Thomas Hiram Hunter appears to have been born in Southern Township south of Marion on August 8, 1873 to Leon Hunt and Mary Hudgens. This is where the 1880 federal census located his parental family living as farmers. In the census, Thomas was listed as 8 years old with 4 siblings.
On July 22, 1896, 22 year old Thomas married 20 year old Nettie Parker, daughter of Pinkney Parker and Mary Norman (or Noorvars?). Four years later in the 1900 census, the couple were renting a home in Marion and already had two children, Leon aged 3 and Tom aged 1. Thomas was employed as a coal miner.
By the 1910 census, Thomas and Nettie had purchased their own home at 1007 N. Court Street (where Best One Tire is located today) which they owned mortgage free. In the census, Thomas was and Nettie were both listed as 35 years old and had four children, Leon 13, Mary G. 9, Charles 7 and Naomi aged 7 months. Thomas was working as a coal miner. The couple noted that they had born 6 children with four still living at the time.
In 1911 and again in 1912, Thomas served as city alderman under Mayor J.H. Burnett. One of the items passed by the city council in June 1912 was Ordinance 40 which established a board to establish the Marion city library.
When Thomas filled out his WWI draft card in 1917, he was working for the SloGo Coal Company north of Marion, he was 45 and described as medium height, medium build, blue eyes and red hair. He and his wife Nettie were living at 1007 N. Court Street. Another note found on Thomas indicated that in the period 1918-1919 he served as President of Local Union 3844 of the U.M.W.A. which served the SloGo Coal Company.
In the 1920 census, 46-year-old miner Thomas and 44-year-old Nettie had three children in their home on N. Court Street. The children were Leon H. 22, Charles M. 17 and Naomi L. 10. The home was still free of mortgage.
Tragedy struck the family in February 1921 when their 18-year-old son, Charles Melburn Hunt, called “Bubber” was killed while working in the Peabody No. 3 mine north of Marion when he was crushed by a coal car against a wall of the mine.
Tragedy followed the family again in May 1922 when their daughter Mary’s husband, Gus Crosson, was murdered in his own yard which coincidentally was located at 1009 N. Court next door to the parent’s home. Gus was gunned down while working in his yard by a neighbor who had mental issues related to his military service in WWI and had been quarrelsome with Gus on a number of occasions prior to the murder.
Thomas was elected as city commissioner and served in that position from 1923 to 1927 under Mayor James H. Clarida. While serving as city commissioner he filled the position of Public Health and Safety. Through this period of time, he also served on the Board of Public Improvements for the city of Marion. It was also noted that Thomas was serving as Police Commissioner in 1928.
An article appearing the Marion Weekly Leader on October 17th, 1929 reported that Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hunt and their daughter Naomi would be leaving soon to accept a position in Chicago working for Waggoner’s Service Stations. The article noted that Mr. Hunt had been working of late for Bracy-Woodley Insurance Company in Marion. A farewell party was held to see the couple off.
When the 1930 census was taken Thomas 55, Nettie 53 and 20-year-old Naomi were renting a home at 4715 Hamilton Avenue in Chicago for $54 per month and Thomas was listed as a retail salesman for a gasoline company, presumably the same business he left Marion to work for. It was noted that the family had no radio set.
By the 1940 federal census, 66-year-old Thomas and 65-year-old Nettie were living in the home of their married daughter Naomi and her husband Paul E. Jackson at 4715 Hamilton Avenue in Chicago. Thomas noted that his education level was 8th grade.
Just a year after the 1940 census was taken, Nettie Hunt passed away on October 30,1941. She was born on August 8, 1875. Her body was returned to Marion and buried in Rose Hill Cemetery. Thomas followed her in death on July 30,1947 and he was interred In Rose Hill Cemetery with his wife. Thomas was survived by son Leon Hunt and daughters, Mrs. Mary Burton and Mrs. Naomi Jackson.
Notes on Children:
Leon H. Hunt, born March 28, 1897, died November 20, 1951 in Cook County, Illinois
Mary Hunt Burton, born January 16, 1901, married Gus Crosson September 24, 1918, he was murdered in Marion in May 1922. She remarried William C. Burton in Mary 1924 and lived in Birmingham, Alabama. She died on January 4, 1988, burial in Forrest Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, AL
Charles Melburn Hunt, born December 5, 1902, killed in Peabody No. 3 coal mine February 18, 1921 at age 18, burial in Rose Hill Cemetery
Naomi Ruth Hunt Jackson, born September 15, 1909, married Paul E. Jackson December 23, 1930, died as a widow in October 1978 in Birmingham, Alabama. Children were Thomas Paul Jackson and Mrs. Nettie Mahoney.
(Sources: Federal Census Records, FindaGrave.com, Marion Evening Post, Marion Weekly Leader, Marion City Cemetery records, Williamson County Marriage records, Williamson County in World War I, WWI Draft Card records, Marion, Opportunity City. Compiled by Sam Lattuca 3/18/2024)