My Genealogy Hound

G. R. Hunnicutt, prominent among the farmers and stock raisers of Kentucky Township, Saline County, was born in Dyer Township, this county, in 1843, as the son of William and Martha (Warford) Hunnicutt, natives, respectively, of South Carolina and Tennessee. William Hunnicutt was reared as a farmer’s lad, and educated in the country schools of South Carolina. After his first marriage he moved to Alabama, where he remained but a few years. In 1837 he came to this State, settling in this county, and bought land. During the Mexican War he was employed by the Government as teamster, but when the war closed he returned home and resumed farming, taking also quite an active part, in the politics of his day, for he was a man of superior education for this county at that time. He served his township as justice of the peace a number of years, dying in 1863. His first wife was Mary McCray, who bore him three children. The only one living is Catherine, the wife of J. J. Edwards, who resides in this county. Mrs. Hunnicutt died about 1839. Mr. Hunnicutt was then married to the mother of our subject, G. R. By this marriage he became the father of ten children, eight of whom lived to maturity, and five still survive: E. M. (in this county), G. R., Thomas (deceased), E. N. (deceased, widow in Benton), Eliza J. (wife of J. W. Wallace, resides in this county), Elizabeth (deceased), W. D. (deceased), Emily (wife of M. P. Davenport), and J. H. (resides in this county). The second Mrs. Hunnicutt died in 1880. In 1861, at the age of eighteen years, G. R. Hunnicutt enlisted in Company F, Third Arkansas Cavalry, Confederate army, and served four years. Enlisting as a private he was promoted to sergeant-major in 1863, holding that position to the close of the war. He took part in the following battles: Farmington, Miss., Iuka, Miss., Corinth, Miss, (here he was seriously wounded in the left side, and was confined in the hospital for two months), Thompson Station, near Franklin, Tenn., and Chickamauga, Tenn. From Chickamauga he was transferred to East Tennessee to Gen. Longstreet’s command, on leaving which locality report was made to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, at Dalton, Ga., engaging in the two days’ battle at Resaca. From Resaca to Atlanta on the retreat, his regiment was under fire for forty-three days. He accompanied his regiment, which formed a part of Gen. Wheeler’s command, on the latter’s famous raid to Middle Tennessee, destroying railroads, fighting and skirmishing for two or three months. Then moving with his command to Gadsden, Ala., he joined Gen. Hood, who was commanding the Army of Tennessee at that time, and took part in the battle of Rome, Ga. While Hood was fighting at Dalton, Mr. Hunnicutt’s regiment followed Sherman from Atlanta, fighting him all the way to Savannah. At Reynolds’ farm, near Savannah, this command defeated Kilpatrick in a severe engagement. Mr. Hunnicutt was here badly wounded in the hand by a fragment of shell. His regiment followed Sherman from Savannah to Greensboro, N. C, by way of Columbia, S. C, and Bentonville, N. C. At the latter place a general engagement of two days with the wily Northern general occurred. The regiment later moved to Greensboro, where it was surrounded by Gen. Johnston, and at this place Mr. Hunnicutt was paroled, arriving home July 18, 1865, the first time since his enlistment. He engaged in farming for one year on rented land, when he bought 160 acres of forest land on Saline River. This he improved, living on it for fifteen years. In 1883 he sold the place, buying his present property of 184 acres, with about seventy acres under cultivation. The place had been much neglected, but Mr. Hunnicutt went to work at its improvement, and soon had one of the finest farms in the county. He was married, in 1866, to Miss Ellen Wood, daughter of David O. and Mary (Burow) Wood, natives of Tennessee. David Wood and wife moved from Tennessee to Washington County, Ark., thence to Saline County. They are the parents of ten children, five now living: Louisa (wife of J. A. Bowen, who resides in this county), Sarah (died in 1871), Cora (died in 1876), Unnania, 1st (died in 1876), Unnania, 2d (died in 1878), Edna (died in 1881) William and Robert (twins) and Arthur. Mr. Hnnnicutt was elected to the office of county treasurer in 1872, and served two terms. He was chosen as justice of the peace of his township in 1882, and still retains that office. He is a Democrat, and takes a very active interest in politics of his county. Schools, churches and all enterprises of whatever nature tending to improve the county find in Mr. Hunnicutt a sturdy champion. He is a member of Fair Play Lodge No. 32, A. F. & A. M., having filled several offices in the lodge, now holding the chair of worshipful master.