The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 265
Town of Sterling / Biographical Sketches / Thomas Hunter

grist and saw-mill at Sterling Valley. He took charge of and run the mills till Sept., 1860, when he went back to Virginia, where he remained until the war broke out in 1861, working for his uncle, who was a contractor on the Manassas Gap Railroad. Hostilities put a stop to further work on that road and Mr. Hunter, like many other northern men, was virtually a prisoner during the first few weeks of the war. He was called by the rebel authorities before the court to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America. He obeyed the summons, but declined to take the oath. He was also enrolled in the State militia and ordered to muster, which he refused to do. On the morning of the 8th of August he started for the Potomac river with a view to escaping through the rebel lines, and in the vicinity of Lovettsville, Virginia, he was so fortunate as to meet Captain T. J. Kennedy, of Auburn, N. Y., in command of a detachment of the 19th N. Y. Volunteers, which was raised in Cayuga County. Mr. Hunter reached Sterling with seven and a half dollars and the clothes on his back, which comprised his earthly possessions. From that time he dates his start in life. After about one year's rest in Sterling he enlisted as a private in the 110th N. Y. Volunteers, company "F," the 7th day of August, 1862. He was commissioned 2d lieutenant the 10th of September, 1862, and promoted to captain the 19th of April, 1864. In 1864 his regiment was ordered to garrison Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas, and Captain Hunter was detached and sent to St. Vincent Island, Florida. While there he organized a regiment of Union refugees and deserters from the rebel army, which was known as the 2d Florida cavalry.

Mr. Hunter remained with his regiment until it was mustered out of service on the 30th day of August, 1865. He then came again to Sterling, where he was engaged with his brother John in the lumbering business until 1871.

In the last named year he, in company with his brother John, took a contract to grade a portion of the road bed of the Southern Central Railroad. They also contracted for the grading, masonry and bridge building of five miles of the Lake Ontario Shore Railroad. In 1872, they built about the same distance. In 1873, they contracted with the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. Company, for grading and masonry for the third and fourth tracks of that line between Syracuse and Clyde, a distance of thirty-five miles. In 1874, they built the R. & W. R. R., from Ontario to Charlotte, entire distance eighteen miles. In 1875 and 1876, they built on the same road from Kendall to Lewiston, sixty-five miles. The same year they built the substructure of the railroad bridge over the Oswego river. In 1877, they did the track laying and ballasting of the Syracuse, Geneva & Corning Railroad. In September, 1877, they took the contract for the enlargement of sections 27 and 35 of the Welland Ship Canal in Canada, which includes the building of the aqueduct across the Chippewa River and the lift lock from the river to the canal, also the guard lock at the Lake Erie end. This contract includes a large amount of rock and earth excavation. The total estimated cost of these two sections is one and a half millions of dollars.

In the year 1867, Mr. Hunter married Margaret Ann Duguid. She is the daughter of Alexander and Maria Duguid. Her father is a native of Schenectady county, and her mother of Washington county. Mrs. Hunter was born in 1841, August 31st. They have had four children, all of whom are living.

In politics Mr. Hunter is a staunch Republican, and takes a deep and lively interest in the affairs of his town and county. He is not a member of any religious organization, but attends the Reformed Presbyterian church.

Mr. Hunter is preeminently a self-made man. Beginning life with only his natural resources and the limited education afforded by the district schools of his town for his capital, he has worked himself up step by step to an altitude in business attained by but few in a generation. He is a man of quick perception and strong convictions, frank and fearless in their expression, and energetic in their executon. He possesses strong common sense, and uncommon sagacity in business; ever ready to meet and strong to overcome the difficulties in the way of self-made men. He is a good neighbor and warm friend, and has, in the fullest, the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.

WILLIAM IRWIN.

William Irwin, father of Sophia Jewett, James C. Irwin, George B. Irwin, Esther E. and Minnie E. Irwin, was born in Washington county, March 3d, 1799. He came to the town of Sterling in 1816. He took up sixty acres of land on lot No. 3. He was married in 1833 to Betsey Irwin, who was also a native of Washington county, where she was born in 1812. She came to this county in the year of her marriage.

Mr. Irwin died May 8th, 1876. His wife is still living with her son, James C. Irwin.

HUGH DUGAN.

Hugh Dugan, son of John and Margaret Dugan, was born in Ireland in 1841. He came to this country with his parents in 1849. The family settled in Sterling, where the father died in 1863.

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