JAMES M. HUNDLEY. When a boy James M. Hundley was a Union soldier. His early experiences and associations were with a farm, and he had his full share of farm life, He was a railroader and also a street car driver, finally finished his education, was a school teacher, was admitted to the Indiana bar about forty years ago, and was for many years one of the leading, lawyers in the north half of Madison County, and at the same time active in official affairs, Mr. Hundley is now retired and enjoys the activities and atmosphere of country life, devoting all his time to the cultivation of a valuable little fruit farm near north Summitville.
James M. Hundley was born July 6, 1848, in Clinton County, Ohio, a son of William and Jane (Martin) Hundley, The father came from Leesburg, Virginia, settled in Ohio when a young man and for a number of years was a blacksmith at the town of Lynchburg, Ohio, The children in his family were: John, deceased; James M.; Amanda P.; William, Alvira, Andrew, George, Mary, all deceased; Clara Latehaw and Jasper, deceased.
James M. Hundley was reared in Grant County, His father had moved to that County in 1851, and built the first blacksmith shop at Fairmount, where he plied his trade for a number of years, After a brief period of schooling in Grant County, the war came on and diverted the attention of the school boy from all thought of school, He enlisted in the Fifth Indiana Cavalry, but on account of his youthful years was taken out and had to bide his time for a while, Afterwards, in August, 1864, he enlisted in Company E of the One Hundred and Fortieth Infantry, under Col, Thomas J. Brady, and during the last two years of the war was in service in the department of the Ohio under General Schofield, The division commander was A. D. Cox and the brigade commander was the late General Thomas Henderson of Illinois, Returning home a veteran, young Hundley found that in the meantime his father had moved to Van Buren Township in Madison County, and soon afterward he left home and began work as a brakeman, on the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, running out of Indianapolis, After that for a time he was a street car driver on the College avenue line in Indianapolis, All the time he had his thoughts and ambitions centered upon better things, and in order to be properly equipped for his larger field, he attended school. and finished his education in the city schools of Marion and Anderson, Afterwards he was employed as a teacher up to 1886, In the meantime in 1874 he had gained admission to the bar, and from 1886 until 1897 was actively identified with his profession in Summitville. In January, 1897, President McKinley appointed Mr. Hundley postmaster at Summitville, and by reappointment under President Roosevelt he served two terms in that office.
Mr. Hundley in the session of 1904-05 was chosen a member of the State Legislature from a flotarial district comprising Madison, Clinton and Tipton counties, The present home of Mr. Hundley is on the outskirts of north Summitville, a pleasant little farm of forty acres, and there he follows his inclinations as a fruit grower, He also raises poultry and hogs and is making a profit as well as a delightful home and a pleasant occupation for his old age, October 23, 1884, Mr. Hundley married Miss Sarah Fennimore, a daughter of Henry and Barbara (Holt) Fennimore, The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Hundley are: Maggie L., deceased; Verna M., at home; William H.; Frank M., who married Mabel Johnson; and John E., at home. The family all are communicants of the Christian church.