To Thomas Jefferson from John S. Hunter, 23 April 1804
From John S. Hunter
Frankfort Apl 23d. 1804
Sir
Having been honored with a Recommendation to Your Excellency by John Brown Esq and I believe Some Other Members of Congress from Kentucky, To Receive the Command of one of the districts in Louisiana, Permit me to present to you the inclosed Certificates—
I am Sir with Respect your Excellys Most Obt. Servt
John S. Hunter
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr. President of the U. States”; endorsed by TJ as received 14 May and “to be a commandt. Louisiana” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures: (1) Statement of Thomas Todd, 20 Apr.; he has been acquainted with Hunter for nearly 17 years and can assert that he is “a man of integrity, Sobriety, firmness & perserverence undaunted Courage & great strength of mind” (MS in same). (2) Statement of George Muter and nine others, including Harry Innes and Harry Toulmin, 20 Apr.; declaring that they have known Hunter for several years and certify him to be well qualified to discharge the duties of military commandant in the Louisiana District (MS in same; in Muter’s hand, signed by all).
John S. Hunter (1760-1823), born and raised in Pennsylvania, clerked in a retail store and studied medicine before moving to Kentucky in 1783. After failing in business in Louisville and serving as a surgeon’s mate in the state militia, Hunter settled in Scott County. He served briefly as a clerk in the state legislature before accepting an appointment as keeper of the state penitentiary at Frankfort in 1800. Resigning the office in 1806, Hunter returned to Scott County, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death (William C. Sneed, A Report on the History and Mode of Management of the Kentucky Penitentiary, from Its Origin, in 1798, to March 1, 1860 [Frankfort, Ky., 1860], 27).