The dismantling of an historic landmark
Believed to be Union County's oldest house
By FRANK BRADLEY Sentinel writer

Sentinel photo/Frank Bradley Charlie Hunter (left) and Andrew Wallis.

Charlie Hunter of Blairsville and Andrew Wallis, Charlie's nephew, a Hunter descendent currently living in California, stand in front of what is believed to be the oldest log house in Union County. According to Charlie, records suggest the structure was built in 1834 by Hunter's great-great grandfather, John Hunter, who was born in 1775 in Rutherford County, North Carolina, and who died in 1848 in Union County. John Hunter is buried at the Old Salem Church Cemetery on land he donated to the church. Hunter's profession was listed as distiller and farmer.

This house in the Choestoe community was being dismantled on Monday. The log building had once had a porch; however, the chimney and windows appear to have been added sometime after the original building. The house was known to have occupants well into the 1940's or 50's.

Charlie Hunter said his great grandfather was given a parcel of land about a mile from this one, where he built a more modern house in 1842. It was the house Charlie grew up in, and it still stands having undergone a partial make over.

John Hunter had several children. Among them were Charlie's great grandfather and another brother, Andrew, who hauled John's whiskey in a wagon to sell in Augusta. Andrew served in the Mexican War as a 2nd Lieutenant under the command of Major General Zachary Taylor, who later became President of the United States. Andrew died of wounds from that war some 25 days after the treaty was signed between the U.S. and Mexico.

Earlier, John Hunter, his brother Jason and son, Andrew were part of the Georgia Militia formed to protect the citizens from Indians. John and Jason are on the roster rolls that first year in 1836, which led to the infamous "Trail of Tears."