The Monticellonian., 1902-06-13
ARKANSAS STATE MNS.
Dr. Andrew Hunter, the Venerable Pioneer of Methodism,
 Is Dead.
EVENTS OF 4 WEEK BRIEFLY CHRONICLED
Sensational Tragedy at Fayetteville, the Result of Woman Wronged-Doctor to Retire From supsrintendency State Insane Asylum.
pr. Andrew Hunter.

Dr. Andrew Hunter. the grand old man, father of Arkansas Methedism, passed away at the home of his son in Little Rock on the 3d inst. Dr. Hunters last illness dated from May 10, when he sustained a severe shock from fall in alighting from a street car. No man within the history of the state was more revered by both saint and sinner than this self-sacrific- ing, noble Christian man. Dr. Hun ter was born in Belemona. county of Antrim, Ireland, December 26. 1913, of Scotch parents. When but two years of age he was brought to this country, his parents settling at York, Pa, where he grew to manhood. Dr Hunter received a common school edu- cation but was the graduate of no college. In 1899 he joined the Meth odist church. Two years later he left the home of his youth, taught school in Missouri for a short time. and in 1886 was ordained minister at the first Arkansas conference, held at Batesville. At the time it vas organ izeal the Arkansas conference extend ed from the Missouri border to the Attakapas country, in Louisiana, and from the Mississippi river to Bonham, Tex, and embraced the five civilized Indian tribes4 It was divided into four districts, and presiding elder man. aged to get over his district about once in three months. Dr. Hunter was or dained deacon at Fayetteville in 1859. and the following year made an elder at Little Rock. In 1888 he set tied in Saline county. and i'll 1S42 the conference assigned him to the district embracing Hampstead county, which extended from Red river to the Mis- sissippi. In 1843, during his minis trations, old Salem camp ground. in Saline county. so long famous for it's annual Methodist reunions, was es- tablished. and pr. Hunter preached at the first gathering. From 1854 to 1859 he was Bible agent for the Little Rock conference. He was also at different times presiding elder of the Little Rock, BatesVille, Camden, Arka- delphia and Pine Bluff districts. In 1S44 pr. Hunter was one of the three ENSabN' tend the conference at New York that divided the church, and out of the 300 delegates present then he sur vived all but one. He was continuous ly been delegate to the general con ference since that time During the civil war his reputation had spread so far that he was allowed to continue his work without molestation In 1866 he was elected state senator for Dallas and Bradley counties and was elected president of the senate when that body met. In 1866 he was also elected, together with John T. Jones of Phillips, to the United States sen ate, but refused to take the oath ex- acted of southern men seeking seats IA that body, and never went to Wash fngton. Hon. A. H. Garland took his place instead In 1872 he partially consented to run for governor against Baxter. About this time he opened camp-meeting in Bradley county and became so enthused with his work that he conceived a sudden disineli- nation to re-enter politics. He accord ingly sent word to the politicians at the state capital that he could not make the race Since that time he devoted himself to the ministry. In sixty-seven sessions of annual confer ences of his church has his name been called, and not in one single instance has his character been arrested, but ever and always the answer came,
 Nothing against him"