Letter from Duke Williamson Hunter to his Children
Contributed by Rhoda Taylor Fone
Richard Duke Simpson and wife Henrietta Williams did have a
daughter Julia Ann who married James Madison Hunter. My records show that
Julia Ann Simpson was born Feb. 14, 1806 in KY. A cousin of mine in Missouri
did some research at Westport, MO and I now have a more complete picture of
this family. One of the things she found is a typed version of an old
letter from Duke W. Hunter, son of James Madison and Julia Ann (Simpson)
Hunter, written for his children and grandchildren. The letter is not
dated but I thought you might find it interesting. It reads as follows:
"This brief sketch of my early life is for the information of my children and
grandchildren - I was born in a log cabin six miles east of Kansas City, Mo.
on the 27th of October 1832. My parents James Madison Hunter and Julia
Ann Simpson Hunter in company of my grandparents, Col. Richard Simpson and
Henrietta Williamson Simpson with a large family of grown sons and
daughters, having moved from Kentucky in wagons through the country in 1831 and
located near Independence Mo. In 1833 my father moved to the then
beginning village of Westport Mo., and engaged in general merchandising in
partnership with my uncle Duke Williamson Simpson for whom I was named. I
grew up attending the private schools of the village until about 13 years of
age, when I commenced attendance at the "Nathan Scarritt High School" at
Shawnee Mission, two miles west of Westport. After an attendance there of about
three years, my father sent me to the Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee
and on returning from there I commenced the study of medicine, attending my
first course at "St Louis Medical College" and afterwards "The Jefferson
Medical College", Philadelphia, at which I graduated in 1854. Returning
to Kansas City to the practice of medicine. I moved to Tecumseh the
Capitol of Kansas and after practicing there three years returned to Kansas
City and in 1861 when the War began between the North and South I joined the
Southern Army as Surgeon of the 6th Mo. Infantry and Senior Surgeon of the 1st
or Gen'l Green's Mo. Brigade, afterwards Gen. Cockrell's, in which capacity I
served to the close of the War.
Returning to Kansas City and continueing the practice of medicine took the "Ad
Emeduce" or "Post Graduate" degree from Mo. Medical College in 1874 and
continued practice until 1884, when I retired.
My father is remembered by all old citizens of Kansas City and Jackson County
as a man of the highest integrity, a devoted Christian and universally loved
and admired. His brother, Uncle Hiram A. Hunter was a distinguished
divine and was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Louisville, Ky., and Philadelphia,
Pa., a life time. And for further family information I will state what I
know of Judge and Mrs. Elmore, your mother's parents. Judge Elmore was
appointed Circuit Judge in Kansas in 1855 by President Pierce and resided at
Tecumseh, Kansas whence I also lived, and I knew them intemiatly for three
years and Judge Elmore was the most prominent and influential citizen and
lawyer of the State while Mrs. Elmore was conceded to be the most refined and
accomplished lady in the West. Judge Elmore came from Alabama and the
Elmores were of statewide prominence, one of the sisters being the wife of
Governor Fitzpatrick, a remarkable Statesman.
The foregoing brief sketch of my early life and reference to my own and your
mother's ancestors is a legacy in itself.
Your loving father,
Duke W. Hunter
