The Van Buren press., 1902-06-07
ARKANSAS STATE. MEMS.
IN. Andrew Hunter, the Venerable
Pioneer Of Methodis1,
Is Dead.
NFIIs OF A WEEK BRIEFLY CHRoNIclED
0sasssisnsl Tragedy at Fayetteville, the
Rssn,s Of woman wrongsd-Doctor
70 Retire From supsristepdepcy State
Insane Asylum.
DR.. Andrew Hunter.

Or. Andrew Hunter. the grand old
man. father of Arkansas Methodism," "
vassed away at the home Of his son
n Little Rock on the Sd inst. DR..
Hunters last illness dated from May
q. when he sustained severe shock
From a fall in alighting from a street
ear. No man within the history OF
NE state was more revered by both
nint and sinner than this self-sacrifc-
fng, noble Christian man. DR.. Hun.
Ger was born in Belemona. county OF
Antrim, Ireland, December 26, 1913,
q 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 common school edu.
uation, but was the graduate of no
college. In 1899 he Joined the Meth
udist church. Two years later he left
ghe home Of his youth, taught school
In Missouri for a short time. and In
dS3S was ordained a minister at the
Arst Arkansas conference, held at
Batesville. At the time 1t was organ
SSed the Arkansas conference extend
ID from the Missouri border to the
kttakapas country, In Louisiana, and
from the Mississippi river to Bonham,
Tex, and embraced the five civilized
Indian tribes. 1t 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
Gained a deacon at Fayetteville In
1889, and the following year made an
elder at Little Rock. In 1888 he set.
He'd in Saline county, and in 1912 the
conference assigned him to the district
embracing Hampstead county, which
extended from Red river to the Mis-
nssippi In 1s43, during his minis
ttations, 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
aifferent times presiding elder of the
Little Rock, Batesville, Camden, Arka.
delphia and Pine Bluff districts. In
1874 Or. 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
400 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
eivil war his reputation had spread SO
1Ar that he was allowed to continue
ais work without molestation, In
1855 he was elected state senator for
Dallas and Bradley counties and was
elected president Of the senate when
that body met. In 1856 he was also
elected, together with John T. Jones
Of Phillips, to the United States sen.
ate, but refused to take the oath ex.
scted Of southern men seeking seats
In that body, and never went to Wash.
Ington. Hon. A. II. 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
0sesme so enthused with his work
that he conceived . sudden disincli.
nation to re.enter politics, He accord.
uhgly sent word to the politicians at
Me state capital that he could not
make the race Since that time he
devoted himself to the ministry. In
nxty.scven sessions Of annual confer.
suces 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"