Rufus Hunter, a prominent citizen of Hawkins County, is a native of East Tennessee, and born in Greene County, July 22, 1837, son of John and Lettie (Self) Hunter. They were of Irish and English descent, and natives of Greene County, Tenn.; the father born in 1794 and died in Greene County, in January, 1857; the mother was about ten years younger than the father, and died in Greene County about August, 1882. They were married in Greene County, where they lived ever afterward. The father was engaged in agricultural pursuits during life, and made life a good success. He was a Whig. Our subject is one of nine children. He secured a good academical education in his youth in Greene County, and began life as a farmer, has been farming ever since, and has made the raising of live stock rather a specialty; was engaged in the farming interest in Greene County up to 1877, at which time he came to Hawkins County, and settled where he now lives, having purchased the farm (1874) three years previous. In 1866 he went to Alabama, and for two years he was engaged in raising cotton in Morgan County. He trades in stock in the Carolina States. Subject has been successful in life, and now owns over 700 acres in Hawkins and Greene Counties – 550 in Hawkins, and 170 in Greene. In April, 1872, he married Miss Martha J. Spears, of Hawkins County, who was born in October, 1842. To this union seven children were born, two sons and five daughters, one son being deceased. Our subject is a Democrat. He is not a member of any church, but is a firm believer in the Christian religion, and in sympathy with the Methodist Church. His wife is a member of the same church. Our subject’s father served in the War of 1812.

Transcribed by Betty Mize from Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee, 1886.