Frederick Hunter Jewhurst

Frederick Hunter Jewhurst was born on June 21, 1875. According to family notes, his family came from Canada and settled in the Auburn, NY area. His father, Fred J. Jewhurst was born around 1852. Fred J. Jewhurst was a newspaper reporter in Auburn and Rochester, NY. He was close to his cousins, especially his Uncle Ed and Cousin Ed Jewhurst, a father and son who were both Fire Chiefs in Auburn.

Fred J. Jewhurst met and married Isabella "Belle" Hunter approximately 1872. Frederick Hunter Jewhurst was their only child. The couple was close to George Weeks, another newpaper reporter and published historical author. Mr. Weeks was encouraging his friend to bring the family west to the San Francisco area. However, Fred J. took ill, was hospitalized and died on December 8, 1883.

Belle's father, John Hunter Sr, lived in Auburn during the period of the Civil War and enlisted in the 3rd Light Artilery of New York. Her brother, John Hunter Jr, married Mary Jewhurst, a cousin of her husband, Fred. There was a great deal of closeness between the Hunters and Jewhursts, which behaved like one extended family in houses close to each other on Steele St., Auburn.

After the death of his father, Frederick Hunter Jewhurst moved to Virginia with his mother and began to work in business with his grandfather, John Hunter Sr., and his uncles, Charles and Robert Hunter. These uncles were from a second marriage and were close in age to Fred. The family business included honey bees, buying and selling materials, including queen bees, keeping hives, and selling honey.

Fred's mother Belle married Lorenzo (Lorrie) Ranier on July 20, 1887, and the new family moved to Wisconsin where Lorrie's twin brother had a farm. Apparently, the move didn't suit Fred, who left home at 16 and went to New York City where he took a job as a cabin boy with a steam ship company on boats travelled up and down the Atlantic Coast, from Maine to Florida. Fred's affection for ships lasted all his life, but his love for Mary Grace Farrell caused him to seek employment in NYC.

His mother, Belle, and stepfather, Lorrie Ranier, moved back to Auburn area, keeping a 60 acre farm in Troopsville. Fred and his family, wife May and daughter Maybelle, spent considerable time on the farm. Maybelle even helped with farm chores.

Fred Jewhurst was a devoted family man who loved his wife and daughter dearly. He enjoyed his life and his grandchildren. He passed away, dying from cancer, on June 7, 1948. Fred Jewhurst was a man who seemed to have the affection and respect of all who knew him.

Other photos with Fred H. Jewhurst:

• Outside the Bronx apartment
• Inside the Bronx apartment
• Working at the YMCA
• With daughter and stogie
• Outside the child's house "the Chief's" house in Auburn
• With Maybelle on the wagon
• With Maybelle and May