James Auldridge Hunter

James Auldridge (Aldrey) Hunter, son of James Hunter and his wife Bithey Ann Hunter (probably first cousins), was born in Putnam CO, FL, 27 Apr 1861 and died 25 Oct 1927 Espanola, Flagler CO, FL. He was married in 1882 at the Raulerson Home, St. Johns CO, FL to Ruth Raulerson, dau of James Fort Raulerson and Ruth Hull, born 15 Sept 1863 Matanzas, St. Johns CO, FL (one account states she was born St. Mary’s area in Camden CO, GA and moved to Matanzas about 1866), died 05 Mar 1956, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL. They are both buried in Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

The family is listed on page 82 of the 1900 census of St. Johns County, residing in the Haw Creek area with his occupation given as "Farm Laborer." In the 1910 census of St. Johns County the family is listed on page 53 with his occupation given as "Farmer" and with three boarders. In the 1920 census of Flagler County the family is found on page 42 with his occupation given as "Farmer - Truck Farm," and one boarder given on page 43 (obviously misplaced by the enumerator).

He lived in the Welaka, Crescent City, DeLeon Springs and Palatka areas. Soon after marriage he bought the Stuckey place near the present Espanola Cemetery. In 1888 the house caught fire from sparks from the fireplace and burned. They moved to south Florida near Nacotee and purchased a herd of cattle.

On returning to this area, he and his brothers, Henry, Foster and Mitchell drove the herd of cattle and settled at Hunter Branch in Haw Creek where he farmed and grazed his cattle. During the time they lived in the sparsely settled area of Hunter Branch. There was no school close enough for the children to attend, so he helped John B. Johnston and Jim Miller build a one-room log school house. The first teacher was Charlie DuPont.

They had moved back to Espanola by Oct 1903,where he built Hunter Boarding House and his wife operated the establishment. He served as a County Commissioner for Flagler County in 1921.

He suffered a stroke while horseback riding but remained in the saddle and the horse took him home and he was partially paralyzed for several years before his death. After his death, his wife disposed of her boarding house and moved in with her daughter Winnie Bunnell Conley. They operated a grocery store, which they sold to RC. Cobb, and moved to Bunnell. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter were the parents of nine children;

1. Winifred E. (Winnie) Hunter, born 02 Mar 1883, Espanola, St Johns CO, FL, died 12 Feb 1958, Flagler Clinic and Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married between 1900-1902, Alonzo Messer Bunnell, 08 Feb 1879, St Johns CO now Flagler CO, FL, died 17 Apr 1965, Hendersonville, Henderson CO, NC (Div).

He was a sawmill engineer at his father’s shingle and lumber mill at Bunnell Stop before the Bunnell family moved to Dade CO, FL. He divorced Winnie and moved to south Florida where he worked as a steamboat engineer in Okeechobee CO, FL

Winifred E. (Winnie) Hunter married 2nd before Aug 1919, Harry Field Conley, born about 1879, NY, died 1928, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL. He was a U.S. Army Captain in WW I.

2. Ada R. Hunter born 09 Mar 1885, Espanola, St Johns CO, FL, died 03 Aug 1964, Bunnell General Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 18 Apr, 1919, Hunter Home, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL by Rev R L Ramsey to William E. (Bill) Kudrna, son of Joseph V Kudrna and Anna Kozal, born 14 Jan 1892, Omaha, Douglas CO, NE, died 30 Oct 1966, Keystone Heights, Clay CO, FL. Both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL. See sketch on Joseph V. Kudrna for additional information on this family.

3. Elzie Auldridge Hunter, born 21 May 1888 Espanola, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 28 Nov 1963 Bunnell General Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 1910. Volusia CO, FL, Etta Eliza Stone, dau of William H. (Uncle Billy) Stone, Jr, and Lucy Ann Clifton, born 15 Jun 1887, Pierson, Volusia CO, FL, died 20 Apr 1973, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL. They are both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL. See sketch on Elzie Auldridge Hunter for additional information on this family.

4. Lottie F. Hunter, born 13 Jan 1892, Hunter Branch, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 30 Sep 1901, St Johns CO, FL.

5. Maud L. Hunter, born 31 Mar 1894 Hunter Branch, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, married George Foster Lloyd, born 04 Sep 1879, Cincinnati, Hamilton CO, OH, died 22 Jun 1955, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL.

He was a civil engineer and was employed with the construction company who built the Dixie Highway (Old Brick Road) through St Johns and Flagler Counties. For four years, he was the superintendent of construction at Cecil Field near Jacksonville and was at one time, a superintendent for the Wilson Construction Company and had been a claim adjuster with a bonding company. Issue;

(1) Ruth Lloyd born about 1918, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL

(2) Dorothy Lloyd, born about 1920, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL

(3) Edna Lloyd, born about 1921, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL

(4) Foster George Lloyd

6. Ethel Hunter, born 24 Aug 1897, Hunter Branch, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 30 Sep 1901, St Johns CO, FL.

7. Unnamed Infant Hunter, born 25 Jan 1902, Hunter Branch, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 08 Feb 1902, St Johns CO, FL.

8. Augie Hunter, born 04 Oct 1903 Espanola, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 06 Feb 1970, St Johns CO, FL, married 20 Nov 1921, Bartlett Home, Flagler CO, FL by Judge W Lee Bartlett, Kenneth Edward Biddle, son of James M. Biddle and Elnora M Brown, born 31 Oct 1903, PA, died 06 Nov 1991, Gainesville, Alachua CO, FL. See sketch on James M. Biddle for additional information on this family.

9. James Eugene Hunter, born 07 Nov 1907, Espanola, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 20 Mar 1936, Flagler CO, FL, married about 1930, Hazel Ellen Gatlin, dau of Aaron Benjamin Gatlin and Dola Arbadena Silcox, born 14 Dec 1904, Hastings, St Johns CO, FL, died 03 Mar 1936, East Coast Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL. Both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

 

Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who cites as her sources, Census and Published Articles.

Additional sources used by the compiler were: 1885 Florida State Census, District 8, St Johns CO, FL; 1900 United States Federal Census, Precinct 7, St Johns CO, FL; 1910 United States Federal Census, Precinct 7, St Johns CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, Jacksonville Ward 5, Duval CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, Jacksonville Ward 10, Duval CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, Okeechobee, Okeechobee CO, FL; 1930 United States Federal Census, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL; 1930 United States Federal Census, Precinct 5, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL; World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; U.S. Military Records, 1925 - Official National Guard Register Record; California Death Index, 1940-1997; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; North Carolina Death Collection, 1908-1996; The Flagler Tribune, Bunnell, FL, 24 Apr 1919, 24 Nov 1921, 27 Oct 1927, 06 Aug 1964, and the Family Data Collection - Individual Records.

Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com