Biographical Details
Date of Birth: February 5, 1825
Birth Location: Versailles, IN, USA
Major Study: Law
Graduation Year(s): 1848
Degree(s) Earned: Bachelor of Laws
Date of Death: October 25, 1896
Death Location: Bloomington, IN, USA
Morton Craig Hunter
Life Experience
Morton Craig Hunter was born in 1825 and was educated in Versailles and Wilmington, Indiana. He began his career as a lawyer. In 1858, he was elected to represent Monroe County in the Indiana Legislature. He also served as a representative in Congress.
In the summer of 1862, in response to President Lincoln’s call for volunteers, Hunter organized the 82nd Indiana Infantry to fight in the Civil War. Soon he was commissioned a colonel by Indiana’s governor, and eventually rose to the rank of brevet general. Seeing action under General Thomas from the Battles of Stone River to Chickamauga, Hunter joined General Sherman in all his subsequent battles including his March to the Sea. In the Battle of Chickamauga, Hunter was credited with saving the Union Army from destruction.
After the war ended, Hunter served in the U.S. Congress until 1879. Then he operated a quarry in the Indiana limestone district. He was being promoted as a candidate for Indiana governor when he died of a severe illness.
Marriage and Family
In 1849, Hunter married Adeline Labertew of Bloomington. His son and namesake, M. Craig Hunter, Jr., attended IU in the 1870s.
Interesting Anecdote
Hunter was the grandson of a Scottish immigrant, who served in the Revolutionary War, and the son of a soldier, who fought in the War of 1812.
References
- Wylie
- Findagrave.com
- Wikipedia