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Shores Price Hunter, son of John and Sarah Price Hunter, was born in Cumberland, Virginia, January 28, 1807. In 1818 Shores Price went to Burkesville, Kentucky, with his father, who died there on Sept. 27, 1820/1821. Joe Alexander served as Guardian for the 14 year old boy and apprenticed him to W. R. Barrett, under whom he learned the saddle-making trade.

In 1828, when he was twenty-one years old, he went to Tompkinsville, Kentucky, where he went into the saddle and harness business. He was also selling, renting and taking care of property in Tompkinsville.

He married Mary Chism, daughter of Michael and Mary Chism, on Nov. 22, 1830. They had three children - John Chism, born Apr 20, 1834; Helen, born Nov. 20, 1836 (died Dec. 14, 1836); and Sarah Ann, born Jan. 28, 1838. Mary's father, Michael Chism, died Dec. 1835; and Shores Price and his brother-in-law, Jacob Chism, were executors of his estate, which was large in landholdings, personal property, and slaves.

Shores Price bought his first land in Missouri on April 21, 1838, from his brother-in-law, Jacob and Priscilla Chism. He planned to move his family to Missouri; but his wife, Mary, died Nov. 4, 1838.

In 1839, he came to Missouri with the John P. Martin family, his mother-in-law, and his two small children.

In 1840 he returned to Kentucky to settle the estate of Michael Chism, collect notes of the estate and also accounts owed to his own saddle business. during this time he courted Henrietta A. Mosby; and on Sept. 27, 1841, in Glasgow, Kentucky, they were married. She was the daughter of Thomas and Judith Mosby. they returned to Missouri and settled three and one-half miles east of Versailles, Missouri, in Morgan County.

Shores Price was a trader and planter, bought, raised and sold livestock. He progressed financially and became the owner of 3500 acres of land, part of which was tilled by his Negro slaves.

In about 1850 he built a "southern mansion" style house east of Versailles on now Highway 52. Most of the material and furnishings for the home were purchased in St. Louis and brought up the Missouri River and carted overland to the building site. This well built home stood for many years and was torn down a few years ago.

To his second marriage, eight children were born - Judith Valeria Hunter, born Mar 28, 1844; Thomas Mosby Hunter, born Apr 14, 1846; Laura Victoria Hunter, born Nov 8, 1848; Alice Gray Hunter, born May 13, 1851; Maria Louise Hunter, born June 18, 1854; Henrietta Hunter, born Aug 5, 1857; Shores Price Hunter, Jr., born April 12, 1860; and William Kleber Hunter, born Apr 13, 1862.

Henrietta A., his wife, died May 3, 1868; and Shores Price married his third wife, Susan Moreland Gunn, a widow, in 1874. They had no children, but Susan had four children by her previous marriage.

Shores Price Hunter died May 7, 1882, at the age of 75.

He gave six farms to a total of over 2,000 acres to his children, keeping the home farm for his widow. Two single girls he gave money. He had many slaves, who were freed by the civil war.

Most of his children spent their lives in Morgan County and died on the farms he gave them.

Every other year the descendants of Shores Price Hunter gather in Versailles, Missouri, for the "Hunter Reunion".

Submitted by Kleber Conway Jones, Jr., of Jefferson City, MO.

Sources of Information: History of Morgan County D. K. Hunter Bill Williams


"S. P. Hunter dismissed October 3, 1841 from Mill Creek, united Baptist Church of Christ, Monroe Co., Ky.; signed by: John Savage, Mod., T. A. Stevens, clk."

Settled in Morgan Co., MO in 1841

CENSUS: Morgan Co, MO 1850; age 42, born in VA; occupation farmer; with wife Henrietta A. and 5 children; enumerated as Shores P. Hunter; Moreau Twp., p. 223

CENSUS: Morgan Co, MO 1860; age 53, born in VA; occupation: farmer; real est.: $16,000; pers. prop. $26,935; with wife Henrietta and 7 children; enumerated as S. P. Hunter; Moreau Twp., p. 669

CENSUS: Morgan Co, MO 1870; age 62, born in VA; occupation: farmer; real est. $8000; pers. prop. $5600; with 6 children; enumerated as S. P. Hunter; Moreau Twp., p. 205

CENSUS: Moreau, Morgan, Missouri 1880 Source: FHL Film 1254705 National Archives Film T9-0705 Page 265A Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace Shorus P. HUNTER Self M M W 73 VA Occ: Farmer Fa: VA Mo: VA Elisabeth S. HUNTER Wife F M W 50 VA Occ: Keeping House Fa: VA Mo: VA Mary L. HUNTER Dau F S W 21 MO Fa: VA Mo: VA Henritta HUNTER Dau F S W 19 MO Fa: VA Mo: VA Shores P. HUNTER Son M S W 20 MO Occ: Works On Farm Fa: VA Mo: VA William C. HUNTER Son M S W 18 MO Occ: Works On Farm Fa: VA Mo: VA

1880 Historical Illustrated Atlas of the World, Published by Higgins, Bro. & Co, Lakeside Building, Chicago: S. P. Hunter, Versailles, MO; Farmer & Stock Dealer; res. 3 1/2 m. E. of Versailles; born in Franklin, VA; settled in Morgan Co. in 1841

Shores Price Hunter Bible owned by D. K. Hunter, Rt. 2, Box 252 A, Versailles, Mo. 65084 (1982).

"Pioneer Times" Quarterly Publication of the Mid-Missouri Genealogical Society, Inc. Vol. 11 No 2 City of Jefferson City, MO. April 1987

RECOMMENDATION GIVEN SHORES PRICE HUNTER WHEN LEAVING BURKESVILLE KY. WHEN 21 YEARS OLD.

The bearer hereof, Shores P. Hunter, who has lived in this place from almost his infancy to the present day - and with whom during that period the undersigned were perfectly acquainted - as the undersigned understand that said Hunter intends leaving here they deem in incumbent on them as a testimonial of his exemplary conduct - to certify (and which they do with great pleasure) that said Hunter has always conducted himself with the utmost propriety industry and attention to his business that he is a young man of a mild and amiable disposition - inoffensive, modest and unassuming in his manners, and correct and honest in his deportment- Given under our hands at Burkesville KY. this 11th day of Feb. 1828 - Joe Alexander W. R. Barrett Cornls. Davy J. M. Alexander Jr.

J. B. Rummal E. S. Taylor John R. Wakefield Joel Owsley Thos. L. Ellison Henry Galbraith W. F. (or P.) Saufley James Saufley Cranville Bowman John H. Walthall Ingram Nunn Willis H. Alexander M. L. Stoner Isaac Taylor Thos. S. Ellison P. V. Simmerman S. G. Cheatham

State of Missouri County of Morgan City of Versailles, U.S.A.

We, the undersigned, certify that the forgoing is a true and correct copy of the original letter of recommendation now in the possession of Mrs. Frank R. Hunter. We first saw the original letter more than fifty years ago.

Oct. 2nd 1944 Charles D. Hunter Grandson of Shores P. Hunter Richard R. Woods Grandson of Samuel H. Woods

From The Pioneer Times a quarterly Publication of the Mid-Missouri Genealogical society, Inc. Vol 11. No. 2. City of Jefferson, MO. April 1987


" Born in Franklin County, Virginia Jan 28, 1807. Came to Morgan County, Missouri from Burkesville, Kentucky 1828.

Married Sally Chism (died)

Children: John and Sallie

Married Henrietta Mosby

Children: Judith Valeria, Thomas V., Laura, Alice, Lou, Shores Price II, Henrietta, and

William Kleber.

Married Mrs. Susan Gunn (after Henrietta died). She survived him.

Owner of a large landed estate. Mr. Hunter was a money lender, reader of the Holy Bible, and generous to the poor. His home was 4 miles east of Versailles on Tuscumbia Rd. (ow state highway 52) where his dwelling house still stands.

He was a charter member of Versailles Lodge #117 Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons, 1850. Masons rode on horses, double file, at his burial service (1882).

His son, William Kleber, was president of the Bank of Versailles. He died in 1937. A grand son, Donnan K. Hunter, became president of the bank.

Grandfather S.P. Hunter died May 7, 1882.

Signed: Richard Dale (Dick) October 18, 1945"



The above story was mailed to my mother, Hazel Buckner, by Mrs. Dorothy J. Duncan, of Canyon, Texas, in 1995.

Ellis Buckner Bennett




LAST WILL OF SHORES P. HUNTER

I, Shores P. Hunter of the County of Morgan and state of Missouri do make and publish this my last will and testament.

1. I devise the prompt payment of all my debts in case I should owe any at my death.

2. Having made advancements to my sons John and Thomas and to my daughters Sarah, Judith and Laura, I desire that all my estate at my death may be divided among my children as follows, to-wit - to my daughters Alice, Louise and Henrietta and to my sons Price and William each I devise and bequeath the sum of thirty-three hundred dollars either in money or property to be paid to them before my other children receive anything. I then devise and bequeath to my sons John and Thomas and to my daughters Sarah and Laura each the sum of three hundred dollars, and the residue of my estate of every kind and description I devise and bequeath to all my children, ten in number in equal parts.

3. My will is that all the lands which either of my daughters may receive under this will shall be to them for life only, remainder to their children or their descendants and in default of such children or descendants remainder to my children and their descendants in equal parts, that is the descendants taking the share of their deceased parents such lands to be held and transmitted in the same manner by my said daughters and subject to the same conditions contained in my deeds of gift to my daughters Judith Dale and Laura V. Hunter.

4. By way of explanation I here state that my son Thomas and my daughter Laura have only received from me by way of advancement twenty six hundred dollars, wherefore in case of my death before I have advanced their shares to three thousand dollars these advancements are to be made equal to that sum before my other children to whom I have made advancements receive anything under this will.

5. I hereby revoke all former wills by me made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day August 1868.

S. P. Hunter

We attest the above and foregoing will by subscribing our name thereto as witnesses in the presence of Shores P. Hunter, the Testator this 19th day August 1868.

J. P. Ross John B. Thruston

Proof Of Will

State of Missouri County of Morgan

Be It Remembered, that on this 13th day of May 1882 before me J. S. Thruston, Judge of the probate court held in and for this county and state aforesaid, personally appeared J. P. Ross and John B. thruston, who are the subscribing witnesses to the annexed will of Shores P. Hunter, deceased, and being by me first duly sworn, depose and say that the said Shores P. Hunter, the testator, subscribed the same in their presence and published and declared said will or instrument of writing to be his last will and testament, and that at the time of signing the same, he the said testator was of sound and disposing mind and more than twenty one years of age and that said deponents attested said will witnesses thereto by subscribing their names to the same in the presence of the testator and of each other and at the request of the said testator.

J. P. Ross John V. Thruston Sworn to and subscribed before me. J. S. Thruston Judge of the probate court this 13th day of May A.D. 1882.

(LS) J. S. Thruston Judge of Probate Court


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