The Forrest City times., 1902-06-06
ARKANSAS STAIE MNS.
Dr. Andrew Hunter, the Venerable Pioneer of Methodism,
 Is Dead.
EVENTS DF 4 WEEK BRIEFLY CHRoNlcLeD
Sensational Tragedy at Fayetteville, tho Result of a Woman Wronged-Doctor to Retire Prom Supsrintendoncy State Insane Asylum.
pr, Andrew Hunter.

DT. Andrew ltuHltls lHe grand Old man. father of Arkansas Methodism" [" passed away at the home of his son in Little Rock on the Sd inst Dr.
 Hunters last illness dated from May 10, when he sustained a severe shock from q fall in alighting from 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. pr. 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. pr. 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 Tn Missouri for short time, and in 1856 was ordained a minister at the first Arkansas conference, held at Batesyile. At the time it was organ. ized 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 tribes. It was divided into four districts, and a presiding elder man aged to get over his district about once in three months. Dr. Hunter was or dained a deacon at Fayetteville in lS39, and the following year made an elder at Little Rock. In 1888 he set tied in Saline county, and in 1842 the conference assigned him to the district embracing Hampstead county, which extended from Red river to the Mis- Sissippi. In 1S43. during his minis trations. old Salem camp ground. in Saline county. so long famous for its annual Methodist reunions was es- tablished and Dr. 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 1844 pr. Hunter was one of the three delegates sent from Arkansas to at tend the conference at New York that divided the church, and out of the 200 delegates present then he sur yived 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. Tn 1866 he was also elected. together with John T. Jones of Phillips, 10 the United States sen ate, but refused to take the oath ex- acted of southern men seeking seats m that body, and never went to Wash Ington. Hon. A. H. Garland took his place instead. In 1872 he partially consented to run for governor against Baxter About this time he opened campmeeting in Bradley county and became so cnthused with his work that he conceived a sudden disincli. nation to re-enter politics. He accord
 inely sent word to the politicians at the state capital that he could not make the race. Since that time he "efoted himself to the ministry In siAty-seVen sessions of annual confer ehces ol hlS church has his name been caiIed, and not in one single instance hdS ms character been arrested. but ever and always the answer came
 Nothing against him"