Jennie Mateer Hunter was born in August 1869 in California. Her parents
were Anthony Hunter (1819-1891) and Eliza J. McGill (1839-1915), natives of
Ireland. Eliza came to America in 1866 with her sister and
brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John Douglas. They migrated to San
Francisco two years later, where Anthony and Eliza were married.
After her father's death, Jennie took over his farm in Linden, San
Joaquin County, California. She never married, and managed the farm until her
death in 1946. The farm included vineyards, orchards, dairy cows and Jennie's
many dogs. After her death, the contents of her home were donated to the Haggin
Museum in Stockton, California, which now has four rooms recreated from her household
furnishings.
It is not known for certain what connection exists between Jennie Hunter and the
Mateer family of Westfield, N.Y. According to the museum, her maternal
grandparents were Joseph Magill and Jennie Mateer of County Down Ireland. It is
likely that Jennie Mateer was the same person as a sister of that name of Robert Mateer, the father of Joseph M. Mateer, to whom the letter below was written.
More about the Hunter family from the History of San Joaquin County, California, 1923.
Scan of pages 1 and 4
Scan of pages 2 and 3
Linden Dec 20, 1930
Mr & Mrs J. M Mateer,
Dear Friends,
Just a line wishing that you are all well and to wish you a pleasant xmas and a
Prosperous New year. I like many others will kiss 1930 Good Bye and be glad to
see it pass out . This long depression has every one blue. I have not sold as
yet my 1930 crop. I have it stored in the barn and insured for three thousand
dollars against fire. all kinds of grain or crops are down this year, my
neighbor sold grapes for two dollars per ton. so she told me. and some people
received a trifle over one dollar per ton after all expenses had been paid.
With such business as this going on there are no doubt in my mind but what
California is going to be owned by some foreign nation.
We had a nice pleasant autumn but now the weather is quite cold and frosty and
very dry the ground is just as dry and hard as what it was in July or August,
although some people are ploughing and putting their grain in for fear that it
might rain to much when it starts raining.
Mr. Mateer can you tell me any thing ab't the N.Y. Exchange & Stock market or
when the bears are going to let the stock market go up. I have 5472 shares in
Transamerica but I bought mine several years ago as an investment from the Bank
of America. My friends tell me not to worry as everything will come out O.K.
later on.
I regret very much that Mr & Mrs Campbell came out to California. I could see
that they were disappointed. Mr. Levy in Stockton would have given Mr. Campbell
work at $2200 per week. and would also have given the Mrs work too. I did not
hear how much he would have paid her. Mr. C told me what he said to Mr. Levy
when Mr Levy told them what the wages would be. so I did not bother asking any
one after that to give them employment. although they did not feel at least
backward in asking me for enough money to get back home on. $101100 they
received from me. some time before they arrived in California. I had a neighbor
say to me that I should deed Mrs Campbell my home and no matter where I was
traveling in the world I would always have a home to come to, of cours he did
not know that my father had a long talk with me along such lines as deeding
property that he was about to give me that would take effect at his death.
outside people often cause trouble in families.
I persume you are the grandparents of three nice children. I asked Lena
Johnston how you folks was and the baby but she could not tell me whether it
was a grandson or daughter.
As I have forgotten how to write a letter I will now close trusting to hear
from you soon, and asking you to forgive me for not writing but I thought of
you just the same.
Yours Lovingly
Jennie H
I am sending you a small package.
