The Hunters of Marion District, SC

The Hunters of our family line have been traced back to Allen Hunter (1786 - 1869) in Marion District (now Florence County), SC. Allen’s parents and birthplace are unknown, and have been the subjects of a great deal of research and speculation. Some speculate that his father was William Thomas Hunter, from the names of two of Allen’s sons. My own speculation is that his father was James, based on the naming pattern of J.M. Hunter’s children and the existence of a James Hunter who lived in the Peedee region of South Carolina with a child the right age for Allen, according to the 1790 census.

PHOTO ALBUM - Lourina and Olive Hunter

PHOTO ALBUM - S. Allen Hunter, Jr. and Sadie Graham Turner

PHOTO ALBUM - Blake Hunter and Family

Descendants of Allen Hunter (cont’d.)

Generation No. 4

8. ANNA CORINNE⁵ SWEET (WILLIAM PHILLIP⁴, ELIZABETH REBECCA³ HUNTER, ALLEN², JAMES(?)¹) was born Abt. 1863. She married EMORY C. JORDAN.

Child of ANNA SWEET and EMORY JORDAN is:

i. SARAH⁶ JORDAN, m. J.T. TERRY.

9. MARY CLIFTON⁵ (“MAMIE”) HUNTER (STEPHEN ALLEN⁴, JOSEPH MORRIS³, ALLEN², JAMES(?)¹) was born September 30, 1888 in Barkers Cut, Robeson, NC, and died January 06, 1962. She married FRANK DWIGHT STEPHENS March 10, 1910.

Children of MAMIE HUNTER and FRANK STEPHENS are:

i. FRANK DWIGHT⁶ STEPHENS.

ii. BOBBY STEPHENS, d. Bef. 2001.

iii. MARY ANGELINE STEPHENS.

iv. DOROTHY STEPHENS.

v. BLAKE STEPHENS, d. Bef. 2001.

10. JOSEPH EWART⁵ HUNTER (STEPHEN ALLEN⁴, JOSEPH MORRIS³, ALLEN², JAMES(?)¹) was born April 03, 1891 in Paw Creek, Mecklenburg, NC, and died January 14, 1974. He married ANNIE MYERS. She died October 1975.

Children of JOSEPH HUNTER and ANNIE MYERS are:

i. JOSEPH⁶ HUNTER, d. Bef. 2001.

ii. BARBARA HUNTER, m. UNKNOWN WINGATE.

11. STEPHEN ALLEN⁵ HUNTER, JR. (STEPHEN ALLEN⁴, JOSEPH MORRIS³, ALLEN², JAMES(?)¹) was born August 10, 1896 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC, and died June 30, 1981 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC. He married SADIE GRAHAM TURNER March 13, 1920 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC, daughter of CHARLES TURNER and LETHA GRAHAM. She was born March 04, 1896 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC, and died April 13, 1983 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC.

Notes for STEPHEN ALLEN HUNTER, JR.:

Known to most by his middle name "Allen", his grandchildren called him "Papa". He was short in stature (5', 6") but muscular, physically strong, and very active. Until shortly before his death, he would clean the gutters and do his own repairs on his property. He mowed his 3-acre lot with an old gas-powered push mower, which he repaired himself whenever it broke down. In his younger adult years, he would play softball (his position was catcher), or spend time possum hunting with his possum dog "Dixie".

Served in U.S. Army ca. 1917.

Sailed to France during WW I, landing in the city of Brest.

Married Sadie Graham Turner after returning from the war. Evidently, they were interested in each other before the war, as Allen sent a postcard to Sadie informing her of his safe arrival in France.

Worked for Charlotte Consolidated Construction Company (commonly known as "4Cs") on his father's crew, grading land for a new development named Dilworth.

Worked as a barber in Charlotte, NC for 35 years, opening four barber and beauty shops in the Dilworth area on Park Road and Kenilworth Avenue - gave me my first haircut in 1954.

Sometime during his adult years, Papa became a Christian, placing his faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. A smoker before his conversion, he soon quit. But Christianity to Papa was more than just giving up old vices; his assurance of eternal life led him to live without fear of death. He and Grandma were members and faithful attenders at Bethel Chapel, a Plymouth Brethren congregation. Though he had only an eighth-grade education, he was a student of the Bible, and kept a library of commentaries and theological books. He was generous with his time, serving as church treasurer, and with his possessions, donating land to Bethel Chapel and helping build the church building.

Purchased land on Woodlawn Road in Charlotte, NC - Built a house at 770 Woodlawn Road about 1950-51. Farmed the land, then retired in 1956 at age 60 to develop his property. From the 1950s-70s, he subdivided the land into lots and built homes for sale.

Cars he owned: 1953 Ford, 1957 Ford Fairlane, 1962? Ford. My first cousin Chuck Hunter reports that he has Papa’s '66 Ford Galaxie 500XL. Chuck says, “Dad tells me that Papa picked the XL version because it had separate (bucket) front seats. Papa being short and Gramma being tall, they could adjust their seats
accordingly. It still runs and is tagged. I take it out for a drive every so often and it runs well. Its original paint is in need of... well, a paintjob. The engine has not been rebuilt but I have provided maintainance as needed.” (Email, 3/5/02).

Died 10:55 a.m. June 30, 1981 at Charlotte Memorial Hospital of a liver disease, blastomycosis, perhaps due to a fungus picked up by cleaning the gutters on his home. I remember him telling the family at the dinner table in his home that he was not afraid to die, because of his faith in Christ.

Buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Charlotte, NC.

More About STEPHEN ALLEN HUNTER, JR.:

Burial: July 02, 1981, Evergreen Cem., Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC

Cause of Death: blastomycosis (liver disease)-undiagnosed

Medical Information: Was in very good physical condition; worked outdoors a great deal.

Military service: Bet. 1917 - 1920, U.S. Army - World War I - France

Occupation: Barber

Notes for SADIE GRAHAM TURNER:

She was an only child. When she was six months old, her father died and she moved with her mother to the Crook Graham home until her mother's remarriage to Mr. Beatty in 1908. There, Sadie spent much of her childhood growing up and playing with her aunts and uncles, who became like brothers and sisters to her (especially Eunice, who was very close to her age). (Source: Grady Hunter).

Like her husband, she was also a believer in Jesus Christ and raised her three sons in the faith.

Died at 11:00 a.m. April 13, 1983. Buried in Evergreen Cem., Charlotte, NC

More About SADIE GRAHAM TURNER:

Burial: April 16, 1983, Evergreen Cem., Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC

Children of S. ALLEN HUNTER and SADIE TURNER are:

14. i. SON NO_1⁶ HUNTER

15. ii. SON NO_2 HUNTER

16. iii. SON NO_3 HUNTER

iv. FRANCES ALETHE HUNTER, b. November 08, 1928, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC; d. December 29, 1928, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC.

Notes for FRANCES ALETHE HUNTER:

Named after both of her grandmothers.

Born with Spina Biffeda

Buried at Elmwood Cem., Charlotte, NC

More About FRANCES ALETHE HUNTER:

Burial: Elmwood Cem., Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC

Cause of Death: Born with Spina Biffeda

12. BLAKE CARLYLE⁵ HUNTER (STEPHEN ALLEN⁴, JOSEPH MORRIS³, ALLEN², JAMES(?)¹) was born March 23, 1903 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC, and died January 14, 1980. He married (1) MARY FURLONG. He married (2) IRMA JENKENS.

Children of BLAKE HUNTER and MARY FURLONG are:

i. BLAKE CARLYLE⁶ HUNTER.

ii. MARY ANN HUNTER.

Children of BLAKE HUNTER and IRMA JENKENS are:

iii. ELAINE⁶ HUNTER, m. UNKNOWN RECTOR.

iv. WAYNE HUNTER.

13. JONES THOMAS⁵ HUNTER, SR. (JAMES THOMAS⁴, JOSEPH MORRIS³, ALLEN², JAMES(?)¹) was born Abt. 1896.

Child of JONES THOMAS HUNTER, SR. is:

17. i. JONES THOMAS⁶ HUNTER, JR., b. Abt. 1930.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Many thanks to my father, cousin Hunter Demos, uncle G. Hunter, and cousin Wayne Hunter, who contributed family photographs, genealogical information, and family memories used on these pages.

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Copyright ©2002 by Allen Hunter

Last revised: August 17, 2002