Husband of Anna Maria Jones Hunter. He died from injuries sustained on May 10, 1902, when he was alighting from a street car in Little Rock.
ANDREW HUNTER was born in Ballymony, County Antrim, Ireland, December 26, 1813. During his childhood the family came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. His mother had been awakened in Ireland under the preaching of Gideon Ousely, a Wesleyan preacher, and became a member of the Presbyterian Church. When Andrew was about eight years old
his father died after a lingering illness during which time the family was frequently visited by a Methodist preacher who prayed with them and presented the gospel to the afflicted man, who was converted and died happy. This resulted in the union of the whole family with the Methodist Church. Andrew was converted January 31, 1833. In the fall of 1835, having gone west, he was teaching in Manchester, Mo. While so employed, his mind being much exercised as to whether he was called to preach, he saw in a Church paper a letter from Rev. Peter McGowan, superintendent of the South Indian Missionary District, calling urgently for teachers for Indian schools. He had been earnestly praying God to guide him into his
life work, and felt sure; he could do good in teaching whether he could preach or not, and accordingly traveled across the sparsely settled country toward Fort Gibson, three hundred miles away. He found McGowan on January 1, 1836, and was assigned to a school at Hichitytown near the present site of Muskogee. Here he preached his first sermon on the con- version of Cornelius. The Quarterly Conference met soon, P. M. McGowan presiding, and Andrew Hunter was licensed to preach. In November of the same year, 1836, the Arkansas Conference was organized at Batesville. Andrew Hunter was received on trial and appointed to missionary school No. 5 at Bayou Baynard. Thus began a ministry of sixty six years. He never located nor transferred. In 1837 he was appointed to Litchfield Mission. This was in the Batesville District, and evidently in the northern part of the State. In 1838 his work was Benton Circuit. This included all the country from Little Rock to Arkadelphia, Benton,
and Collegeville. In 1839 his work was Washington Circuit. This included Fayetteville and the adjacent country. In 1840 he was sent to Mound Prairie Circuit. This included the town of Washington, with Hempstead and adjacent counties. These were annual moves of many
hundreds of miles across unbridged rivers and through almost trackless forests. The young preacher remained but one year in a place, but left tracks that fifty years have not effaced. In 1841 he was stationed at Little Rock. In 1842 the Washington District was organized in the south- western part of the State and the young man was made the presiding elder of the new district. In 1843 he was reappointed to Washington District and elected to the General
Conference. In 1844-45 he was stationed at Little Rock. In 1846-47 he was presiding elder of the Little Rock District. In 1848-49 he was appointed to Batesville District and 1850-53 to Camden District. The appointments for the next two years are unknown. In 1856 he was appointed agent for the American Bible Society. This continued three years and in 1859 he was agent for the Book and Tract Depository. In 1861-63 he was appointed to the Arkadelphia District; in 1863- 64, to Tulip Circuit and African Mission; in 1865-67 to Little Roct District; 1868-69, agent for the American Bible Society; 1870, Washington Circuit; in 1871, Pine Bluff District; 1872-73, Arkadelphia District; 1874, Second Street, Little Rock; 1875-78, Little Rock District. This closed his work as presiding elder after twenty years of district labor. In 1879-82 he was appointed to Little Rock Circuit; 1883, Camden Station; in 1884-87, Liberty and Pleasant Grove. In 1888 he was supernumerary on the Galloway Circuit, and in 1889 he was granted the superannuated relation. This relation he honored until his death. He fell asleep June 3, 1902, at the residence of his son in Little Rock. He was a member of twelve General Conferences. He was elected a member of the Ecumenical Conference
in 1891, and was appointed for 1901, but declined on account of age and infirmity. He took rank as a preacher in his Conference at an early date and soon came to be generally regarded as the best man in the pulpit in the State. Yet his compeers were great men. The eloquent Winfield, the incisive and masterly Ratcliffe, Cobb, Moore, Truslow, and others would have been men of mark anywhere: but he excelled them all. His mellow, vibrant voice made his speech impressive. His hearers soon understood that there was nothing rash or inconsiderate in his words, nothing light or trifling, nothing for show or merely to attract attention to the speaker, that the message and not himself was his concern and that he was intensely in earnest. Then there was a remarkable weight of character about the man, his personal dignity, his unselfish and blameless life, and his wisdom won the especial regard of all men. He did not obtrude his opinions, but his counsel was always sought and when he had spoken it was the end of controversy. During the war when Little Rock and the greater part of the State had been occupied by Federal troops, President Lincoln inaugurated a new State government and appointed Isaac Murphy governor. When the war ended this new government was generally recognized throughout the State. All parties seemed to desire
peace. In 1865 a Legislature was elected and the best men in the State were sought to represent the people. Andrew Hunter was elected to the senate by Saline and Dallas counties. When the Legislature met he was chosen president of the Senate. During the session he was elected to the United States Senate. But Congress decided again to reconstruct the State government. In 1868 the new government was inaugurated, a new Legislature convened under the new Constitution; new senators were elected and Hunter ignored. He had not sought the office or the honor. The office was taken from him, but not the honor. The hearts of the people safely trusted in him, and he was abundantly satisfied with the honor and the work of his ministry. In 1872 a gubernatorial election was coming on. The Republicans nominated E. Baxter, a bolting Republican convention nominated Brooks. The Democratic convention, despairing of success, indorsed Brooks. The dissatisfied people, worried and heartsick, determined to make Andrew Hunter governor. The Democratic Central Committee sent a man to find him, and after a long. weary search, found
him at a quarterly meeting in Desha County, and begged him to accept a nomination. He asked time to consider, and at the time designated for his reply the committee found him in the stand at camp meeting preaching to an entranced multitude: when the service was, over he had his answer ready and assured them that much as he loved the people, he could
not abandon his work to be governor of Arkansas. But the people of the whole State honored him. He was chaplain of one or other house of the Legislature many times-whenever he was willing, so during the years of his superannuate relation he could serve them and did so gladly. In 1849, the bishop being absent, he was chosen-though a young man then President of the Conference. He was again so honored in 1859, 1862, 1863,
and in 1865, five times in all. No other man was so honored by his Conference, except W. P. Ratcliffe in 1864. He received the degree of D. D. from some obscure and short-lived college, as he told me, somewhere about 1870. It mattered not about the institution, he honored the degree; the degree conferred no honor upon him. A few months before his death
he wrote: "Standing, as I now do near the end of my earthly journey, looking back on the past, I can say the religion I profess to have obtained and the religion I have preached is all in all to me, and I expect to get to heaven when I die; not because I have been a preacher, but because Jesus Christ died on the cross for a sinner like me. I crave no monument for
my grave. I trust I shall live the remainder of my life without a blot or stain on the reputation I have made, my monument being in the hearts of those I have tried to serve." Noble words, as sincere as they are modest. But if the State of Arkansas ever places statues of her two greatest sons in the Capitol at Washington, the statue of Andrew Hunter will be
there.
ANDREW HUNTER was born in Ballymony, County Antrim, Ireland, December 26, 1813. During his childhood the family came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. His mother had been awakened in Ireland under the preaching of Gideon Ousely, a Wesleyan preacher, and became a member of the Presbyterian Church. When Andrew was about eight years old
his father died after a lingering illness during which time the family was frequently visited by a Methodist preacher who prayed with them and presented the gospel to the afflicted man, who was converted and died happy. This resulted in the union of the whole family with the Methodist Church. Andrew was converted January 31, 1833. In the fall of 1835, having gone west, he was teaching in Manchester, Mo. While so employed, his mind being much exercised as to whether he was called to preach, he saw in a Church paper a letter from Rev. Peter McGowan, superintendent of the South Indian Missionary District, calling urgently for teachers for Indian schools. He had been earnestly praying God to guide him into his
life work, and felt sure; he could do good in teaching whether he could preach or not, and accordingly traveled across the sparsely settled country toward Fort Gibson, three hundred miles away. He found McGowan on January 1, 1836, and was assigned to a school at Hichitytown near the present site of Muskogee. Here he preached his first sermon on the con- version of Cornelius. The Quarterly Conference met soon, P. M. McGowan presiding, and Andrew Hunter was licensed to preach. In November of the same year, 1836, the Arkansas Conference was organized at Batesville. Andrew Hunter was received on trial and appointed to missionary school No. 5 at Bayou Baynard. Thus began a ministry of sixty six years. He never located nor transferred. In 1837 he was appointed to Litchfield Mission. This was in the Batesville District, and evidently in the northern part of the State. In 1838 his work was Benton Circuit. This included all the country from Little Rock to Arkadelphia, Benton,
and Collegeville. In 1839 his work was Washington Circuit. This included Fayetteville and the adjacent country. In 1840 he was sent to Mound Prairie Circuit. This included the town of Washington, with Hempstead and adjacent counties. These were annual moves of many
hundreds of miles across unbridged rivers and through almost trackless forests. The young preacher remained but one year in a place, but left tracks that fifty years have not effaced. In 1841 he was stationed at Little Rock. In 1842 the Washington District was organized in the south- western part of the State and the young man was made the presiding elder of the new district. In 1843 he was reappointed to Washington District and elected to the General
Conference. In 1844-45 he was stationed at Little Rock. In 1846-47 he was presiding elder of the Little Rock District. In 1848-49 he was appointed to Batesville District and 1850-53 to Camden District. The appointments for the next two years are unknown. In 1856 he was appointed agent for the American Bible Society. This continued three years and in 1859 he was agent for the Book and Tract Depository. In 1861-63 he was appointed to the Arkadelphia District; in 1863- 64, to Tulip Circuit and African Mission; in 1865-67 to Little Roct District; 1868-69, agent for the American Bible Society; 1870, Washington Circuit; in 1871, Pine Bluff District; 1872-73, Arkadelphia District; 1874, Second Street, Little Rock; 1875-78, Little Rock District. This closed his work as presiding elder after twenty years of district labor. In 1879-82 he was appointed to Little Rock Circuit; 1883, Camden Station; in 1884-87, Liberty and Pleasant Grove. In 1888 he was supernumerary on the Galloway Circuit, and in 1889 he was granted the superannuated relation. This relation he honored until his death. He fell asleep June 3, 1902, at the residence of his son in Little Rock. He was a member of twelve General Conferences. He was elected a member of the Ecumenical Conference
in 1891, and was appointed for 1901, but declined on account of age and infirmity. He took rank as a preacher in his Conference at an early date and soon came to be generally regarded as the best man in the pulpit in the State. Yet his compeers were great men. The eloquent Winfield, the incisive and masterly Ratcliffe, Cobb, Moore, Truslow, and others would have been men of mark anywhere: but he excelled them all. His mellow, vibrant voice made his speech impressive. His hearers soon understood that there was nothing rash or inconsiderate in his words, nothing light or trifling, nothing for show or merely to attract attention to the speaker, that the message and not himself was his concern and that he was intensely in earnest. Then there was a remarkable weight of character about the man, his personal dignity, his unselfish and blameless life, and his wisdom won the especial regard of all men. He did not obtrude his opinions, but his counsel was always sought and when he had spoken it was the end of controversy. During the war when Little Rock and the greater part of the State had been occupied by Federal troops, President Lincoln inaugurated a new State government and appointed Isaac Murphy governor. When the war ended this new government was generally recognized throughout the State. All parties seemed to desire
peace. In 1865 a Legislature was elected and the best men in the State were sought to represent the people. Andrew Hunter was elected to the senate by Saline and Dallas counties. When the Legislature met he was chosen president of the Senate. During the session he was elected to the United States Senate. But Congress decided again to reconstruct the State government. In 1868 the new government was inaugurated, a new Legislature convened under the new Constitution; new senators were elected and Hunter ignored. He had not sought the office or the honor. The office was taken from him, but not the honor. The hearts of the people safely trusted in him, and he was abundantly satisfied with the honor and the work of his ministry. In 1872 a gubernatorial election was coming on. The Republicans nominated E. Baxter, a bolting Republican convention nominated Brooks. The Democratic convention, despairing of success, indorsed Brooks. The dissatisfied people, worried and heartsick, determined to make Andrew Hunter governor. The Democratic Central Committee sent a man to find him, and after a long. weary search, found
him at a quarterly meeting in Desha County, and begged him to accept a nomination. He asked time to consider, and at the time designated for his reply the committee found him in the stand at camp meeting preaching to an entranced multitude: when the service was, over he had his answer ready and assured them that much as he loved the people, he could
not abandon his work to be governor of Arkansas. But the people of the whole State honored him. He was chaplain of one or other house of the Legislature many times-whenever he was willing, so during the years of his superannuate relation he could serve them and did so gladly. In 1849, the bishop being absent, he was chosen-though a young man then President of the Conference. He was again so honored in 1859, 1862, 1863,
and in 1865, five times in all. No other man was so honored by his Conference, except W. P. Ratcliffe in 1864. He received the degree of D. D. from some obscure and short-lived college, as he told me, somewhere about 1870. It mattered not about the institution, he honored the degree; the degree conferred no honor upon him. A few months before his death
he wrote: "Standing, as I now do near the end of my earthly journey, looking back on the past, I can say the religion I profess to have obtained and the religion I have preached is all in all to me, and I expect to get to heaven when I die; not because I have been a preacher, but because Jesus Christ died on the cross for a sinner like me. I crave no monument for
my grave. I trust I shall live the remainder of my life without a blot or stain on the reputation I have made, my monument being in the hearts of those I have tried to serve." Noble words, as sincere as they are modest. But if the State of Arkansas ever places statues of her two greatest sons in the Capitol at Washington, the statue of Andrew Hunter will be
there.
Husband of Anna Maria Jones Hunter. He died from injuries sustained on May 10, 1902, when he was alighting from a street car in Little Rock.
ANDREW HUNTER was born in Ballymony, County Antrim, Ireland, December 26, 1813. During his childhood the family came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. His mother had been awakened in Ireland under the preaching of Gideon Ousely, a Wesleyan preacher, and became a member of the Presbyterian Church. When Andrew was about eight years old
his father died after a lingering illness during which time the family was frequently visited by a Methodist preacher who prayed with them and presented the gospel to the afflicted man, who was converted and died happy. This resulted in the union of the whole family with the Methodist Church. Andrew was converted January 31, 1833. In the fall of 1835, having gone west, he was teaching in Manchester, Mo. While so employed, his mind being much exercised as to whether he was called to preach, he saw in a Church paper a letter from Rev. Peter McGowan, superintendent of the South Indian Missionary District, calling urgently for teachers for Indian schools. He had been earnestly praying God to guide him into his
life work, and felt sure; he could do good in teaching whether he could preach or not, and accordingly traveled across the sparsely settled country toward Fort Gibson, three hundred miles away. He found McGowan on January 1, 1836, and was assigned to a school at Hichitytown near the present site of Muskogee. Here he preached his first sermon on the con- version of Cornelius. The Quarterly Conference met soon, P. M. McGowan presiding, and Andrew Hunter was licensed to preach. In November of the same year, 1836, the Arkansas Conference was organized at Batesville. Andrew Hunter was received on trial and appointed to missionary school No. 5 at Bayou Baynard. Thus began a ministry of sixty six years. He never located nor transferred. In 1837 he was appointed to Litchfield Mission. This was in the Batesville District, and evidently in the northern part of the State. In 1838 his work was Benton Circuit. This included all the country from Little Rock to Arkadelphia, Benton,
and Collegeville. In 1839 his work was Washington Circuit. This included Fayetteville and the adjacent country. In 1840 he was sent to Mound Prairie Circuit. This included the town of Washington, with Hempstead and adjacent counties. These were annual moves of many
hundreds of miles across unbridged rivers and through almost trackless forests. The young preacher remained but one year in a place, but left tracks that fifty years have not effaced. In 1841 he was stationed at Little Rock. In 1842 the Washington District was organized in the south- western part of the State and the young man was made the presiding elder of the new district. In 1843 he was reappointed to Washington District and elected to the General
Conference. In 1844-45 he was stationed at Little Rock. In 1846-47 he was presiding elder of the Little Rock District. In 1848-49 he was appointed to Batesville District and 1850-53 to Camden District. The appointments for the next two years are unknown. In 1856 he was appointed agent for the American Bible Society. This continued three years and in 1859 he was agent for the Book and Tract Depository. In 1861-63 he was appointed to the Arkadelphia District; in 1863- 64, to Tulip Circuit and African Mission; in 1865-67 to Little Roct District; 1868-69, agent for the American Bible Society; 1870, Washington Circuit; in 1871, Pine Bluff District; 1872-73, Arkadelphia District; 1874, Second Street, Little Rock; 1875-78, Little Rock District. This closed his work as presiding elder after twenty years of district labor. In 1879-82 he was appointed to Little Rock Circuit; 1883, Camden Station; in 1884-87, Liberty and Pleasant Grove. In 1888 he was supernumerary on the Galloway Circuit, and in 1889 he was granted the superannuated relation. This relation he honored until his death. He fell asleep June 3, 1902, at the residence of his son in Little Rock. He was a member of twelve General Conferences. He was elected a member of the Ecumenical Conference
in 1891, and was appointed for 1901, but declined on account of age and infirmity. He took rank as a preacher in his Conference at an early date and soon came to be generally regarded as the best man in the pulpit in the State. Yet his compeers were great men. The eloquent Winfield, the incisive and masterly Ratcliffe, Cobb, Moore, Truslow, and others would have been men of mark anywhere: but he excelled them all. His mellow, vibrant voice made his speech impressive. His hearers soon understood that there was nothing rash or inconsiderate in his words, nothing light or trifling, nothing for show or merely to attract attention to the speaker, that the message and not himself was his concern and that he was intensely in earnest. Then there was a remarkable weight of character about the man, his personal dignity, his unselfish and blameless life, and his wisdom won the especial regard of all men. He did not obtrude his opinions, but his counsel was always sought and when he had spoken it was the end of controversy. During the war when Little Rock and the greater part of the State had been occupied by Federal troops, President Lincoln inaugurated a new State government and appointed Isaac Murphy governor. When the war ended this new government was generally recognized throughout the State. All parties seemed to desire
peace. In 1865 a Legislature was elected and the best men in the State were sought to represent the people. Andrew Hunter was elected to the senate by Saline and Dallas counties. When the Legislature met he was chosen president of the Senate. During the session he was elected to the United States Senate. But Congress decided again to reconstruct the State government. In 1868 the new government was inaugurated, a new Legislature convened under the new Constitution; new senators were elected and Hunter ignored. He had not sought the office or the honor. The office was taken from him, but not the honor. The hearts of the people safely trusted in him, and he was abundantly satisfied with the honor and the work of his ministry. In 1872 a gubernatorial election was coming on. The Republicans nominated E. Baxter, a bolting Republican convention nominated Brooks. The Democratic convention, despairing of success, indorsed Brooks. The dissatisfied people, worried and heartsick, determined to make Andrew Hunter governor. The Democratic Central Committee sent a man to find him, and after a long. weary search, found
him at a quarterly meeting in Desha County, and begged him to accept a nomination. He asked time to consider, and at the time designated for his reply the committee found him in the stand at camp meeting preaching to an entranced multitude: when the service was, over he had his answer ready and assured them that much as he loved the people, he could
not abandon his work to be governor of Arkansas. But the people of the whole State honored him. He was chaplain of one or other house of the Legislature many times-whenever he was willing, so during the years of his superannuate relation he could serve them and did so gladly. In 1849, the bishop being absent, he was chosen-though a young man then President of the Conference. He was again so honored in 1859, 1862, 1863,
and in 1865, five times in all. No other man was so honored by his Conference, except W. P. Ratcliffe in 1864. He received the degree of D. D. from some obscure and short-lived college, as he told me, somewhere about 1870. It mattered not about the institution, he honored the degree; the degree conferred no honor upon him. A few months before his death
he wrote: "Standing, as I now do near the end of my earthly journey, looking back on the past, I can say the religion I profess to have obtained and the religion I have preached is all in all to me, and I expect to get to heaven when I die; not because I have been a preacher, but because Jesus Christ died on the cross for a sinner like me. I crave no monument for
my grave. I trust I shall live the remainder of my life without a blot or stain on the reputation I have made, my monument being in the hearts of those I have tried to serve." Noble words, as sincere as they are modest. But if the State of Arkansas ever places statues of her two greatest sons in the Capitol at Washington, the statue of Andrew Hunter will be
there.
ANDREW HUNTER was born in Ballymony, County Antrim, Ireland, December 26, 1813. During his childhood the family came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. His mother had been awakened in Ireland under the preaching of Gideon Ousely, a Wesleyan preacher, and became a member of the Presbyterian Church. When Andrew was about eight years old
his father died after a lingering illness during which time the family was frequently visited by a Methodist preacher who prayed with them and presented the gospel to the afflicted man, who was converted and died happy. This resulted in the union of the whole family with the Methodist Church. Andrew was converted January 31, 1833. In the fall of 1835, having gone west, he was teaching in Manchester, Mo. While so employed, his mind being much exercised as to whether he was called to preach, he saw in a Church paper a letter from Rev. Peter McGowan, superintendent of the South Indian Missionary District, calling urgently for teachers for Indian schools. He had been earnestly praying God to guide him into his
life work, and felt sure; he could do good in teaching whether he could preach or not, and accordingly traveled across the sparsely settled country toward Fort Gibson, three hundred miles away. He found McGowan on January 1, 1836, and was assigned to a school at Hichitytown near the present site of Muskogee. Here he preached his first sermon on the con- version of Cornelius. The Quarterly Conference met soon, P. M. McGowan presiding, and Andrew Hunter was licensed to preach. In November of the same year, 1836, the Arkansas Conference was organized at Batesville. Andrew Hunter was received on trial and appointed to missionary school No. 5 at Bayou Baynard. Thus began a ministry of sixty six years. He never located nor transferred. In 1837 he was appointed to Litchfield Mission. This was in the Batesville District, and evidently in the northern part of the State. In 1838 his work was Benton Circuit. This included all the country from Little Rock to Arkadelphia, Benton,
and Collegeville. In 1839 his work was Washington Circuit. This included Fayetteville and the adjacent country. In 1840 he was sent to Mound Prairie Circuit. This included the town of Washington, with Hempstead and adjacent counties. These were annual moves of many
hundreds of miles across unbridged rivers and through almost trackless forests. The young preacher remained but one year in a place, but left tracks that fifty years have not effaced. In 1841 he was stationed at Little Rock. In 1842 the Washington District was organized in the south- western part of the State and the young man was made the presiding elder of the new district. In 1843 he was reappointed to Washington District and elected to the General
Conference. In 1844-45 he was stationed at Little Rock. In 1846-47 he was presiding elder of the Little Rock District. In 1848-49 he was appointed to Batesville District and 1850-53 to Camden District. The appointments for the next two years are unknown. In 1856 he was appointed agent for the American Bible Society. This continued three years and in 1859 he was agent for the Book and Tract Depository. In 1861-63 he was appointed to the Arkadelphia District; in 1863- 64, to Tulip Circuit and African Mission; in 1865-67 to Little Roct District; 1868-69, agent for the American Bible Society; 1870, Washington Circuit; in 1871, Pine Bluff District; 1872-73, Arkadelphia District; 1874, Second Street, Little Rock; 1875-78, Little Rock District. This closed his work as presiding elder after twenty years of district labor. In 1879-82 he was appointed to Little Rock Circuit; 1883, Camden Station; in 1884-87, Liberty and Pleasant Grove. In 1888 he was supernumerary on the Galloway Circuit, and in 1889 he was granted the superannuated relation. This relation he honored until his death. He fell asleep June 3, 1902, at the residence of his son in Little Rock. He was a member of twelve General Conferences. He was elected a member of the Ecumenical Conference
in 1891, and was appointed for 1901, but declined on account of age and infirmity. He took rank as a preacher in his Conference at an early date and soon came to be generally regarded as the best man in the pulpit in the State. Yet his compeers were great men. The eloquent Winfield, the incisive and masterly Ratcliffe, Cobb, Moore, Truslow, and others would have been men of mark anywhere: but he excelled them all. His mellow, vibrant voice made his speech impressive. His hearers soon understood that there was nothing rash or inconsiderate in his words, nothing light or trifling, nothing for show or merely to attract attention to the speaker, that the message and not himself was his concern and that he was intensely in earnest. Then there was a remarkable weight of character about the man, his personal dignity, his unselfish and blameless life, and his wisdom won the especial regard of all men. He did not obtrude his opinions, but his counsel was always sought and when he had spoken it was the end of controversy. During the war when Little Rock and the greater part of the State had been occupied by Federal troops, President Lincoln inaugurated a new State government and appointed Isaac Murphy governor. When the war ended this new government was generally recognized throughout the State. All parties seemed to desire
peace. In 1865 a Legislature was elected and the best men in the State were sought to represent the people. Andrew Hunter was elected to the senate by Saline and Dallas counties. When the Legislature met he was chosen president of the Senate. During the session he was elected to the United States Senate. But Congress decided again to reconstruct the State government. In 1868 the new government was inaugurated, a new Legislature convened under the new Constitution; new senators were elected and Hunter ignored. He had not sought the office or the honor. The office was taken from him, but not the honor. The hearts of the people safely trusted in him, and he was abundantly satisfied with the honor and the work of his ministry. In 1872 a gubernatorial election was coming on. The Republicans nominated E. Baxter, a bolting Republican convention nominated Brooks. The Democratic convention, despairing of success, indorsed Brooks. The dissatisfied people, worried and heartsick, determined to make Andrew Hunter governor. The Democratic Central Committee sent a man to find him, and after a long. weary search, found
him at a quarterly meeting in Desha County, and begged him to accept a nomination. He asked time to consider, and at the time designated for his reply the committee found him in the stand at camp meeting preaching to an entranced multitude: when the service was, over he had his answer ready and assured them that much as he loved the people, he could
not abandon his work to be governor of Arkansas. But the people of the whole State honored him. He was chaplain of one or other house of the Legislature many times-whenever he was willing, so during the years of his superannuate relation he could serve them and did so gladly. In 1849, the bishop being absent, he was chosen-though a young man then President of the Conference. He was again so honored in 1859, 1862, 1863,
and in 1865, five times in all. No other man was so honored by his Conference, except W. P. Ratcliffe in 1864. He received the degree of D. D. from some obscure and short-lived college, as he told me, somewhere about 1870. It mattered not about the institution, he honored the degree; the degree conferred no honor upon him. A few months before his death
he wrote: "Standing, as I now do near the end of my earthly journey, looking back on the past, I can say the religion I profess to have obtained and the religion I have preached is all in all to me, and I expect to get to heaven when I die; not because I have been a preacher, but because Jesus Christ died on the cross for a sinner like me. I crave no monument for
my grave. I trust I shall live the remainder of my life without a blot or stain on the reputation I have made, my monument being in the hearts of those I have tried to serve." Noble words, as sincere as they are modest. But if the State of Arkansas ever places statues of her two greatest sons in the Capitol at Washington, the statue of Andrew Hunter will be
there.
Inscription
"Pioneer of Arkansas Methodism"
Gravesite Details
Born in Ireland, he became a missionary to the Choctaw in Arkansas. Minister for 66 years. State Senator, Dallas & Bradley Counties, & Senate president, 1866-67. Elected US Senator in 1866 but not seated due to sectional conflict.
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