New-York tribune., 1890-07-13
since his birth.

John W Hunter was born in 1907. in what was
Then tie OUTLYING village Of lHdlord and is noW
The heart Of the city Of Brooklyn His father had
removed 10 Long Island from Ncw-Jof~"y. hut his
mother was Of tie blood Of The early Dutch set
tiers from Holland He was educated IN The VII
lacc school, and carly i'm life embarked upon
business career in wholesale grorcry in New
York While % comparatively young man hc hc-
gan to take an active interest in the affairs Of the
city, which was incorporated when hc was twenty
sr;cu years old, and especially in The means Of
public education. iic was one OF the trustees oi
school District No. /. with Seth Low, grand
father Of the cN-llayor, aud Eliokim Raymond,
grandfather Of Professor T. W. Ravmoud, who
built tie Gnc h,rk school building II, Adams and
Concord SIS still known rs Public school No. l.
Later. after Nh Hunter lad built tlc house in
which be still lives. in 1~Io, in Clui"1-avc., be-
tween Iafayctir and Greene ayc,.. Dc built Pnh-
DE school 80. II. NJ Washington and 6rocn"
ayc,. in wha' bad been n G7ruird When thc
Board Of Education was organized he WIS made %
member of IL. and remained in that relation unil
lie became Mayor in l~1i
meanwhile Ic was appointed Auditor IN the
Ncw-York Custom House about 1-31. and held
,lo office for over thirty yr.rs under dozen dif
fcrcnt Collectors. He finally resigned to take
INC ulIlf' ti iIIN 'i lI' ll.i' W. llI-' mum
of Br.otlyn. which was ORGANIZED in -59, and of
which be WIS 20 trustee. Before leaving The Gus
tom Iious, lr lad 20 suffer from an unjust &C.
cusation hv sui. Treasurer John J. Cisco. who, {,
cover up affairs in which he was at fault charged
Mr Hunter with forging ms own name TO checks
The SIGNATURE was clumsy srrowl. and Mr.
Hunter WIS rruprhoHtly acquitted of the charsc
G'pon Tie heels Of this. in l-Gl, hc was aslcd 70
bc p o1ndidatc for Congress in the lIId District
Of Brooklyn, and dceirous OF having verdict OF
rhc people upon hi, record, hc accepted the Demo
cratic nomination and succeeded in defeating \
b. Chiftcudcn by over 1000 majority He was
ONO Of the thrty-onc Democrats in The NNNIXth
Congress- who were thornS in Tie flesh Of the Re
publican majority Gcsirous II passing rccousruc
tion measures after the war ended. The
Democrats wcr" numerous enough 10
compel call for the yeas and
nays and thus put every one On record. VI,
Hunter sal between Concrssmcn Winfield and
Randall one of the SPEAKERS on the opposit,
side in a fiery speech pointed 10 them and charccI
them with aiding and melting rebellion. Mr.
lu1tcr who had sent three sons to the army
replied So That thoS" around could hear that So
far rs lie was coGc"ncd tie speaker was lying
II was reported as uuparliomout1ry language. and
NJ Hunter was called 10 account and a vote Of
''I'>ilf NtN Iii" lItSNl't 'ill'I stormy DEBATE
When it was passed Mr. Hunter said - the
Speaker tlat hc meant no diorcspcct to the House
bat hc statement made 50 :or as il applied to hlr
was an unqualified falschood and the man who
made IT WIS as far from the truth rs he could
possibly get President Johnson told him after.
ward that til, was worse than what he was cen
sued for. Speaker CofaX read hnn a mild lecture
for his words
After the expiration Of his term in Congress
Mr. Hunter ran for member of The assembly in
what WAS tAcn 'hr Nth District but was defeated
by ninety one votes He Was nominated lor Posi-
master OF l'iooi,ln by President Johuson in sGi.
but tie Senate declined 10 confirm him Mr.
Hunter then devoted his whole time 10 hi, dutic;
treasurer Of Tie Dime Savings Bank. Il place
Lr bad head W,I.-r III Congress hy returning fire.
qucnty to Emoltyn. I'm the fail oi 1873 Mr.
lunAs received the offer Of the nomination oi
Mayor on The day the Democratic convention met
aad be- accepted and was elected hy u lary., ma
Jor!ty over Dwight johnson. Those we're the DAYS
of iIn--lulc 80 GHc eats, and when Mayor Hunter
tool, Office the following January, hr i1i.nI him.
sell handicapped by the condition of a.la4l, The
Aldermen iaG the power Of confirming or rcirctin.
ihc Mayo: 81 appointments and three commissioners
zero lp charge oi each Of the city departments.
Iir found That tp get rEc guOi man IN office ne had
to appoint iVO not ui his own choice ana Li, lies,
c0pIt> in hrhal of the city were Defeated He ha.l
All 2bc ally ln h7 ci'r;s Tor reform ana rcfrcnch-
liIfIll III pi'lif 'n'uli'.l'l, VINO Hllr:Wdrd
cccdcd hIm rs Mayor aud who htcr when Scua-
tor secured tAc new charter which gives tie
Mayor the sole power Of appointment OF the hcads
OF departments. 10 Mayor Hunter belongs the
credit Of putting the Bridge proicc, in shape
for the Continuance and completion Of work
upon the structure. The Bridge was then in the
hands OF stOcl, company. bur the Mayor AMI
Controller were "y-ohicio members Of the board
4 managers lEcr" lack Of confidence
in the control ana no more money Wa forth
comm. lor the work. When the directors met