My Genealogy Hound

REV. JOSEPH HUNTER, A. M. (deceased), was born August 25, 1816, in Freeport, Armstrong county, Pa., and died January 6, 1884. His father, Alexander Hunter, came from Ireland when twenty-two years old, married Elizabeth Anderson, of Franklin county, and settled on a farm in Burrell, Westmoreland county; they were earnest Covenanters. Joseph Hunter was a studious youth, and engaged early in teaching. After taking a course in the Western University he studied theology under Dr. Wilson at Cincinnati. After ordination he spent a year in mission work, and became the first pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Church at Wilkinsburg in 1852. For a time he preached alternately at Deer Creek and New Texas. He continued in charge at Wilkinsburg till about a year before his death, and preached a sermon three weeks previous to that event. He enjoyed the confidence of all the brethren of his denomination. His large heart and kindly manner made him an efficient pastor; and although beginning with a very small band of worshipers, by faithful and zealous work he succeeded in building up a large and prosperous church. He left a widow and two daughters, Elizabeth and Laetitia, the latter being the wife of Prof. Alex. S. Hunter, Ph. D., a Presbyterian clergyman now residing in Hanover, Ind., where he fills the chair of physics and astronomy in Hanover College. June 27, 1852, were united in marriage Rev. J. Hunter and Mary A. Denison, a native of Uniontown, Pa., and daughter of Samuel and Laetitia Denison, the former a native of Greencastle and the latter of Pittsburgh, both of Irish descent. Jeremiah Sturgeon, the father of Mrs. Laetitia Denison, and who was a revolutionary soldier of York, Pa., came to Pittsburgh with the army. Being well pleased with the location, he brought his bride there at the close of the war.