Granddaddy and Daddy Frank

Frank Paris Hunter

Frank and Minnie Tyson Hunter Dec 21, 1899, their wedding Day

Minnie and Frank Hunter and children about 1916 in front of their residence on Waterman Street, Marietta, Georgia

Minnie Tyson and Frank Paris Hunter about 1948

My grandfather was Frank Paris Hunter (1879-1950).  He was born in Gilmer, Hood County, Texas.  He told me he was named that because he was born when the family was moving back to Franklin, North Carolina, being between Paris, Texas, and Franklin, North Carolina.

However, the family may have had the intention of going back to Franklin, North Carolina, which his parents were born, but they only made it as far east as Woodstock, Cherokee County, Georgia.

Woodstock seems random doesn't it?  Not so.  In the Civil War his father William fought on Kennesaw Mountain and was shot in the knee.  He recuperated at a private home just a few miles north of Woodstock.

Frank learned a machinist trade and worked for various companies in Atlanta, Alabama, and Marietta.  His last job as a machnist was at Glover Machinery in Marietta.  He had a part time job after he retired at a mattress company just up the street but I think it was just a hangout for his drinking buddies.

He married Minnie Tyson in 1899 and they had nine children:  Eight sons and one daughter.  But that is not all the children he fathered.  Read on.

They lived on Manget Street in Marietta when Minnie died in 1948.  After she died my family moved in with Grandpa to help out.

He and I had a nice relationship.  I was about 7 to 9 years old during our time with him until he died.  He taught me how to ride a bike and told me a lot of family stories which I hate that I didn't retain.

He kept his whiskey hidden under the house, which he had to have a few good drinks every day.  Sometimes he would have more and get more talkative.  Sometimes his cronies would come over and they would pass the bottle around, at the corner of the house where my mother couldn't see them out a window.

one time he and I were sitting in the yard in metal outside straight chairs that was between the house and the street.  A truck came by slowly, and the lady driver looked intently at us, then backed up and parked on the edge of the street and got out.  She asked was he Frank Hunter and he said yes.  She told him she was his daughter.  She must have looked around and determined he didn't have much and then had some unkind words for him.  She got back into her truck and drove away, leaving him speechless.

But not speechless for long.  He made a quick visit to under the house and had a lot of swigs.  My mother saw the woman get into the truck and drive away and by then whiskey had loosed up Grandpa's tounge and he told Mama everything.

She got on the phone and soon all his children knew.  Herbert, the oldest, came over after work laughing said, "Your Tomcatting caught up with you didn't it?"  Hmm!  He was one to talk.

As the story unfolded here is what happened:  Frank and Minnie's first years of Marriage were in Woodstock.  The first child, Herbert was born in or near Woodstock in Cherokee County and Bee was born in Texas.   Between Herbert and Bee Frank had a fling with a girl with the last name McClure.  I found on th censuses many McClures in Cherokee County.  When Frank's parents and Minnie's parents found out the McClure lady was pregnant by Frank they collected enough money between them to send her to Texas to have the baby.

Because the next born of Frank and Minnie was born in Texas I suspect Frank went to Texas too and so did Minnie.  They didn't stay very long, the next born was born back in Cherokee County, Georgia.

Then, in time was forgotten, until near his death his daughter made an appearance in his life again.  I don't know if that was good thing or a bad thing.