Hunsaker, A.J.

From Lane Co Oregon

Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 725.

REV. A. J. HUNSAKER

for many years a prominent minister of the Baptist denomination, came to Oregon as early as 1847. He was born in Adams county, Illinois, January 10, 1834, a son of Joseph Hunsaker, a native of Kentucky, born July 4, 1799. Hartman Hunsaker came from Switzerland, in 1632, bringing with him his five daughters and a son, and settling in Pennsylvania. The son's name was John L., married and had seven sons and a daughter, and from them sprang the family in the United States. In their early history in this country they were industrious and reputable farmers; later many of them became prominent members of the professions, lawyers, physicians and ministers. Mr. Hunsaker's father married Miss Elizabeth J. King, a native of the State of North Carolina, and of English ancestry. They had twelve children, of whom two sons and three daughters are living. Their mother died in 1864, and the father in 1869. Both the honored parents are buried side by side in their family burying-ground on the donation land claim in Marion county, now owned by the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Hunsaker, their youngest son living, is chiefly a self-educated man. When he became of age he located on a donation claim in Lane County, where he resided three years. From 1856 to 1861 he taught, school in winter and farmed in summer. He entered the ministry in 1870, but continued the management of the farm until 1875. He was then called to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Albany, one-half of the time, the other half to the Brownsville Church. This arrangement continued two years, and he then moved to McMinnville, accepting the pastorate of the church there. Next in 1879 he was called to the general missionary work for the North Pacific coast, under the auspices of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, in which he continued four and a half years. He then spent two years as an evangelist and financial agent for the McMinnville College, when he was again called to the missionary work for the Central Association. At length he resigned this position and accepted the pastorate of the Weston and Adams Baptist Churches in Umatilla county. After a few months' service in this relation he resigned it, and accepted his present work as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Independence.

Mr. Hunsaker has organized a number of churches and auxiliary societies, and accomplished a great deal of work as a minister in all the relations he has sustained. Under his ministrations the houses of worship at Baker City, Walla Walla, Spokane Falls, etc., have been built or started; and as an evangelist his labors were greatly blessed, proving him to be a successful revivalist.

Early in his history he took an active part in political matters. He was reared a Democrat, but later in life gave politics less attention. He was for years a magistrate. Was nominated by his party for Sheriff, and also for State Senator, and for over a quarter of a century he has been a trustee of McMinnville College, which office he still holds. Thus he has been a very useful man, of marked ability.

When he came to Oregon, in 1847, with his father, he was a lad of thirteen years, and was shepherd for his father on the way, having a horse to ride, but preferring to walk, he came on foot after the sheep most of the way. They started with 120 sheep, but got through with only forty-five. Since his arrival here he has been conversant with the growth and development of this State, and has done his share in its development. He is an ardent lover of Oregon.

September 13, 1855, Rev. Hunsaker married Miss Emma J. Hill, a daughter of Rev. R. O. Hill, M. D., late of Albany. He sold the donation claim in Lane County, and returned to his father's old homestead, in 1856, where Mrs. Hunsaker died June 11,1858, leaving one daughter, Ella, who married Jacob Ruegg, January 24, 1882, and three months later, on the 19th of May, Mr. Ruegg died, and she is now a widow, residing in Seattle, Washington. December 2, 1860, Mr. Hunsaker married Miss Mary E. Adams, the daughter of Jesse H. Adams, and by this marriage there were eight children, only three of whom, however, are now living, namely: Lulu, now Mrs. J. L. Rogers, a druggist of McMinnville; Lora (who, since the above was written, has also died, June 8, 1892, leaving but the two, Mrs. Rogers and Wayland) the wife of Mr. A. M. Sanders, a hardware merchant of McMinnville; and F. Wayland, residing on the old farm in Marion county.

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