market among the miners.

"I remember one time we tracked some smugglers to one of the mine shafts and found these burros deep inside," he related. "I still have a picture of the cache and it included 52 gallon jugs of assorted booze and 86 pints of tequila.

"We caught two aliens at the same time."

Most of the aliens came into the U. S. to find work on farms and ranches and much of the patrolmen's time was spent just as it is today - in flushing out the wetbacks and taking them back to Mexico.

There were some close calls, too.

"Several years after I joined the service," Hunter recalled, "my partner and I had stopped a Mexican near Lajitas to question him.

"Before I knew what was happening, he hit me in the head with a rock. I was pretty groggy but we began scuffling and somehow I got my pistol out of the holster and he wound up getting shot in the stomach.
Didn't die, though."

AFTER 13 YEARS in Presidio, he was transferred to Fort Stockton and for the rest of his service he shifted from one assignment to another in West Texas.

He retired in Alpine on December 31, 1950, after 28 years of government service two years in the Army and 26 years in the Border Patrol.

Two years later he returned to the Odessa-Midland area and became a deputy for Midland County Sheriff Ed Darnell.

He stayed in that position until he retired - a second time - last July 1, after suffering a heart attack.

One of his two sons, John Hunter, is following his father's footsteps and is a sergeant on the Midland police force. His other son, Eugene Hunter, is employed by an air conditioning firm in Midland, and a daughter, Mrs. Arline Reeves, resides in San Antonio.

Hunter is still under a doctor's care.

But he regularly goes back e to the sheriff's office for a visit.

And he sits there silently, listening to the talk of the men of the law - talk of the life he has known for more than 40 years.



The Midland Reporter-Telegram Sunday, April 19, 1970, p. 10b:

Emmett L. Hunters Mark 50th Wedding Anniversary

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett L. Hunter, 400 Cuthbert St., met Saturday in the Hunter home to join the couple in celebrating 50 years of marriage.

Children of the couple are Mrs. Arliene Reeves, who has a daughter, Mrs. Leslie Brown of Floresville; Eugene P. Hunter, who resides at 300 Willowood Drive with his wife and son, and John L. Hunter, who lives at 609 Canyon Drive with his wife and two daughters.

Also attending the celebration was the brother of Emmett L. Hunter, Willie Hunter of Portland, Ore.

Mr. and Mrs. Hunter, the former Manilla V. Reynolds, were married April 17, 1920, in Pecos. She is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John O. Reynolds of Midland and was born Dec. 15, 1898. Her father operated a livery stable and bought and trained polo ponies many years here.

Hunter; born May 9, 1898, is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hunter. The family moved to Midland in 1906 by covered wagon from Taylor County and lived on a ranch 15 miles northwest of Midland. In 1915, Hunter was working on the B. N. Aycock Ranch northwest of Midland. In 1917, he joined the Army and served overseas during World War I until 1919. He worked in oil fields near Eastland until he and Mrs. Hunter were married. They lived on the Figure 2 Ranch north of Van Horn, where he was employed on the TC Line Camp near the New Mexico border.

In 1924, Hunter joined the U. S. Immigration service and was a border patrolman in the Big Bend area until Dec. 31, 1950, when he retired. The next two years, he was a special deputy at Alpine in Brewster County and in 1953 joined the Midland County Sheriff's Department and served as a deputy under Sheriff Ed Darnell. He retired from this position June 30, 1968.

Following almost 45 years of law enforcement work, Hunter says he plans to remain retired this time. He does yard work at their home and Mrs. Hunter stays busy with housework and bowls once a week with the My Fair Ladies Bowling League. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 623.


From the Midland Reporter-Telegram, Thursday, April 10, 1975:

EMMETT L. HUNTER, 76, DIES; SERVICES FRIDAY

One of the original members of the Texas Border Patrol, Emmett L. Hunter of Midland, died Wednesday afternoon in a Midland hospital at the age of 76.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Newnie W. Ellis Chapel with the Rev. Jerry Allen of Dellwood Baptist Church officiating. Interment and Masonic rites will be held at Resthaven Memorial Park.

Hunter, who resided at 400 W. Cuthbert St., was born at battle May 9, 1898. He first came to the Midland-Odessa area in 1906 and was reared on a small spread north of Odessa.

After serving in World War I, he was married in 1920 to Manilla Reynolds, daughter of pioneer Midland County rancher John Reynolds.

Four years later he joined the border patrol, serving in Presidio, Fort Stockton, Alpine, and other points in West Texas. After 24 years, he became the county jailer in Midland under Sheriff Ed Darnell. He retired in 1968.

Hunter was a member of Midland Masonic Lodge No. 623 and the First Christian Church.

Surviving are the widow, two sons, Eugene P. Hunter and John L. Hunter, both of Midland; a daughter, Mrs. Arliene H. Reeves of San Antonio; three brothers, William L. Hunter of Portland, Ore., J. J. Hunter of Charleston, S. C., and James Roy Hunter of Portland, Ore., a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Baldwin of Fort Worth, four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.


From unknown newspaper, Thursday, April 10, 1975:

EMMETT L. HUNTER

MIDLAND (Staff) Services for Emmett L. Hunter, 76, an original member of the U. S. Border Patrol and a former Midland County Sheriff's deputy, will be 2 p.m. Friday in Newnie W. Ellis Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park.

Born May 9, 1898 in Battle, he was married to Manilla V. Reynolds on April 17, 1920 in Pecos. He was a veteran of World War I and joined the U.S. Border Patrol when it was formed in 1924. He served with that group until 1950.

He then joined the Midland County Sheriff's department as a deputy and was the county jailer until his retirement in 1968.

Hunter was a member of the First Christian Church of Midland and Midland Masonic Lodge No. 623. He had lived in the Midland-Odessa area since 1906, when his father moved to a farm 10 miles north of Odessa.

Survivors are his wife; two sons, Eugene P. Hunter and John L. Hunter, both of Midland; a daughter, Mrs. Arliene H. Reeves of San Antonio; three brothers, William L. Hunter and James Roy Hunter, both of Portland, Ore., J. J. Hunter of Charleston, S. C.; a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Baldwin of Fort Worth, four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.


From the San Angelo Standard, Thursday Morning, April 10, 1975:

E. L. HUNTER

MIDLAND (SC) Emmett L. Hunter, 77, died Wednesday in a Midland hospital.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in Ellis Funeral Home with burial in at Resthaven Memorial Park.

He was born May 9, 1898 in Battle, was a World War I veteran, was married to Manilla V. Reynolds in Pecos April 17, 1920 and was a member of the original group of U.S. Border Patrolmen in 1924. He retired from the Border Patrol in 1950 and worked for the next 15 years for Midland County.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Eugene P. Hunter and John L. Hunter, both of Midland; a daughter, Mrs. Arliene H. Reeves of San Antonio; three brothers, William L. Hunter and James Roy Hunter, both of Portland, Ore., J. J. Hunter of Charleston, S. C.; a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Baldwin of Fort Worth, four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.


By: Snelson S.R. No. 627 SENATE RESOLUTION


In Memory of Mr. Emmett L. Hunter

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas wishes to honor ,the memory of an outstanding former citizen of Midland and Texas, Mr. Emmett L. Hunter, who died April 7, 1975, at the age of 76; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hunter was born May 9, 1898, at Battle and was reared in the Midland-Odessa area; he was married to Manilla Reynolds in 1920 and later joined the border patrol serving for 24 years in Presidio, Fort Stockton, Alpine, and other points in West Texas, later becoming county jailer in Midland County serving until 1968; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hunter was a member of Midland Masonic Lodge No. 623 and the First Christian Church; and

WHEREAS, Survivors include his beloved wife; two sons, Eugene P. Hunter and John L. Hunter, both of Midland; a daughter, Mrs. Arliene H. Reeves of San Antonio; three brothers, William L. Hunter of Portland, Oregon, J. J. Hunter of Charleston, South Carolina, and James Roy Hunter of Portland, Oregon; a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Baldwin of Fort Worth; and four grandchildren and a great-grandchild; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That on this day the Senate of the 64th Legislature of the State of Texas honor the memory of Mr. Emmett L. Hunter a extend sympathy to the members of his family; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be prepared, under the seal of the Senate, and presented to Mr. Hunter's family as a tribute to his memory, and when the Senate adjourns this day, it do go in his memory.

W. P. Hobby, President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 27, 1975, by a rising vote.

Charles Schnabel, Secretary of the Senate

He was married to Manilla Velma Reynolds (daughter of John Oliver Reynolds and Fannie Watts) on 17 Apr 1920 in Pecos, Reeves County, Texas. ⁽¹⁰⁹⁰⁾ Manilla Velma Reynolds was born on 15 Dec 1898 in Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma. She died on 25 Nov 1979 in Midland, Midland County, Texas.⁽¹⁴¹⁷⁾ She was buried in Resthaven Memorial Park, Midland, Texas.

From the Midland Reporter Telegram, Monday, November 26, 1979, page 3A, Column 1:


MANILLA HUNTER

Manilla Hunter, 80, of Midland died Sunday in a Midland nursing home.

Graveside rites will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Resthaven Memorial Park with the Rev. Ross Payne, pastor of Cotton Flat Baptist Church, officiating. Services will be directed by Newnie W. Ellis Funeral Home.

Mrs. Hunter was born Dec. 15, 1898, in Chickasha, Okla., and grew up in Midland, where she attended schools. Her parents, the late Mrs. & Mrs. John O. Reynolds, were Midland ranchers.

She was married to Emmett l. Hunter in Pecos on April 17, 1920, and lived in Midland for a number of years before moving to the Big Bend Country. There, her husband was a U.S. Border Patrolman until 1953, when the couple returned to Midland. Hunter was a deputy sheriff under Ed Darnell. Her husband died on April 9, 1975.

Mrs. Hunter was a member of the First Christian Church.

Survivors include a son, Eugene "Gene" Hunter of Midland; a daughter, Arliene Reeves of Midland; two brothers, James Oliver Reynolds of Van Nuys, Calif., and Carl C. Reynolds of Oregon City, Ore.; four grandchildren, a great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.




Emmett Leslie Hunter and Manilla Velma Reynolds had the following children:

+2418 i. Arliene Genevieve Hunter.
+2419 ii. Eugene Parker Hunter.
+2420 iii. John Leslie Hunter.