"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western Historical Pub. Co., 1902. Page 608. Malheur County. JASON S. HUNTER The well known gentleman named above is one of the prominent stockmen and land owners in Malheur county, being also a man of integrity and capabilities that have manifested themselves in the bright success that is his to enjoy at the present time. He has a beautiful estate of nine hundred and sixty acres, nine miles north from Beulah, which is the family home, and is one of the finest health resorts of the county. A number of springs furnish plenty of pure water for all purposes, and the place is well improved, and Mr. Hunter has a good bunch of stock. Reverting to his personal history, we note that Mr. Hunter was born in Gentry county, Missouri, on April 18, 1840, being the son of John T. and Nancy Hunter. The father was a miller, and consequently the son grew up in town until fourteen years of age, when they went on a farm. His education was gained largely from the subscription school held in the log cabin of the day. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E., Missouri State Militia, and served one and one-half years in Colonel Cramer's regiment, being honorably discharged at the end of his service. The marriage of Mr. Hunter and Miss Eliza Atkinson, was solemnized on April 13, 1860, and eleven children were born to them, five of whom are living: Oscar M., of Jordan, Montana; Mrs. Louisa Gray, of Callahan, California; Leonard, of Miles City, Montana; Malcolm, of Jordan, Montana; Mrs. Annie Carel, of Ontario. In the spring of 1864 Mr. Hunter started across the plains with his family and drove five yoke of oxen, hauling four thousand pounds of freight the entire distance from Missouri to the Grande Ronde valley, being five months on the road, and enduring much hardship in the journey. He purchased state and school land near Lagrange, and went to raising stock. In 1878 he had some trouble with the Indians, they being on the warpath then. They burned some of his property. He acted as scout, and also handled freight at that time, securing remarkably good remuneration on account of the danger. On February 18, 1879. Mr. Hunter was called to mourn the death of his wife. He contracted a second marriage on October 16, 1880, Miss Malinda A., daughter of John G. and Mary J. Moore, becoming his wife on this occasion. Mr. Moore came from the state of Massachusetts, around Cape Horn, to California, in 1849, and located in San Mateo county, where Mrs. Hunter was born, and her parents still live there. Mr. Hunter sold out in the Grande Ronde valley in 1883 and came to his present place and took land under the preemption and homestead, and desert, and timber culture, and timber rights, and this has been his home since that time. Mrs. Hunter also took tow hundred and forty acres of desert land. Five children have been born to the second marriage, named as follows: Clarence J., Elmer N., Ralph G., Edith E. and George W. Mr. Hunter has been living in his present home for nineteen years, and the conditions of climate, water and so forth, are so conducive to health that is has never been necessary to call a physician for the family in all this long period. Mr. Hunter is a true pioneer, having settle in the Grande Ronde valley when few settlers were there, and coming to his present place when it was fresh in the natural state. He has labored faithfully for the advancement of the country, being an adherent of the Democratic party. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.