Mr. Hunter began his battle of life at 16 years of age, in Essex Co., N.Y., whither his parents removed. His first employ was of a lumberman, working with a contractor who was "putting in" timber on the Hudson River, and remained until the winter of 1873, when he returned to Montreal. Meanwhile his father and family had removed to Mecosta County, and he came hither to Big Rapids, and found speedy employ as a lumberman winters, and a farm hand summers, alternating these occupations three years. His father and mother, resident on sec. 30, Mecosta Tp., died and he succeeded to his share of the estate. In 1879 he bought 40 acres of wild land in Goodwin Tp., Newaygo Co.