This week's theme is Earning a Living.
There is one firefighter in my family tree of about 6,900 individuals. Great-great-great uncle John Kirk Hunter, third child and second son of my third great-grandparents, Samuel Hunter and Catherine (Carr) Hunter, was born December 1, 1845, in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania (later known as Old Allegheny or North Side Pittsburgh).
He held a few odd jobs before joining the Allegheny City fire department in the 1860s, after serving in the Civil War. He lived and worked in Allegheny City (later Pittsburgh) for the rest of his life.
In 1870, he was living with his mother and working as Engineer, but I'm guessing that it was as an engineer for the local fire company. He was living with his widowed mother. (See Catherine Carr Hunter for more information about her.)
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| 1870 U.S. Census Catherine Hunter household |
Sometime in the very early 1870s, he married Emma Bailey and they had three or four children, only two living to adulthood. The 1880 census shows his household with two children (and a sister-in-law) and his occupation as a "City Fire Man."
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| 1880 U.S. Census John K. Hunter household |
Newspapers tell much more of the story than census records and city directories (which I'm not sharing here due to the already long post).
In November 1891, The Pittsburg Dispatch reported that he was Superintendent of the Bureau of Fire (I believe he was assistant superintendent), but was not on good terms with his superior, Mr. Jones. The article notes that John is brother of James Hunter, ex-President of Common Council. (I have shared his brother's 1903 obituary.)
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| Pittsburg Dispatch, 24 November 1891 |
However, all seemed to be resolved in favor of great-great-great uncle John. The April 1, 1893, Pittsburgh Press reported that he had been appointed Fire Chief.
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| The Pittsburgh Press, 1 April 1893 |
A Raid on Chief Jones.
The Impression Prevails That He Will be Superseded.
The movement to oust Chief Jones, of the Allegheny fire department, and to secure the appointment of John Hunter, the assistant chief, has been talked of by Chief Murphy and Hunter's friends for some time past, but the majority of the political leaders of Allegheny were not aware of the fact until yesterday, and the announcement of the matter in a morning paper has made it the chief topic of conversation about the Allegheny city hall today. A great many people were disposed to treat the matter lightly, and consider it a scheme on the part of Hunter's friends to advance the interests of their man. They did not think Chief Murphy contemplated any changes in the department.
Chief Jones, however, did not consider the report so lightly and has been hustling in his own interest ever since. Those who should know say there will be a change, and that Chief Jones will have to go. Some of his friends in council are making a hard fight for him.
Chief Murphy and Chief Jones have not been on speaking terms for more than a year, and it is said a very bitter feeling exists between them. The trouble began when Chief Murphy was elected to the position he now occupies. He was supported by the Jones faction and also by the Hunter faction, as John Hunter is a brother of James Hunter, the Tenth ward leader. After his election Murphy had to select between Jones and Hunter, representatives of both factions who were applicants for the position of chief of the fire department. He was indebted to both and the selection of Jones made the Hunter faction mad. Jones it is said, has not conducted the affairs of the office according to Chief Murphy's wishes, and trouble arose. Jones it is said, has been making things as unpleasant as possible for Chief Murphy. In the selection of firemen Jones took no account of the recommendation of the head of the public safety department.
In the meanwhile Chief Murphy has reconciled himself with the Hunter faction and there is nothing in the way of the appointment of John Hunter to the position. Chief Murphy was asked in regard to the matter this morning. He said he expected to make some changes, but had not the matter in shape to make announcements. He would not say whether or not he expected to reappoint Jones to the position.
Two days later, the Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette reported that Chief Murphy appointed John Hunter as Superintendent.
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| Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette, 3 April 1893 (part of article) |
Allegheny Changes.
Fire-Chief Jones Removed to Advance His Late Assistant
Chief Murphy of Allegheny last night put an end to the doubt and political speculation that has stirred up the North Side city hall for some weeks over the probable changes in the department of public safety. The fight between the Jones and Hunter factions was kept up at a lively pace, but victory at last perched upon the Hunter banner, and last night Supt. Jones of the bureau of fire knew that his official fate was sealed.
The leading positions in that bureau as announced will be as follows:
Superintendent, John K. Hunter vice R.D. Jones; assistant superintendent, Peter Schatzman, present captain of police. So far no changes have been made in the captaincies of the engine companies.
The article goes on to detail the other appointments being made in Allegheny City. The last paragraph reads:
That which will cause more general interest than anything else will be the effect of Chief Murphy's removal of Superintendent of Fire Jones and the promotion of Asst. Supt. Hunter. Jones has plenty of friends, so many, in fact, that that was about the only reason why he was not dropped sooner. Of the new councils twenty-seven members signed a petition to Chief Murphy asking for his retention, and among these are Jones' staunchest friends, who say they will make things as interesting as possible for Murphy.
In 1906, Allegheny City merged into Pittsburgh and John became a Deputy Chief of the Pittsburgh Fire Department, so he either did a good job or maintained good relationships with those higher up in city hall to retain his position.
John K. Hunter retired as assistant chief engineer of the bureau of fire on July 1, 1914, at the age of 68.
He died in August 24, 1921, and his obituary in The Pittsburgh Press offers a wonderful summary of his career.
Death Record
John K. Hunter
John K. Hunter, aged 76, veteran fire chief of Old Allegheny and ex-deputy chief of the Pittsburgh fire department, died yesterday in a Meadville hospital, which is near his home in Seagerstown [sic], Pa. He had been suffering with heart trouble for the last two years, and for two months his illness had been acute.
Mr. Hunter was born Dec. 1, 1845, in the First ward of old Allegheny and attended the public schools of the First and Second wards, and later took a course in the Iron City College of Pittsburgh. Following his attendance at the college Mr. Hunter, while still very young, was employed by the Pittsburg Dispatch. Later he worked in the shops of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad Co.
In 1866 the Friendship Volunteer Fire Co. was formed, with headquarters at Arch and Jackson sts., where No. 43 Engine co. is now located. Mrs. hunter became one of the active members of the newly organized company and in 1868 he was elected captain. In 1870, when the paid department was organized, he was sworn in as hoseman and clerk of the fire department, which position he filled until 1891, when he was made assistant chief. In 1893 he was appointed fire chief by Director John R. Murphy.
When the consolidation of Pittsburgh and Allegheny took place Mr. Hunter became deputy chief of the Pittsburgh fire department under Mayor George W. Guthrie. He retired from active service July 1, 1914. He served in the union army during the War of the Rebellion, and was a member of James M. Lysle Post No. 128, G. A. R., Northside. Mr. Hunter attended the Saegerstown [sic] Lutheran church, and was a member of various firemen's organizations.
He is survived by his widow, Emma F. Hunter; one son, J. Kirk Hunter; a daughter, Lillian; a grandson, John K. Hunter, and two sisters, Mrs. Lillian Thompson and Mrs. Susan White. Funeral services and interment will be at Sagerstown [sic].Built in 1877, the fire house at the corner of Arch and Jackson streets is known as Engine Company 3 and was designated a Historic Landmark by the city of Pittsburgh on April 12, 1995. The photograph at its Wikipedia page looks like it was possibly for sale a dozen years ago, but a recent photograph at Google Maps shows that it's being renovated.
I'm not sure why John K. Hunter retired to Saegertown from Pittsburgh, but he had been there for less than two years. Chief John K. Hunter is buried in the Saegertown Cemetery, Saegertown, Pennsylvania, with his gravestone noting that it's a Firemen's Memorial.
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| FindAGrave Memorial 60264418, photo courtesy of FutureAncestor |
Although he had one son who survived him, it doesn't appear that John Kirk Hunter has any living descendants. I descend from Samuel Hunter and Catherine Carr as follows:
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