JOSEPH S. HUNTER, a member of one of the oldest and most prominent families of Washington county, Penna, is a grandson of James Hunter, who was born of Irish parents about 1788 in eastern Pennsylvania. On June 21, 1810, James Hunter was united in marriage with Eleanor Garrett, and they reared the following family: Margaret (deceased), born April 12, 1811; Susan (deceased), born October 24, 1814; Elizabeth, born April 13, 1818 (widow of Robert Marshall) living in East Finley township, this county; James J and William G. Mr.s. Hunter died and on March 29, 1827, Mr. Hunter was married to Sarah Clark of Buffalo township, this county, who bore him two children: John Clark, born December 24, 1827; and Sarah Ann, born October 6, 1830, both now deceased. This wife also died, and November 2, 1848, Mr. Hunter was married to Jane Welsh who died in 1888. Soon after his first marriage he located in Buffalo township, Washington county, following farming and distilling until 1839 when he settled on the farm in East Finley township, which is now the property of his son James J Hunter, where he died in the year 1858. James J Hunter was born October 26, 1820, in Buffalo township, Washington county, Penna, and came with his father's family to East Finley township, where he began life in 1843 doing farmwork for others, and cropping on his father's place. On October 19, 1845, he was married to Jane, daughter of Thomas Hutchisson of East Finley township, and three children were born to them: Joseph S, born June 24, 1846 (farming in Franklin township; Thomas H, born June 14, 1848 (a farmer of East Finley township); James C, born June 30, 1852, (a resident of Brilliant, Jefferson County, Ohio). The mother of these children died in 1853, and on November 13, 1860, Mr. Hunter was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Gilbert Marshall, and the following children have been born to them: Mary E, born March 27, 1862; Jane A, born September 12, 1863; and Florence M, born July 27, 1865. After his first marriage Mr. Hunter lived in West Finley township, but finally in 1861 settled in East Finley township, where he now resides. In political relations he is a Republican, and in religion he and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church of East Finley township. Joseph S Hunter was born in West Finley township, and remained on the homeplace until he was twenty eight years of age, obtaining his education at the common schools. On February 11, 1875, he was united in marriage with Mary P, daughter of J W Patterson, and to their union were born four children: William W; James H; Jennie A; and Clark P. After their marriage the young couple settled in West Finley township, remaining there four years, when they removed to their present farm which consists of 200 acres of well-improved land. He is a member and a liberal supporter of the United Presbyterian Church at Dog Wood Grove. In political life he is a staunch Republican, and is one of the most energetic workers of his party in the township, although he has never accepted political preferment.

Text taken from page 240 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed November 1997 by Martha Burns of Anaheim, CA as part of the Beers Project. Published November 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]