--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Oscar F. Hunter collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 5 number: 9 published: 1902-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Oscar F. Hunter, "Bishop Edward Hunter II," *Improvement Era* 5, no. 9 (July 1902): 700–703.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0509unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0509unse start_page: 700 end_page: 703 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1902-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0509unse publication_year: 1902 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1902, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Bishop Edward Hunter II — FOURTH OF JULY ORATION. 699 world the radiance of an eternal truth, and the promise of better things to all mankind! But we must, in the light of history, and of this warning given by prophet or patriot whichever you may choose to call him —face the future with solemn gravity, for it bears within its breast our fate, either for good or for evil. If we become an im- moral or despotic nation, our strength shall dwindle, and our pres- tige wane, until by the hand of the Great Avenger of his decrees, we shall pass into merited oblivion. But if we are virtuous if — — we are high-minded if we treasure our brother's liberty as our own, or, in short, if we are a righteous nation, then shall we increase in glory and dominion until it shall be said, "The sun never before looked down on such a people!" Citizens of this great republic, choose ye this day which ye shall be. We who have grown up under this highest form of patriotic teaching ought not to stand questioning, at this stage in our pro- gress. Our future requires that as the individual makes the nation, so every man must be a citizen of the highest type. That our young men must be brave, clean and high-minded, that our young women shall be pure, modest and refined, that their ideals must be as lofty as these mountain peaks, their integrity as firm as these giant boulders. Then, my country, if such as these shall bear thy flag, it shall forever float the standard of liberty and enlighten- ment. Thy bounds shall extend, thy strength shall grow, until thou shalt be the arbiter of a grateful world, which to its utmost confines shall be made better by thy influence and light! BISHOP EDWARD HUNTER. BY OSCAR F. HUNTER, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. II. HIS EARLY CAREER. It was the intention of the father of Bishop Edward Hunter to give his son a thorough scholastic training. The father was much opposed to idleness, and the son was therefore early taught industry and economy, and was always given work to perform when not attending school. His father's desire to make a scholar of Edward failed because of the young man's preference for agricul- tural pursuits; and besides, he was somewhat opposed to attending school, and expressed a preference for work on the farm. It was then that his father insisted upon the young man learning a trade, which was agreed to, and the future Bishop was sent to Peter Pachan, his brother-in-law, who carried on the business of tanning leather. The young man worked just as other apprentices did, and made great progress in currying, and at length became pro- ficient, both as tanner and currier, being made manager of the business at the age of twenty. He continued in this work for some time, but the liquor of the bark seemed to close the pores of his hands, which disabled him from working. He quit the trade, and concluded to attend school again; this time he mastered the art of engineering, in- cluding the use of instruments. Having completed his study in this direction, he went into the field, but owing to the fact that BISHOP EDWARD HUNTER. 701 there were so many surveyors in the country, he quit the practice and visited the western part of the country, going to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, with a Mr. Davis, his intention being to engage in the mercantile or drug business. In those days there were no railroads, and overland travel, in many instances, was considered dangerous, especially where the travelers had means. He purchased a boat, in conjunction with two other persons, in- tending to go to St. Louis. Reaching Louisville, Kentucky, he was advised togo no further, on account of the danger en- countered in traveling by land; diverted from his purpose, he con- tinued his return journey through Kentucky and Tennessee, thence to Huntsville in the Mississippi territory, returning to Philadelphia by way of North and South Carolina and Maryland. He then pur- chased a half interest in the mercantile business of a Mr. D. Bo- mount, though this venture was rather against his father's will. However, his consent was obtained, and the good counsel which he gave to his son was carried out by the latter. Among the good advice was this: "Edward, my son, if you lose money, say no- thing about it; if you make money keep it to yourself, but do not fail; that is, do not become insolvent." Thiswise counsel was sac- redly kept by that son throughout his whole life, and he truly re- marks in his journal: "I have done business from my early man- hood, and can truthfully say that I have paid every dollar of in- debtedness that I ever contracted." The effects of the war of 1812-14 demoralized trade, and business was very undesirable; values shrunk, and depression continued to increase from year to year, until things looked very discouraging — so that the whole in- vestment was threatened with being entirely wasted away. When Edward was twenty-two years of age his father died, whereupon the son was offered his position as Justice of the Peace, which he declined on account of his youth. He was also tendered the federal candidacy, and certain election, to the Pennsylvania Legislature,but would not accept on account of being a Democrat, of which party he continued to remain a consistent adherent. He served three years as county commissioner of Delaware county, receiving at the election a higher vote than any^other officer on the ticket. In 1822, he enlisted in the Delaware county troop as cavalry 702 IMPROVEMENT ERA. volunteer, serving his company for seven years. Following is a certificate of his discharge: Philadelphia, May 14, 1829. I certify that Edward Hunter, late of Newton, Delaware county,has served as volunteer in the Delaware county troop since May, A. D. 1822, and is, therefore, exempt from military duty, except in an invasion, in- surrection, or actual war, according to the 47th section Military Law. (Signed) John F. Vanleir, Captain of Delaware Co. Troop. He was one of two selected from his company to meet and escort Gener.\>Marquis de Lafayette, in the year 1824, on his last visit to the country, when the French patriot remained for a year a guest of the American people, whom he had so effectively helped to make independent. The horse which Edward Hunter used at the time is described as a beautiful gray, and the occasion as one of the greatest interest, honor, and affection. He was very tenacious in sustaining the laws of his country, and did not feel satisfied until he had enlisted his services for his country's aid during the war of 1812, between Great Britain and America. While engaged thus, he worked at the breastworks near Philadelphia, under Captain Sudwick. At the age of twenty-one he made application to Colonel Conrad Creekbaum of the Mont- gomery troops at Marquis Hook, but the company being full he could not join. In the year 1830. he married Ann Standly, the youngest daughter of Jacob and Martha Standly, an honest family of ex- cellent repute in that vicinity. Among the instructions which his father had given him were these: "We do not belong to any re- ligious sect, but, my son, keep this thought sacred, that all men have the right to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences; that men shall rise by their own merit; that pri- vate property shall not be taken for public use, unless satisfaction is fully made." He remarks in his journal: "These things have been sacred to me. One thing that I could not understand and could not agree with my father on, was in respect to our constitution. According to his opinion it was too good for a wicked world, the liberty and freedom would not be appreciated and respected as it should be."