According to the 1850 census, Louisa was born in 1849, which matches the Indiana death record, newspaper would be incorrect that she was 70, but actually only 56. Louisa Jane French first married George W Hunter Sr. and had 8 children according to the 1900 census but only 5 were living at that time. Her second Husband John Hunter brother of George W Hunter who she divorced in 1884 marrying John in 1885. John's first wife was Sarah A. French, they were married in 1872, and they were listed in the 1880 census together, sister to Louisa, it is presumed that she died as no record has been found for her after 1880 and John married Louisa in 1885, as her divorce was final from George Hunter Nov 1884 where she received custody of children and a judgement of 200 dollars.
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The Sullivan Evening Times
SULLIVAN, INDIANA, FEBRUARY 12, 1906
LOUISA J. HUNTER DEAD
Old Lady Whose Life Was Fraught With Tragedy Expires at Her Hymera Home. HUSBAND HAD HIS HEAD CHOPPED OFF BY RELATIVE. Who Was Hard Pressed By Posse and Blew His Own Brains Out to Escape the Gallows-Home Sold For Taxes.
Mrs. Louisa J. Hunter, aged about 70 (56) years died Saturday morning at her home southeast of Hymera. Her death was due to heart trouble and came suddenly while she was at home with her son, Edward Hunter. The funeral occurred Saturday afternoon. On Monday, two days after her death, Mrs. Hunter's little home consisting of a house and 7 1/2 acres was sold for delinquent taxes. Mrs. Hunter was the widow of John Hunter, who was murdered about eight years ago by his son-in-law James Ward. The murder is still fresh in the memories of the people living around Hymera, owing to the horrible methods pursued by the man who committed the deed. It was thought at the time that Ward was deranged mentally else he would never have conceived such a diabolical scheme. Briefly, the story is this: One night Ward told his father-in-law that he had a 'coon treed not far from the house and requested the old man to go with him to kill it. The old man took an ax and the younger one took a shotgun. When they reached the tree Hunter began to cut away at it while Ward proceeded to look around. It is said that looking up from his work Hunter saw Ward pointing the gun at him and asked what he was aiming at. Ward replied that he was seeing if the sights on the gun were all right and then asked the older man to take it and see if he could see anything wrong with it. The old man took the gun and raised it to his shoulder and Ward taking up the ax struck his father-in-law a terrible blow on the head. Hunter fell to the ground and Ward the chopped his head off with the ax and proceeded to beat and chopit into jelly. After doing this devil's work Ward went to the house where Hunter's son was lying in the bed and began to beat him with the ax committing a second crime that could have been nothing less than the result of an unbalanced mind. After committing this crime Ward sought his wife, Hunter's daughter. He told her what he had done and commanded her to get ready to leave the country with him. She replied that she would do so if he would allow her to go to the house and get a change of clothes. To this he consented and instead of going to the house Mrs. Ward went to the home of some neighbors and informed them of the awful tragedy. The authorities were notified and a posse organized to capture the murderer who was than at large in the woods near where the crimes had been committed. After a diligent search the posse struck Ward's trail and after giving him a hard chase he was brought to bay in a corn field where, just as the posse was ready to close in on him, he raised a revolver to his head and blew his brains out. Such was the awful tragedy in the life of Louisa Jane Hunter who died at Hymera Saturday. Her life is said to have been fraught with many trials of which the foregoing is an account in part. She was known as a good woman and her life since the tragedy has been one of great sorrow.