John M. Hunter was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, May 2, 1842. His parents died when he was five years old, and he lived with Mr. Jacob Hershbarger until he reached his eleventh year, then with his brother-in-law, Rev. William Baldwin. He was educated in the common schools of Indiana, and came to this county in 1857, and early in 1861 went to Clark county, Iowa. July 4, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Sixth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His regiment participated in the battle of Shiloh, and there he was wounded in the foot; he was in the battles of Vicksburg, Scottsboro, and others. He reenlisted as a veteran December 21, 1863, and was with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign and on the march to the sea, and until the surrender of Johnston’s army, and was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky. Since the war he has engaged in farming in this county.
Mr. Hunter was married, November 4, 1869, to Miss Martha A. Wiles, who was born August 23, 1853. They have six children: Clarence W., born June 12, 1871; Daniel E., born May 25, 1873 died; Cad, born December 16, 1871 died; Mary B., born February 11, 1876; William E., born July 23, 1878; and Maud, born January 28, 1881.