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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ELLES B. HUNTER is the station agent and telegraph operator at Harrison, Jackson County, on the Cairo Short Line Railroad. Somerset Township contains no citizen more active or energetic than he, and he is gifted with many worthy attributes that render him respected of all men. A man of high moral character, eminent public spirit and a wide range of information, he has been generous in his support of all enterprises that will in any way add to the prosperity of the community with whose interests his own are identical.

The parents of our subject, John and Rhoda (Butts) Hunter, were natives of Tennessee, whence in 1848 they removed to Illinois, and sojourned for a short time in Williamson County. From there they moved to Union County and located on a farm twelve miles east of Anna. Subsequently locating in Jonesboro, they resided in that place for several years. In July, 1851, the father became an assistant in the surveying corps under J. F. Ashley, chief of the corps, and aided in surveying a portion of the Illinois Central Railroad. His death, which occurred in May, 1886, was the result of an accident on the railroad at Makanda, Ill.

The subject of this sketch was born in Smith County, Tenn., September 19, 1845, and was a child of three years when the family came to Illinois. He had such schooling as could be obtained in those days of limited educational advantages, when the rude log cabin was the only literary institution of this section of country, and its doors were opened to the children only for a few weeks in the different seasons. Bred to the life of a railroad man, he was only twelve years old when he entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad, and for a number of years was connected with station work, his principal occupation being the loading of fruit on the cars. For several years he was fencing foreman for the Illinois Central Railroad, his duties being to see that fences were kept in good repair between certain points.

For a time Mr. Hunter filled the position of station agent for the Illinois Central Railroad at Dubois, Ill., after which, on the 18th of July, 1882, he entered upon his duties as agent for the St. Louis Coal Road Company, at Harrison, Ill., and subsequently became station agent at the same point for the Cairo Short Line Railway Company, they having leased the road and the station. Mr. Hunter is the owner of eighty acres of valuable land in this county, and is well situated financially, his prosperity having been attained solely through, his own exertions.

May 8, 1864, Mr. Hunter and Miss Serena Cauble were united in marriage. The latter was born in Illinois and reared in Jackson County, where her father, the late Adam Cauble, was a resident. Her mother, whose maiden name was Priscilla Baltzell, was three times married, her first husband being a Mr. Roricks, the second William Gentry, and the third Adam Cauble; now the third time widowed, she makes her home with her children. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter are the parents of five children: John F., Charles J., Walter S., Josephine (wife of W. B. Horstman, an engineer on the Cairo Short Line Railroad), and Dora, who married W. H. Davis.

Mr. Hunter is a frank, open-hearted man, gifted with energy and stability of character. His public spirit is well known, and every enterprise that will in any way promote the best interests of the township is sure to meet with his cordial approval and substantial support. In his political affiliations he is actively identified with the Democratic party. As Director of Schools, he has displayed great interest in the educational advancement of the community, and has contributed in every way to secure this desired result. In matters of religion, he is a Baptist. Socially he holds membership with Mt. Carbon Lodge No. 434, I. O. O. F., at Murphysboro.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Jackson County, Illinois family biographies here: Jackson County, Illinois Biographies

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