THE HUNNICUTT FAMILY
William John Hunnicutt was born in Pickens District, (now Oconee county), South Carolina, on the 25th day of November, 1832. He was the son of Mattison and Ellie Hunnicutt, whose ancestors came from Ireland to America. He lived with his parents on a farm near Old Pickens Court House until he was happily married to Miss Emma Perry, on the 2nd day of November, 1859, and then engaged in farming and mechanical work until the opening of hostilities between the North and South in 1861, when he volunteered and entered the army in Company E, Orr's Regiment of Rifles, commanded by Capt. Miles M. Norton, who fell mortally wounded at the Second Battle of Manassas, and served as a gallant soldier throughout the bloody fratricidal struggle which ended at Appomattox, Va., in April, 1865, when the glorious flag of the Southern Confederacy went down all tattered and bullet-torn, but never dishonored.
After four years of hardship, struggle and privation, he returned to his home and family, broken in fortune and injured in health, but invincible in spirit, and heroically began life anew, engaging in farming and the lumber business until his tragic death, which occurred in December, 1882, when he was foully assassinated on his return from Walhalla to his home. He was 49 years old and was survived by five sons and six daughters, with their mother. He was a man of fine character – Christian in spirit, noble in disposition, kind, charitable and affectionate, public spirited and enterprising. Under the guidance and Christian devotion of their energetic mother, with the aid of her older sons, the children were reared to manhood and womanhood and given such schooling as the neighborhood afforded.
The oldest son, J. B., (Brackie, as he was affectionately called), believing he could better aid his mother in the rearing and education of his brothers and sisters, left home at the age of 21, engaged in the railroad business in Florida, rose to a lucrative and responsible position, which he held until two years before his death, in 1909, at the age of 49. He accumulated a handsome property in Florida and left his widow in good circumstances.
Though separated from home and mother, there was never a more dutiful son and loving brother than Brack Hunnicutt, as evinced by is frequent visits home and his generous and living gifts to his mother and younger brothers and sisters, all of whom adored him and tenderly remember his pleasing smile, gentle voice and loving kindness. He was a most handsome man, six feet in height, weighing over 200 pounds, with raven locks and keen, black eyes. With his fine appearance, winning personality and gentle manners, he made friends with all whom he met.
The next eldest son, William Leland Hunnicutt, was born in 1867, remained with his mother on the farm till he was 20 years of age, performing all the duties of a faithful son, when he went to Manassas, Colo., where he engaged most successfully in farming and stock raising and accumulated considerable property. He married Miss Victoria Kirkland, of Manassas, Colo. He died in September, 1904, leaving his widow and seven children, all of whom are living in Colorado in prosperous circumstances.
Samuel Newel Hunnicutt was born January 4, 1872 and was 11 years old when his father was killed, in his presence, he himself being badly wounded in the head, from which injury he has never fully recovered. He and his father were traveling alone one cold December night ten miles from home. His father's dead body lying on the wagon and he badly hurt, this boy made his way home with mules and wagon, arriving nearly frozen and almost unconscious. The family was aroused and came out to find the bleeding body of husband and father, and the wounded boy. What a tragedy! What a heart-rending scene! Mother and children viewing it in unutterable grief and sorrow. As the news spread, neighbors and people from all the surrounding countryside flocked to the scene in multitudes, eager to aid in the apprehension of the guilty. A coroner's inquest was held, and the body of William John Hunnicutt was sorrowfully borne to the cemetery at New Hope church, followed by an immense throng of grief-stricken relatives and friends. One negro, Frazer Copeland, was arrested, tried and publically executed at Walhalla for this atrocious crime.
It was universally believed that the object of the murderer was robbery, as Mr. Hunnicutt was not known to have an enemy in the world. His little son said there were three in the crowd, one on the wagon, who struck the fatal blow, one in front of the mules and the third coming out from the side of the road.
The boy, Newel, who so narrowly escaped death in this fearful tragedy, remained with his mother a number of years, went to Atlanta, Ga., where he has been and is now engaged extensively in farming as well as in the plumbing business. He married Miss Lola Delay, of Atlanta, 20 years ago. He is prominent in the church, popular in his community and decidedly prosperous in business.
T. Y. Hunnicutt, the youngest son of this remarkable family, was born in 1876. He lived at the hold homestead until he was 27 years of age, married Miss Lila Abbott, went to Tampa, Fla., and was employed in the street car business for about two years. He was instantly killed by coming in contact with a live wire, and thus ended the life of a promising and useful young man. His remains were shipped home and buried at New Hope.
Miss Lula, the oldest daughter, has been in Atlanta number of years, successfully engaged in the millinery business.
Mrs. Cora Sanders died a few years ago, survived by a husband and two children.
Mrs. Dora Morteson, who is widow of George Morteson, of Idaho, is now living with two daughters in Ogden Utah.
Mrs. Florence Stribling, widow of Samuel Stribling, with two children, is now living in Ogden, Utah in prosperous circumstances.
Miss Maud, the youngest daughter, married Joseph Laughlin of Omaha, Neb., who is engaged there in a large laundry business.
J. Fulton Hunnicutt, the fourth son, with is interesting family, his mother and one sister, Miss Nora, reside at the old homestead in a beautiful residence surrounded by fertile lands, with good neighbors, fine stock and flourishing crops on all sides. Nearby is New Hope church with a fine Sunday school, where the neighborhood worships, and close by an excellent graded school, well taught and well patronized seven months in the year. Fulton married a fair daughter of Pickens county, December 16th, 1908 – Miss Eunice Bright – and they have three sprightly boys and one sweet little girl. Mrs. Hunnicutt is the daughter of W. W. F. Bright, who was for 16 years Superintendent of Education for Pickens county. He served throughout the War Between the States and was twice wounded. He died in 1902 and had the peculiar distinction of being elected the last time on the day he was buried. So highly esteemed were he and his family by the good people of Pickens that his accomplished daughters were permitted to fill out his unexpired term. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Hunnicutt was the celebrated physician of that name of Pennsylvania, by whom the nature of "Bright's disease" was discovered. He was an intimate friend of Wm. Penn, the great Philanthropist, for whom Pennsylvania was named. Mr. Hunnicutt has been a trustee of New Hope District school for a number of years, is prominent in church and Sunday school work, is a Woodman of the World, an Odd Fellow and one of the best farmers in Oconee county.
Much has been said in praise of the children of this family, and they deserve much for what they have done; but all honor, love and gratitude is due the aged mother, now in her 76th year, for her careful training, toil and motherly devotion. Though in some respects most happy, hers has been a life of trial, grief and sorrow, ant it is pleasant to note that in the evening of her life, she is in comparatively good health, active for one of her age, serenely happy in the love and confidence of her children, who "rise up and call her blessed."
N.B. Cary
Source: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026912/1917-08-01/ed-1/seq-7/