Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Hunter, Matthew S. May 3, 1834 - ???? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 December 18, 2024, 7:35 pm Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892. Author: Samuel T. Wiley MATTHEW S. HUNTER, one of the most prominent business men in Hollidaysburg, who receives many large building contracts in the eastern part of the State, is a son of Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Simpson) Hunter, and was born at Coleraine Forges, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1834. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Hunter was a cousin of Governor Porter, and was born and reared in Huntingdon county, where he died. He owned a large tract of land in the vicinity of Coleraine Forges. He was a whig in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married a Miss Montgomery, a relative of General Montgomery, who fell before Quebec in the revolutionary war. The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch crossed the Atlantic as a soldier under General Braddock, and was taken captive at the ill-fated battle of the Monongahela by the Indians, but made his escape through the friendship of one of the red warriors. He remained in America, and served as a soldier in the Continental army during the revolutionary war. Andrew J. Hunter (father) was born at Sligo Forges, Huntingdon county, and in 1853 removed to Hollidaysburg, where he died in 1865. By trade he was an engineer and pattern maker. In politics he was at first a whig, afterward a republican, and was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1826 he married Elizabeth Simpson, and to their union were born one son and six daughters. Matthew S. Hunter received his education in the common schools, learned the trade of pattern maker, which he followed until 1885, when he built the planing mill which he now operates at Hollidaysburg. He contracts for all kinds of house building, and does a great deal of special work for many different firms in the eastern part of the State. At the beginning of the civil war he enlisted in Co. A, 3rd Pennsylvania infantry, and served for a term of three months. On May 7, 1862, Mr. Hunter married Ellen Barr, and to their union have been born three sons and four daughters: Frank, a partner in the planing mill business at Hollidaysburg with his father, married Ollie Miller; John B., married Nancy Gardner, and is also a resident of Hollidaysburg; Ralph, a resident of the same place, married Clara Smith; Irene, Harietta, May E., and Ella C. Politically Matthew S. Hunter is a republican, although at local elections he is inclined to be rather independent, and supports the best qualified candidate, irrespective of party. He was formerly a Free Mason, and in all of his business transactions he has earned the reputation of being a fair and honest man. Additional Comments: Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Barb Griffin griffibf@email.uc.edu This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/ File size: 3.3 Kb