Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-01-27
BERKELEY COUNTY.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
BY HON. CHAs. j. FAULKNER.

Col. DAVID HUNTER was born
in York, Pennsylvania, on the 3rd
of May, 1851. Sometime during his
early boyhood his parents came to
Virginia and settled near the site OF
Martinsburg, on what is still known
as the Red House Farm The pre-
else date of his coming is unknown,
but there is reason for believing
that the settlement was made dur
ing the Governorship of Lord Dun
more, and before the establishment
of Berkeley county in 1772.
David, the youngest son of the
family, acquired the rudiments of
his education, in log school house
located near the present crossing of
Queen and Burke st Gets, walking
the whole way from his fathers
house (about two miles to the north
ward through unbroken forests. OF
his earlier life the traditions are few
and vague and scarcely worth read
ing. He was for sometime employ
ed as deputy assistant in the Clerks
office of Berkeley county, held by
his brother, Moses Hunter, between
the years 1876 and 174S. About the
year 1877 or 'SS he went to England
on some business connected with the
interests Of his family, and after his
return about 1892, he married Eliza
beth, eldest daughter of Philip Pen
dleton, and sister of the late Philip
G. Pendleton. The county Clerk
ship becoming vacant by the death
of his elder brother, David Hunter
competed for the place with Major
Henry Bedinger. Bedinger was
elected by the vote Of the magis-
trates, but it being apparent that
some of the electors had been con
trolled by improper influences, the
election was contested by Col. Hun
ter in the courts. After several
years of litigation his Ca e was sus-
tanned, and he was put in possession
of the office in 1903, and held it un-
til his death. About the year 1911
while walking out with some friends
on the Walnut Flats, near Stephens
Dam, he attempted to leap narrow
gulley, fell and broke his leg, from
the effects of which he was lame for
life. Hence the cane and limp
which are remembered by all who
knew him in his latter days.
AS the flower of his life passed
during the interval between the Rev
olution and the War of 1912, Colonel
Hunter was never in the military
service and his title was probably
derived from commission in the
militia, and while he was one of the
most generally esteemed and inhu-
entail men in the district, the poses
sion of the responsible and Them
lucrative Clerkship, effectually de-
barred him fran seeking political
distinction, then, as now, more hon
orable than profitable. He was new
ertheless, like most of the gentlemen
of his circle at that day, strong
Federalist, and when that party re-
joiced in the downfall of Napoleon
Bonapart in 1918, he was chosen to
preside at a barbecue dinner given
in honor of the event by the FEEDER
alists of Berkeley and adjacent
counties of Virginia and Maryland.
This celebration took place ON the
10th of September, 1918, at Swear
engen's Spring on the Potomac river
above Shepherdstown, and was clev-
erly charictured as ''the Cossack
Celebration" in some satirical verses
written by a gentleman of the oppo-
site party, and well remembered to
this day The motives and justiti'
cation Of the assembly are set forth
however, in document, still extant,
bearing evidences of the sincerity
and ability of its trainers, and well
worth perusal at this day.
Colonel Hunter died on the 22nd
of March, leaving large family OF
sons and daughters only one of whom
it IS believed, is still living.
From the traditions of his earlier
life, we learn that Colonel Hunter
was in person handsome, athletic
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