John W. HUNTER, farmer and stock-raiser, section 5, Jefferson Township, was born in Adams County, Ohio, September 20, 1844, a son of Andrew and Mary A. (KERR) HUNTER, the father being a native of North Carolina. Both parents are deceased, the mother dying March 21, 1875, and the father August 10, 1881. They had a family of eleven children, of whom six are still living, whose names are as follows: John W., our subject; Louise, Mrs. Susan CARGILL, A. Albert, Charles M. and Edgar M. Our subject accompanied his parents to Marion County, Iowa, in the fall of 1854, and from there to Lucas County, in the fall of 1855. In 1861 he and his father came to Ringgold County and bought a tract of land, on which our subject, with his brother and a sister, remained till the fall of the same year, and began making improvements, the land being on section 6 of Jefferson Township. He is now engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 5 of the same township, and is making a specialty of thorough-bred and graded horses and cattle.

Mr. HUNTER was married in this county February 26, 1884, to Miss Ida C. DUTCHER, who was born near Charles City, Iowa, October 3, 1858, a daughter of Newman DUTCHER, [and Mary (SNYDER) DUTCHER] of Charles City. They are the parents of one daughter – Mary Fern, born March 14, 1885.

Mr. HUNTER has never sought official positions, devoting all his time to his farm, which contains 125 acres of choice land, besides which he owns an interest in the old homestead on section 6. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mrs. HUNTER belongs to the Christian denomination.

NOTE: Ida's father, Newman DUTCHER was promoted to Colonel of the 9th Regiment of Light Infantry, a commission which was signed by Gov. William H. SEWARD of New York State in October of 1841.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 337-38, 1887.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

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