John Wesley Gunter Sr.

5TH GENERATION
John Wesley Gunter was born 1802 in Chatham Co. NC. He died in Chatham County about 1858 and is buried in the family cemetery down near the fork of Deep & Rocky rivers. He was married to Elizabeth "Betsy" Williams abt 1825. She was the daughter of John Williams and was born 1809 and died Jan. 23,1889. She is buried at Asbury United Methodist Church (UMC).

John W. Gunter & Nathan A. Stedman posted bond for Elisha Gunter & Mary Burns to be married on August 21, 1833.

Children of John & Elizabeth:

1. Oren Green Gunter, born abt 1829 in Chatham County, died July 30, 1864. He married Sarah Davis of Wake County on Jan. 8, 1862. He enlisted on July 8, 1862 for the War between the States as part of the Chatham Rangers (Company G). Mustered in by Capt. John B. McClenahan in Pittsboro and by August 8 joined into service of the Confererate States in Goldsboro, NC. According to his Muster-in document he was 6 feet 3 inches tall and his occupation was farmer. On May 11th or 12th 1864 during the battle of Yellow Tavern, Oren suffered a gunshot wound as part of Gordon’s Cavalry Brigade while in pursuit of Phil Sheridan and his raiders. He was admitted to General hospital # 9 in Richmond on May 13th 1864. On June 3, 1864 Oren was admitted to a hospital in Farmville, Va. with a gunshot wound and died of that wound July 30, 1864 at home. My Dad & I have visited the hospital in Farmville, which is now a private home on the banks of the Appomatax river.

2. Delilah (Dillane) Gunter, born July 4, 1835 in Chatham County, died Jan 12, 1881. Buried at Asbury UMC. She married John K Riddle. Children were Artemus J Riddle, Norah E Riddle, and John K Riddle. She was married a second time to Charles F Gunter.

3. Sally Gunter, born abt 1839 in Chatham County, married to Mac Dickens Sept 5, 1857 (Oren Gunter bond)

4. John Wesley Gunter Jr, born Jan. 18, 1844 in Chatham County, died Jan. 5, 1924. Buried at Asbury UMC.
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4TH GENERATION
John Wesley Gunter Jr was born Jan. 18, 1844 in Chatham County. He died Jan. 5, 1924 and is buried at Asbury UMC. He was married to Martisha Williams on March 24, 1865 (John A. Williams, bond, no wit.) She was born Dec. 17, 1847 and died Nov. 25, 1934. She was the daugther of William J. and Empira (Tyson) Williams.

He served during the War between the States following his older brother Oren Gunter who on July 8, 1862 enlisted at age 25 for the Conferderate Calvary, Chatham Rangers. On March 27, 1863 John enlisted in Lenoir County for the same unit, and on May 1, 1864 he was discharged.

Children of John & Martisha:
1. Oren Jackson Gunter, born August 4, 1869 in Chatham County, died Oct. 29, 1954 and is buried at Asbury UMC. He married Lillie D Richardson. She was born Sept. 12, 1876.

2. Joseph Edward Gunter, born Dec. 30, 1871 in Chatham County, died April 27, 1958

3. Lorah Gunter, born April 9, 1874 in Chatham County, died July 15, 1875

4. Ada L (Gunter) Williams, born April 9, 1877, died Nov. 4, 1932. She married Josie George Williams. They are both buried at Asbury UMC.

5. Fred A. Gunter, born Jan. 20, 1880, died Sept. 26, 1954. He is buried at Asbury UMC.

6. Offie G. Gunter, born July 2, 1883, died Nov. 3, 1960. He married Luna Richardson. They are both buried at Asbury UMC.

7. John Cole Gunter, born Dec. 12, 1886, died April 20, 1970. He married Alta A Wicker. They are both buried at Asbury UMC.

8. Pearl E (Gunter) Riddle, born June 26, 1890, died Nov. 13, 1957. She married P Clinton Riddle. They are both buried at Asbury UMC.

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3RD GENERATION
Joseph Edward Gunter was born Dec. 30, 1871 in Chatham County.
He died April 27, 1958 and is buried at Asbury UMC. He was married to Clara Burns Gunter who was born August 17, 1902 in Chatham County. She was the daughter of William Newton and Fannie (Rosser) Burns, who are both buried at Asbury. She died March 18, 1985 and is also buried at Asbury.

Children of Joe and Clara:
1. Mable Louise Gunter,born March 18,1920,died May 07,1979. She married Leighton R Kremer. They both are buried at Asbury UMC. Children are Renny, Billy, Eddie, and Debbie.

2. Lorah Irene Gunter, born October 16,1922. She married Roy Allan Hart. She died Sept. 27, 2008 in Reidsville, NC and was buried at Lakeview Memorial Park in Greensboro. Children are Roy, and Ruby. She also raised a grandchild, Timmy.

3.Ira Wesley Gunter, born May 19,1925. He died Feb. 22, 2010 at Manorcare Health Services in Pinehurst, N.C. He married Johnsie Patterson. They are both buried at Asbury UMC. Their only child was Ira Wesley Gunter, Jr.

4.Leonard Newton Gunter,born October 07,1928. He married Betty Lou Morrision who was born Mar.08,1932 in Lee County. She is the daugther of John Robert Morrison and Clara Cummings of Colon, Lee County, NC. He died May 3, 2009 at Duke Medical Center in Durham, NC. His funeral was conducted at 4PM on May 6, 2009 at Asbury UMC with Rev. Donald Burns & Rev. Steve Johnson presiding.

5.Herbert Burns Gunter,born Nonember 03,1936

Obituary

The Obituary of John Wesley Gunter, Sr.

Died at his residence in Chatham county, N.C. on the morning of the 6th of Dropsy (heart disease), John W. Gunter, aged about 57 years.
A father in Israel has fallen. A good man has exchanged this world of sin and sorrow for one of peace and quietude. For more than 28 years the deceased has been a member of the M.E. Church, and for more than 20 years a Class Leader. He served his Master with all his might, constantly exercising an influence for good, upon all with whom he was associated; and showing by his actions that he not only attended to the form, but enjoyed the life and power of Godliness.
The writer saw him once during his last illness, and such perfect resignation to the will of God, and humble trust in his promises is rarely to be met with under such trying circumstance.
It was indeed Christ for him to live,but an eternal gain to die. That religion which he professed to have in health,did not forsake him when affficiton came,or when the monster death was grappling with his life. He died as one of old,with Jesus in his arms, and with Heaven and immortal glory in his view.
So calmly did he approach the Jordon of death, that he selected the text and
hymn that should be used on his funeral occasion, which beautifully portrays his feelings and trust even in a dying hour. The text is in the 4th chapter of 2nd Timothy, "For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith; Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
The hymn is; And am I born to die, To lay this body down.
May the wife imitate the example of her husband and live only to reflect the image of our Savior. May his children bear the mantle of their glorified father , May his class mates so Iive as to meet their leader in the skies, and may we all profit by example of this holy man, and be more faithful in the future to the grace given that we may die as he did, in sight of Heaven and join him in praising our Redeemer throughout the countless ages of eternity.
"Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his"

BFG