Joseph McLeese Hunter
Biography may be called the key to history, for it unlocks the homes and shows to the world the individual lives of the law-makers and other public men of the state and nation. The events of the world might be likened to a procession and regarded only as the aggregate work of the race, but could be better understood and appreciated if the lives and opportunities of the men -- the actors in the ever-acting drama -- were known and considered. The Hon. Joseph McLeese Hunter, Richland's representative in the Ohio legislature, was born in Bloominggrove Township, this county, April 29, 1844, and owns the farm on which he was born. His grandfather, Samuel Hunter, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was with Gen. Beall at Camp Council in the autumn of that year, protecting the settlements south from the red coats and redskins. Taking kindly to the new country, Mr. Hunter, upon his discharge from the army, entered land and took up his residence in Bloominggrove Township, a few miles from where he had been in camp and the Hunter family has been prominent in that locality ever since, covering a period of over 80 years. The Hunters have been engaged principally in agricultural pursuits and are industrious and highly respectable people. The early life of Joseph M. Hunter was passed upon his father's farm, where he plowed and sowed and reaped as farmers' sons did in those days, and acquired habits of industry and formed character that prepared him for the theatre of life in which he later had to act. Added to these was a good common school education, which with his natural ability, fitted him for both business and statesmanship. On March 12, 1874, Mr. Hunter was married to Miss Alice Miller and five children -- three boys and two girls -- in time came to bless their home. Mrs. Hunter was a very exemplary woman and one of the most excellent of wives. While her husband was superintendent of the infirmary, she fitted the trying position of matron of the institution and the inmates of today bless her name in memory of her grand deeds. Mrs. Hunter died in 1888 and Mr. Hunter remained a widower until 1894, when he was united in marriage with Mrs. Verda Chew, widow of the late E.M. Chew, a son of Judge E. Chew, one of the pioneers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter reside at Judge Chew's old homestead situated on the road leading from Rome to Shiloh, two miles from the former and three from the latter village, and the place has been known as the Chew Farm ever since 1822. The proverbial hospitality of the old-time home is fully maintained and Mr. & Mrs. Hunter, who are delightful entertainers and have a large circle of friends. Mrs. Hunter, whose maiden name was Ferrell, is a handsome and accomplished lady and was accorded social distinction at Columbus last winter, a position she is well fitted to grace and adorn. After having filled the office of township clerk for several years, Mr. Hunter was appointed superintendent of the Richland infirmary in 1883, which position he filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to the directors. He resigned in 1890 to give more personal attention to his family and to his farm, upon which his eldest son now resides. His younger daughter following the trend of the Hunter family in educational pursuits, is successfully teaching school at Planktown. Mr. Hunter has given thought and devoted time to the study of the subject of eleemosynary institutions and served for several terms as president of the State Infirmary Officials' Association of Ohio. In 1897 Mr. Hunter was elected a member of the legislature as a Democrat by a majority of 1,160 votes over his opponent, Capt. A.H. Condict. Mr. Hunter aimed to attain success and position in life and has succeeded. As Lear said, "Nothing can come of nothing". Where there has been success and triumph, there must have been work and honest effort. This is true of all achievements. It applies to our national existence and to our individual lives as well. Chance never made a Storey, nor a Webster. Talent must be supplemented with study, and application and perseverance and even with these many fail to reach the coveted heaven to which their ambition pointed. On the Chew farm on the south side of the road and nearly opposite Mr. Hunter's present residence a blacksmith shop stood for many years, in which, away back in the '30s, Ezekiel Chew and William Baughman, as master and apprentice, worked together at the anvil, and while they welded and forged they studied men and considered questions of law and politics and qualified themselves for the positions and honors which came to them in later years. At last their lives parted and in 1848 Mr. Chew was appointed a judge of the court of common pleas, a position which his good sense, sound judgment and knowledge, of the law well qualified him to fill with honor to himself and with equity to all. Mr. Baughman went to Missouri, where he entered politics as a supporter of Thomas H. Benton and served 10 years in the legislature, which enabled him to vote for "Old Bullion" for United States senator several times. Mr. Baughman is still living and resides in Florence in his adopted state. In his younger days Mr. Baughman was a ready speaker and was in demand as an exhorter at religious meetings. Like Judge Chew, Mr. Baughman had little schooling in his youth, but both possessed mental gifts and although education came through humble channels, yet it came at last, qualifying each for the high positions afterwards held. Now, in the prime of his years and in the enjoyment of political position and the confidence of his constituents Mr. Hunter lives in prosperity and happiness on the farm made historic as the home of the late Judge Chew. -- A.J. Baughman.
From The Mansfield Semi-Weekly News, July 1, 1898, Vol. 14, No. 55