James Dawson Hunter (1841 - 1915)

Born 30 Jun 1841 in Ireland

Husband of Margaret Ann (Adams) Hunter — married 28 Feb 1865 in 218 West 17th Street, (Manhattan), New York City, New York

Descendants

Died 16 Jan 1915 at age 73 in 393 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bill Hunter [send private message]

Biography

James was the son of an Irish Master Blacksmith.

JAMES DAWSON HUNTER. JAMES was born June 30, 1841 in Ireland, Canada or Buffalo, NY. We have no source information on James prior to 1857. We do know his father had a blacksmith shop in Buffalo, NY in the early 1850s. Several documents on James' later life declare him born in Buffalo, but the 1860 census has him born in Ireland. The 1880 census has him born in Canada. No doubt, the family emigrated via Canada around the period of his birth, late 1830s-early 1840s.

Documented information on James Dawson Hunter begins in Arcola, Illinois, where he settled with his parents in the spring of 1857 at the age of 16. His father, a blacksmith, purchased a significant amount of land from the railroad, on which he built a home for the family and a blacksmith shop. We also know that a Cristopher C. Jacobs rented a shop from James Hunter Sr in the spring of 1862 doing all kinds of blacksmithing. James Dawson's interest in the dry goods business began when he was a clerk at Dwight Hitchcock's store. This early relationship with Hitchcock benefited James later in life as Dwight Hitchcock was the founder and president of the Paris and Decatur Railroad, later known as the Illinois Midland Railway. It was during this period at the store that he survived the Great Tornado of May 14, 1858. James wrote a letter to the Arcola, a local Illinois newspaper, in the early 1900s describing the event:

"I was standing in the doorway of Uncle John Woodall's barn, when over it went southeast as I sprang out of the door facing the north. The poor horses were killed by the weight of a lot of corn that was over their heads and the timber and woodwork of the building. I fell flat on my face, which also helped to save me as the space just above my head was filled with the lumber from Mr. Blackwell's yard, and the ruins of the Illinois Central Station House. About ten or twelve inches of water on the level fell in about the time my jumping out until I reached Mr. Sylvester's house east of the barn, some four or five lots. Well, do I recall the scene in his house when they pulled me in through the north door. The old gentleman, his daughter, Mary, and his son Henry, were holding the table up at the window, which you will recall was only a frame building...There were some 'Comic Scenes' also during the tragedy, the story of the 'Poor Mover' who had fallen into the pit of the outhouse of Woodall's hotel, and then rushed into the hotel and began hugging his wife, much to her, and the bystanders' great disgust, owing to the odor, was one long to be remembered."

In 1859, James purchased a lot from his father and mother, but apparently never settled it. Soon after the summer of 1860, he moved to Earlville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, presumably still working in the dry goods business. According to his son’s obituary, James also worked on the Paris & Decatur Railroad, a seven and one-half-mile line between Decatur and Harvey City. R & H Adams Company had offices in Chicago, this may have been how he met Margaret Adams. On February 28, 1865, he married Margaret Adams at 218 W 17th Street in New York City. Reverend Morgan Dix of Trinity Church performed the ceremony and kept meticulous records. His Diaries are housed in the Archives of Trinity Church, New York City. His Diary entry for the marriage of James and Margaret on Tuesday, February 28th 1865 includes the following:

"In the evening, performed a marriage service, at 218 West 17th St. A large company had assembled, and there was a small band of musicians, who played a march, while the couple came into the room. Escaped immediately after the ceremony, as this was evidently a very merry throng who proposed to be my folly before they got through. I knew no one there, and had never seen one of them before; cannot imagine why they asked me to officiate."

By 1870, James and his wife Margaret were recorded in the United States census as living at 135 Charles Street with his father-in-law, William Adams, as well as Margaret's sister, Elizabeth, her husband James Overbaugh, and the Overbaugh children. He is further listed in the 1870/71 NYC Directory: Hunter James, Silk, 16 Greene, H 135 Charles St. During this period, James worked with all the members of the Adams’ family in the silk and cotton manufacturing business at the R & H Adams Company. James worked as a silk commission dealer out of the New York Office, located at 16 Greene Street in the Soho District of Lower Manhattan. During this period, his father-in-law, William Adams, owned several homes on Charles Street, as well as the office building on Greene Street and the mills in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Paterson, New Jersey. It was reported January 8, 1873 to the General Assembly of Illinois that both James Hunter and William Adams were elected directors of the Paris & Decatur Railroad. The Paris and Decatur Railroad started operations in 1861 and stopped service in 1874 for a total period of operations of 13 years. In 1875, the Paris and Decatur, the Paris and Terre Haute and Peoria Atlanta and Decatur railroads consolidated to create the Illinois Midland. From the 1973 Book, History of Arthur Illinois, 1873-1973: “In 1870 all the country was excited about a railroad going to cross “The Big Slough” from east to west starting from Paris and going to Decatur. It was originally an enterprise of citizens of Arcola and the vicinity, as most railroads were local projects in those days.” No accident that James, a former resident of Arcola and employee of Dwight Hitchcock, was involved with the railroad. Sadly, Hitchcock died alone and penniless. His obituary reads: “Dwight J. Hitchcock, ex-president of the Illinois Midland railroad, now a part of the Vandalia system, died a few days ago in the county infirmary at Chicago. The ex-railroad magnate was admitted to the county home on May 3rd suffering from the last stages of consumption. [Note: Tuberculosis]. He was at one time quite wealthy but lost his money in unfortunate speculation. The death records bear the inscription "no friends."”

Throughout the late 1800s, the family remained at 135 Charles Street. The property was sold to the city and taken down for a police station built in 1897. Only a few homes from that period still stand in Greenwich village. The most famous is 131 Charles St,, Federal style house built in 1834, which was next door to our Hunter family dwelling.

James worked out of many offices, all located on Greene and Canal Streets. He made his fortune in the manufacture and wholesale of silk and later became a broker on the New York Stock Exchange. By 1904, he and his wife had moved to their son William’s home at 393 Sterling Place in Brooklyn, New York; where they are found in the 1910 Census. They enjoyed vacationing with their son and his wife, Jessie Lang Smith, in Saratoga Springs, and particularly enjoyed horse racing.

James and Margaret had seven children, but only four survived to adulthood and only two married and had descendants, William Adams and Reginald Dix. Both sons followed the same pattern of living as the Adams family, setting-up house in the same proximity, living in the same neighborhood in Brooklyn.

In 1904, James’ eldest son Henry died of tuberculosis at 38. His father described him as having a "wandering disposition." James had not seen his son for six years prior to his death. He chose to bury Henry in Arcola, Illinois, next to his grandparents. At the time he was burying one son, his other son Robert became gravely ill in Lakewood, New Jersey. "His mother (Margaret Adams) was compelled to remain at his bedside ." In 1910, Robert B. Hunter, who was a steamship purser, died of tuberculosis. He was 40 years old at the time of his death.

James died January 16, 1915 in 393 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, New York of pneumonia due to pulmonary edema, and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery, plot 11066, section 51. This plot was purchased by William Adams in 1859 and later deeded to his two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret. The obituary in the Brooklyn Eagle reads:

Hunter - On Saturday, January 16, 1915, James D., beloved husband of Margaret Dams Hunter. Funeral services at his late residence, 393 Sterling Place, on Monday evening at 8 o'clock. Interment at convenience of family.

After the death of James, Margaret spent much of her time helping with the Grandchildren. We know of a family crisis, which resulted in a temporary separation of her son Reginald and his wife in 1922, which we have been informed by the family resulted in Margaret being a significant caretaker during this period. Her obituary in the Brooklyn Eagle reads:

Hunter - On Sunday, Feb. 23, 1930, MARGARET ADAMS, beloved wife of the late James Hunter and dear mother of Reginald D. Hunter. Services at Fairchild Chapel, 86 Lefferts Place, near Grand Ave., Brooklyn, on Wednesday Feb. 26, at 2 p.m. Internment in Greenwood Cemetery.

Sources

"New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2489-VMF : 20 March 2015), James Hunter and M. A. Adams, 28 Feb 1865; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,671,674.

Family Bible. Death Certificate. Marriage record NYC, James Hunter Jr., aged 24 yrs, residing at Earville Ill and Maggie Adams aged 24 yrs residing at 218 W. 17th St. Marriage by Rev. Morgan Dix D.D. at 218 W. 17th St.Witnesses William Adams and Charles J. CAveVol 2 p. 338 of parish marriage register. GreenWood Cemetery Records. 1890 NYC Directory.. Illinois Land Deed, Douglas County. Marriage registration. Arcolian News paper article of Feb. 13, 1904. Family Bible & NYC Birth Register. 1880 census the family was in New York City with 2 servants, Louisa Budd (Prussian ancestry) and Kate Merton (New York family). Both born in NY. Kate was only 14 years old. 1900 Census.

• https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=110268317