HUNTER-KITTRELL CEMETERY, REESE'S CHURCH ROAD, MAURY COUNTY TENNESSEE
Snippets of the existence of Hunter's Chapel Church. 1843- 1874.

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The above are News Clippings whereby mention is made of the Methodist Church at Hunters Chapel are from Jul 1872 - Dec 1873. The most important mention is the long one dated May 23, 1873 where notation is made of Mr Wm. Kittrell building the Chapel about 30 years ago, which date the Chapel to about 1843; He died in 1865 so we know Hunter's Chapel existed after that or until about 1874. Another Sept 6, 1872 mentions the building was also being used as a school. Sept 8, 1871 a revival with 70 saved. Another mentions it being phased out by the younger men of the congregation in 1875. A nearby replacement congregation called Bethel. The last one mentioned by WH Wilkes as Pastor at Bethel.

And we have this source: Century Review 1805-1905 Maury Co. pg. 102, Porter's Methodist:

Porter's M. E. Chapel, 3 miles east of Mt. Pleasant, near Pulliam's Store, was built about 1870 by J. N. Porter, Montgomery Irwin, J. M. Giddens, Z. Gallespie, Jas. Williams, Thos. Estes T. D. and John T. Moss, at a cost of $1,000. Prior to this (Porters) the neighborhood congregation worshiped at Hunter's Chapel, a mile farther north of Porter's. W. H. Hunter, at an early date was a leader in erecting the chapel, which bore his name. Upon the change to Porters several former members (also) found Bigbyville Church more convenient, and withdrew.

From: kathy lynn overstreet <street.kathylynn@yahoo.com>
To: Cecil Wayne Austin <wayneal1@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Jul 21, 2015 10:18 am
Subject: Hunter kittrell Cemetery and a nearby extinct ME Church

I have found something for you to check out about a Church beside Hunter Kittrell Cemetery. Go to Century Review 1805-1905 Maury Co. pg. 102 and last article about Porter's Methodist. Wm. H. Hunter and John T Moss both buried @ Hunter Kittrell

You are right Kathy even though we don't know exactly where this congregation was located we know that at least the location very close to HK Cemetery and may have been next to it. However, it should not be  confused with the Hunters Meeting House just southeast of Mt Pleasant, but that church (aka Old Salem Presbyterian Church) was merged into the Mt Pleasant Church in 1859 leaving only the graveyard.
Source from the book Churches of Maury Co Tn prior to 1860.

C. Wayne Austin -  wayneal1@aol.com


Jul 22 at 11:32 PM forwarded from: thunter139@gmail.com
Here's something that Tony Hunter has on Ancestry.com under Wm H. Hunter. Not sure where he/I found it, but might be useful.


W. H. Hunter deceased., Non-resident notice for his heirs published in paper and these were Dr.__Allen, Henry Hunter, Edwin Hunter, John Hunter, Pricilla Harlan and Mary a Harlan. William M. Irwin was his administrator. (Maury County Herald, 12 May 1866)
Historical Sketches of Maury County:
At present the Physicians are, Drs. Hunter, Henry and Washington Long. (Mt. Pleasant area) Rev. John Hunter settled one of the most productive farms in his neighborhood, especially the creek bottom of Sugar Fork, north of Hunter's Graveyard. In the early '20's Dr. S. P. Jordan, Lemuel Long, Willis Bodie William Hunter, Seth R. Kitrell came from North Carolina--all of whom were men of wealth, culture, and refinement. William Hunter owned a carding factory.
Columbia Beacon, Friday, July 23, 1847
Election Judges included T. Flemming, E. Puckett, M. J. Kitrell, and William H. Hunter.
ISBN 0-89308-174-4, Library of Congress Card Catalog No.80-51025, Southern Historical Press, Rev. S. Emmett Lucas, Jr., Copyright 1980
Also Harlan Bible Presentee to Harry Green Harlan, Jan 7,1883, by Jehu Harlan.
Mr. Jehu Harlan is a shareholder of the Book. Pub. MDCCCLIX, Nashville, TN.
All the writing done in this book up to this time was done by me, Jehu Harlan, the owner of the Book, son of Elijah Harlan, Nov 22, 1860

Update: Jul 27, 2015. (From research by Kathy Lynn Overstreet)
Looking At article We (Kathy & Tony Hunter) agree is most important one there is mention of Irwin School House taught by James M Hunter. From the Centennial Issue of the Daily Herald of July 3rd , 1976 I found this "Hunter's- Today only an old cemetery marks the spot of a chapel built by Wm. Hunter South of Mt Pleasant. Later a school was here Irwin School House taught by James W Hunter. John Hunter settled here in 1810." Obviously, the south of Mt Pleasant is an error. Wm. H Hunter had son named Dr. Green Hunter and his daughter named Mollie who married an Irwin. I found his will naming her and another daughter Minnie who married a Scribner as heirs to Mt Pleasant property. A descendant of Minnie's is the one who donated "Bigbyville 1897" to Historical Society So the cemetery is actual site of Hunter's Chapel and later Irwin School House.

Update:Thu, Jul 28, 2015 2:15 P.M. (From research by Kathy Lynn Overstreet)
William Kittrell (now deceased) told Dot King that the Hunter Church used to stand across the road @ the intersection of Polk Lane and Reese Church Rd. Dot knows a lot about the history of area Churches in Mt Pleasant.

Update Sat, Jul 30, 2015 6:57 A.M.: (From research by Kathy Lynn Overstreet)The Irwin School House is connected to Mollie P. Hunter who married Rev John W. Irwin  He is on FAG buried @ Goshen I believe he is one of the Irwin Bros who sold funeral business to Williams Funeral Home in Mt Pleasant. I have ordered "Maury County Tn USA" by Mary L Grieffs published in 1886 and contains bio of him and mentions Hunter Co.

From an update by Kathy Lynn Overstreet who found evidence this cemetery was affiliated with an old Methodist E. Church as sent Jul 21, 2015. Other sources: Century Review of Maury County 1805 - 1905 Pg 102  Check the article Porters Chapel; Churches of Maury Co prior o 1860 page 73.