The Jacob Hunter Trust

Newsletter

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Volume 9, No. 1

Richard H. Hunter, Editor

January 2000

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Elizabeth Kuhlo Hunter

Elizabeth K. Hunter, second wife of Clyde H. Hunter of Quincy, died April 26, 1999. She was 97. Mrs. Hunter has been the Trust's most ardent financial supporter. She provided generous gifts each year to the Trust along with encouraging letters expressing how much Clyde would have appreciated our work. Clyde H. Hunter devoted much of his life to researching Hunter family history. Elizabeth often remarked that the Jacob Hunter Trust was carrying forward the work of her husband. Elizabeth was born on March 14, 1902 in Quincy, a daughter of Ernst H. and Katherine Marsh Kuhlo. She married Clyde H. Hunter September 3, 1949. He died February 8, 1989.

Elizabeth taught in the Quincy Public Schools for many years and established libraries in several Quincy-area schools. She lectured in Central and Southern Illinois on elementary school library procedures and books for children.

She will be missed.

Lettie & Lawrence Lee Hunter Celebrate 50th Anniversary

On October 7, 1999 Lettie and Lawrence Lee Hunter celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married October 7, 1949 in Carbondale, IL. Lettie and Lawrence have spent many years researching Hunter family history and have shared their work with the Trust. Lawrence and Lettie serve as regular advisors to the Trust and assist with the cemetery restorations. Their children Ethel Holladay and Larry Hunter organized a reception for the couple at the Crainville Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Over a hundred people attended the celebration and provided well wishes to the couple.

Ernest E. Hunt's Research

[Editor's Note: Recently, Mr. John McCurdy of Marion informed me of sites on the internet that contained research on the Hunter family. In reviewing some of these sites, I came upon the web page devoted to the research of Ernest E. Hunt, IV of New York. This site is a gold mine of information on the Hunter family. I contacted Mr. Hunt to invite him to contribute to our Newsletter. The following article was written by Mr. Ernest E. Hunt, a descendant of our Jacob Hunter for whom this Trust is named. I highly recommend Mr. Hunt's web site and appreciate his excellent research and his willingness to share his work with us. RHH]

Article on Joseph Love Hunter

By Ernest E. Hunt, IV

Joseph Love "J. L." Hunter, 1842-1926

My grandmother, Louise Hunter Beard, told me at an early age that her grandfather, Joseph Love "J. L." Hunter, was the only survivor of five brothers who fought for the Confederacy. My grandmother also said that her grandfather married his brother's widow after the war; after having one child, the former widow died, and Hunter married a second time.

In 1987, while visiting the Dallas Public Library, I stumbled upon the genealogical section of the Library, and got "hooked" on family history. I had always been genuinely curious to see if my grandmother's story or any other family tales had any basis in fact; the genealogical library gave me the means to really find out.

After examining census and military records, I retraced J. L. Hunter's life in Texas backwards to his birth just north of Nashville, Tennessee. J. L. Hunter was the fourth of the five sons of Isaac F. Hunter, who lived most of his life on White's Creek, north of Nashville, Tennessee. Isaac had three wives, and J. L. was from the second.

To see if my grandmother's story was accurate, I traced out the lives of Joseph Love Hunter's brothers. The eldest, Gilbert Marshall "Gib" Hunter, came to Texas about 1845 and settled in Robertson County. He married, had several children, and died in 1863 of pneumonia after serving in the Texas militia. The next son, James Marshall Hunter, settled in Williamson County, Tennessee, and died at Fort Donelson in 1863. William Robert "Will" Hunter and J. L. Hunter joined Gib Hunter in Robertson County, Texas in 1858. Will and J. L. signed up for military service there, and Will died in 1862 at Cold Harbor, Virginia. J. L. served as a harness maker in the 12th Texas Infantry. The last son, Isaac Christopher "Sip" Hunter, also served in the war, and died in Tennessee in 1865. So my grandmother's tale of Joseph Love Hunter's brothers all dying in the war was true.

In researching post-war records, I discovered that J. L. Hunter married Gib's widow Naomi in 1866 in Robertson County, Texas. They had one son, William Robert Hunter, before Naomi died in 1869. Joseph Love remarried in 1870, and had several children, one of whom included Robert Alexander Hunter, my great-grandfather. The other part of my grandmother's story was also true.

Once I had confirmed my grandmother's story, my curiosity continued about the Hunter family. At a family reunion in 1988 or 1989, I met a long-lost cousin, Oscar Hunter (grandson of the William Robert Hunter who was the child of J. L. Hunter and his brother's wife). Oscar had worked for many years on the origins of the whole Hunter clan. He told me that Joseph Love Hunter's father Isaac Hunter was the son of Jacob Hunter, a Revolutionary War veteran, and Jacob's wife was named Mary or Polly. Isaac had a brother Manuel Hunter, who moved to Illinois, another brother Matthew Ryburn Hunter, who stayed in Tennessee, and sisters Elizabeth Freeland and Sally Durard. Most interestingly, he said that while he was sure that Jacob was a descendant of William Hunter of Nansemond County, Virginia, he couldn't prove it. He also couldn't find a maiden name for Jacob's wife Polly. We corresponded, and he gave me much of his research before he died in 1994.

Before he died, Oscar put me in touch with Bettye Brown of Columbia, Tennessee, who gave me a great deal more research on Jacob, Isaac, and James Marshall Hunter, Isaac's second son, who is her ancestor. I still had not solved the mystery of Jacob's father, but had accumulated a great deal of research over the years on the Hunter family, and felt it was such a waste to leave this information in my file cabinet, only able to share it with a few people.

The Internet solved this problem. In late 1998, I discovered how to put my research on a Web Page, as the genealogical database program I use, Family Origins, had a web site option. I published a site on the Hunter family last spring, and through this ability to share information and e-mail, have enlarged my correspondence base tremendously. I periodically update the site (one of six I maintain) as my time permits. Most recently, I have discovered the excellent research done by members of the Manuel Hunter family through my correspondence with Richard H. Hunter, and of course am very grateful to be able to contribute to this newsletter.

I have only recently been adding information on the Manuel Hunter family to the web site, but will add much more on my next update. Please let me know any questions or comments you may have. The address is:

Descendants of Jacob, Dempsey, Thomas, David, and Allen Hunter

http://www.mindspring.com/~eehiv/hunter/hunter.htm

I still have not ascertained who Jacob's father was (but have made a guess of Dempsey Hunter, son of Isaac Hunter of Northampton County, North Carolina). However, correspondence generated from the site has perhaps provided us with the maiden name of Jacob's wife, Polly Dancer (see site for details).

Once again, please review the site and send any comments, questions, or additions you may have.

And for your information, my grandmother, now 89, is truly amazed at all the history we have found on her family.

Ernest E. Hunt, 200 E. 66th Street, Apt. D1502, New York, New York 10021

eehiv@mindspring.com February 28, 2000

Mary (Polly) Boone or Dancer?

Recent research by Bertie B. Dancer of Fort Worth, TX reveals that Mary (Polly) Hunter may have been a Dancer rather than a Boone. It has been reported for years that Jacob Hunter (b. 1755 d. 1806) married Mary (Polly) Boone. This has not been proven however, and some report that her being a Boone was merely speculation. According to Lawrence Lee Hunter, Boone family records indicate that Mary (Polly) Boone would have been a generation back (or older) than the Mary (Polly) that was the wife of our Jacob Hunter. Mrs. Dancer located court records from Smith County Tennessee where a Jonas Dancer was allocating his estate to his nephews wherein it is stated:

Know all Men that I Jonas Dancer of Smith County State of Tennefsee in Consideration of the affection I have for thomas Shoote son of Jessee Shoote of South Carolina also Manuel hunter son of Jacob hunter of Tennefsee Do give to them Jointly (that is to say to thomas Shoote & Manuel hunter the ballance Due Me from after Discharging the gift mad to Jonas Dancer of South Carolina to them and their heirs forever In Witnefs I have set My hand & Seal this 29 Day of Oct - - 1802

test Jonas Dancer (seal)

Dan. Burford John Ledgley State of Tennefsee Smith C Court

Dec.. term 1802 the Exeecution of the above Bills of sale was proven by the Oath of Dan..Burford on eof the Subfcribing witnefes

Let them be Registered

Reg. 7 March 1803

Jonas Dancer was a brother to Mrs. Jacob Hunter (Polly) and to Mrs. Jesse Shoote, mother of Thomas Shoote named in the Smith County TN Deed Book according to Mrs. Bertie Dancer. Mrs. Dancer also reported that Manuel Hunter (first son of Jacob and Mary (Polly) Hunter was an executor for Ulrich Dancer in 1826.

Upon learning of Bertie Dancer's research, Lawrence Lee Hunter stated that he always had some doubts about Polly being a Boone. Lawrence said the dates just did not fit. Also, Lawrence said he remembered his grandfather L.Z. Hunter telling him that "Polly was a Dancer." Lawrence said "until now I always thought he meant she liked to dance."

Mrs. Bertie B. Dancer's e-mail address is: bdancer@prodigy.net.

Burial Place of Jacob Hunter, Mary (Polly) Dancer Hunter Lee, Braxton Lee and Elizabeth Ann Hatcher Located

In June 1999 I (Richard Hunter) traveled to Ashland City, TN in an attempt to locate the burial place of Jacob Hunter, his wife Mary (Polly), Braxton Lee, and his first wife Elizabeth Ann Hatcher. In 1980 Lawrence Lee Hunter corresponded with Anthony J. Lee of Old Hickory, TN who informed him that Braxton Lee, his wife, and Jacob Hunter and his wife Polly were all buried together at the location of Braxton Lee's home place in Ashland City, TN. Lawrence's grandfather L.Z. Hunter (b. 1871, d. 1948) told Lawrence that Jacob Hunter and his wife Polly were buried along with Braxton Lee. Belva Hunter Hall (b. 12/4/1899, d. 5/7/1987) also stated in years past that Jacob and Polly Hunter were buried along with Braxton Lee. In 1981 Mr. Lee took Lawrence Hunter to the location in Ashland City. In 1999 I met with Mr. James "Bud" Hallums of Ashland City to inquire about Lee and Hunter history. Mr. Hallums is the County Historian of Cheatham County and has records concerning early settlers. Mr. Hallums took me to the location where Braxton Lee was buried. Mr. Hallums said he remembered as a young boy seeing two grave stones at that location, and he believed they were the markers for the graves of Braxton Lee and his wife. Mr. Hallums said that he believes the stones were pushed into the road bed to serve as a foundation for the road when Hibiscus Street was built. Mr. Hallums stated that Braxton Lee donated the land for Forest Cemetery in Ashland City, but Braxton was not buried there. Braxton L. Hunter, son of Manuel and Judith Lee Hunter, (grandson of Braxton Lee and Jacob Hunter) was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in 1837. Mr. Hallums stated it was very likely that Jacob Hunter and his wife Mary (Polly), who after Jacob's death became Braxton's second wife, were all buried together on Braxton's home place since it was known that the families were close.

The location where Braxton, Jacob, Mary (Polly), and Elizabeth Hatcher Lee (Braxton's first wife) are buried is now identified as 104 Hibiscus Street, Ashland City. A small white house sits on the lot and the graves are believed to be in the front yard, between the house and the street.

Trust Seeks Input Regarding Future

The Trust is seeking input from members concerning future decisions and actions. Major decisions are required regarding the replacement of the fence at the Allen Hunter Cemetery, repair of the fence at the Jacob Hunter Cemetery, and deciding the amount to be spent each year on mowing and maintenance.

Allen Hunter Cemetery: The fence needs to be replaced. It was installed in the 1950s and is now beyond repair. Many of the fence posts are loose and leaning, the fence is rusted in many places, and the north corner fence post was hit by a vehicle and pushed over. Both the chain link portion of the fence and the wire sections need replacing. Estimates approach $4,500.

Jacob Hunter Cemetery: During 1999 a storm blew a large tree down, damaging the fence along the east border of the cemetery. It is estimated that it will cost $300 to $400 to repair the fence.

Mowing and Maintenance: In 1998 the cemeteries were mowed 23 times and in 1999, a year of severe drought, they were mowed 17 times. With the growing season as it is in Southern Illinois, we should budget for at least 22 mowings. This allows for at least 10 days between mowings. At 70.00 per mowing (includes both cemeteries) we need to budget $1,540 per year, assuming no rate increase. We could attempt to find a lawn service that will mow fewer times (e.g., 10 to 12) if we are willing to have the cemetery looking "rough" between mowings.

Income: The Trust owns a Federal T-Bill that for the past five years has generated $ 750.00 per year. When the T-Bill was renewed, interest dropped to 5.935% reducing our annual earnings to $ 587.50. Interest on our checking account earned $ 244.06. Individual donations have diminished over the past three years, and without Elizabeth Hunter's donations, would not have covered the mowing expenses.

Future Choices: Although we presently have a healthy balance in our checking account ($8,458.66), this balance will quickly erode without an increase in income. Further, we could practically deplete the balance in just one year if we proceed with the needed repairs to the fences and keep the cemeteries mowed.

When the Trust was established, it was hoped that we would raise enough money to purchase at least 3 United States Treasury bills ($ 10,000 each) so the T-bills would generate enough revenue for the Trust to operate on the income from its investments. At this point we have one T-Bill, and the interest is not sufficient to support our annual mowing program. Covering present mowing expenses from T-Bills would require the purchase of two additional T-Bills.

There are several decisions facing the Trust:

1. Do participants want the fence replaced at the Allen Hunter Cemetery?

2. Should we repair the damaged fence at the Jacob Hunter Cemetery?

3. Should we attempt to raise funds specifically for fence repairs, and only mow until sufficient additional funds are raised?

4. Would you support having the cemeteries mowed fewer times per year if we could find a lawn service that would agree to that schedule?

The Trust seeks input from interested people as to how they want this Trust managed. If you have opinions, suggestions or other ideas, please contact the Trust.

Annual Financial Statement For 1999

Date	Activity	Debit	Credit	Balance
01/01/99	Balance Forward			$7,309.46
01/04/99	Judith Ann Mathews		$100.00	$7,409.46
01/05/99	Richard H. Hunter		$100.00	$7,509.46
01/05/99	Interest on checking account		$18.69	$7,528.15
01/06/99	Postage for Newsletter	$33.00		$7,495.15
01/07/99	Kinko's, Printing Newsletter	$31.31		$7,463.84
01/28/99	Interest on checking account		$15.31	$7,479.15
02/07/99	Interest on checking account		$6.66	$7,485.81
02/16/99	Earl R. Smith		$200.00	$7,685.81
03/07/99	Interest on checking account		$18.97	$7,704.78
04/05/99	Interest on checking account		$19.90	$7,724.68
04/18/99	Elizabeth K. Hunter (in memory of Clyde H.)		$1,000.00	$8,724.68
04/30/99	Interest on Federal T-Bill		$375.00	$9,099.68
05/05/99	Interest on checking account		$22.35	$9,122.03
05/06/99	Neat Cut Lawn Care X 2	$140.00		$8,982.03
06/02/99	Neat Cut Lawn Care X 5	$350.00		$8,632.03
06/06/99	Interest on checking account		$25.69	$8,657.72
07/03/99	Neat Cut Lawn Care X 2	$140.00		$8,517.72
07/03/99	John & Laura Hunter-Johnson		$50.00	$8,567.72
07/05/99	Interest on checking account		$22.48	$8,590.20
08/04/99	Neat Cut Lawn Care X 3	$210.00		$8,380.20
08/05/99	Interest on checking account		$23.40	$8,403.60
09/06/99	Interest on checking account		$18.51	$8,422.11
09/07/99	Neat Cut Lawn Care X 2	$140.00		$8,282.11
09/10/99	Williamson County Treasurer	$10.14		$8,271.97
10/05/99	Interest on checking account		$16.51	$8,288.48
11/01/99	Interest on Federal T-Bill		$9.59	$8,298.07
11/01/99	Interest on Federal T-Bill		$375.00	$8,673.07
11/07/99	Interest on checking account		$18.92	$8,691.99
12/05/99	Interest on checking account		$16.67	$8,708.66
12/14/99	Neat Cut Lawn Care X 3 + bush hog field	$250.00		$8,458.66
12/31/99	BALANCE			$8,458.66

Has Your Address Changed?

Each year the Trust sends out Newsletters to people whose addresses have changed and the Newsletters come back as undeliverable. If you have changed addresses and are interested in continuing to receive the Jacob Hunter Trust Newsletter, please inform the Trust of the change.

Do You Have E-Mail?

You may have noticed that the format of the Newsletter has changed this year. The Trust is now printing the Newsletter in Word format so it may easily be sent via e-mail. If you would prefer to receive the Newsletter by e-mail, please inform the Trust and provide your e-mail address. This will save the Trust printing and mailing expenses and will make it easier for people to send the Newsletter along to others in their families. Also, with this format, the Newsletter can be appended to many other documents presently on the Web. At some point in the future, the Newsletter may be totally distributed through e-mail or the World Wide Web.

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The Jacob Hunter Trust, 10202 Briggs Road, Marion, IL 62959-5844

Phone: 618/985-2814 Fax: 618/985/2933 e-mail: rhunter@midwest.net
Temporary Website: http:\\www.mindspring.com\~hunter-family\JHTNewsletter\index.htm