Andrew J. Hunter
Who was Andrew J. Hunter?
American politician
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Andrew J. Hunter (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Andrew Jackson Hunter was born on December 17, 1831, in Greencastle, Indiana. When he was just a year old, his family moved to Paris, Illinois, where he lived for the rest of his life. He got his early education at local schools and then attended Edgar Academy, which set the stage for his career in engineering, law, and public service.
After finishing school, Hunter worked as a civil engineer from 1852 to 1856. This experience was important during a time when the Midwest was rapidly growing. He then focused on law, studying and passing the bar in 1856. He started his legal practice in Paris, Illinois, which became a stepping stone for his political career.
Hunter entered politics as a Democrat, getting elected to the Illinois Senate from 1864 to 1868. He also worked on the board investigating State institutions, taking on more public duties beyond the legislature. Although his initial attempts to join the United States Congress were unsuccessful in 1870 and 1882, he continued his public service. He served as a judge of the Edgar County court from 1886 to 1892, using his legal background and civic experience.
He eventually got into Congress when he was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-third Congress, serving from March 4, 1893, to March 4, 1895. He lost his bid for reelection in 1894, but won again for the Fifty-fifth Congress, serving from March 4, 1897, to March 4, 1899, although he lost again in 1898. His time in Congress, though interrupted, showed his dedication to Democratic politics during a challenging time in Illinois.
Later, Hunter remained involved in national politics, serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1908, even in his seventies. He died in Paris, Illinois, on January 12, 1913, at 81, and was buried in Edgar Cemetery. His life spanned various professional roles over six decades of service in Illinois.
Before Fame
Andrew Jackson Hunter grew up in Paris, Illinois, after his family moved there from Greencastle, Indiana, in 1832 when he was just a baby. He went to local schools in Edgar County and attended Edgar Academy, which were part of the growing education system in the rural Midwest before the Civil War. These early years helped shape him into someone who explored different career paths before focusing on law and politics.
After finishing school, Hunter first worked as a civil engineer from 1852 to 1856. This was a time of major growth in Illinois, with lots of work in building railroads and developing land, so engineers were in high demand. Like many ambitious men at the time, he switched from engineering to law, and passing the bar in 1856 opened up political opportunities that would be a big part of his life.
Key Achievements
- Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat from Illinois for the Fifty-third Congress (1893–1895)
- Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the Fifty-fifth Congress (1897–1899)
- Served in the Illinois Senate from 1864 to 1868
- Served as judge of the Edgar County court from 1886 to 1892
- Served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1908
Did You Know?
- 01.Hunter worked as a civil engineer for four years before pivoting entirely to law, passing the bar in 1856 at the age of twenty-four.
- 02.He made four separate attempts to reach the United States House of Representatives before finally winning election to the Fifty-third Congress in 1892, more than two decades after his first congressional bid.
- 03.Hunter served as a judge of the Edgar County court from 1886 to 1892, meaning he held a judicial post immediately before his first successful run for Congress.
- 04.He attended the Democratic National Convention as a delegate in 1908, when he was seventy-six years old, nearly a decade after his last congressional term ended.
- 05.Hunter lived his entire adult life in Paris, Illinois, the small city his family had moved to when he was barely one year old, and he was ultimately buried there in Edgar Cemetery.