In 1852, he opened a dry goods and clothing store with John Silvey under the firm name of Hunnicutt & Silvey.
In 1857, Calvin Hunnicutt married Miss Letitia Payne, They were the parents of 6 children; 4 daughters and two sons.
CALVIN HUNNICUTT, PIONEER, IS DEAD
FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD FRIDAY MORNING AT 10:30 O'CLOCK AT THE FIRST METHODIST CHURCH
Calvin Welborn Hunnicutt, Atlanta's oldest pioneer citizen and one whose efforts in business and public life have aided strongly in the upbuilding of the city, died of pneumonia shortly afternoon Wednesday at his home, 348 Spring street. Had he lived until February 27, he would have been 88 years old.
The funeral will be held Friday morning at 10:30 o'clock at the First Methodist Church. Dr. H. M. DuBose and Dr. W. F. Glenn will officiate and interment will be in Oakland Cemetery.
Mr. Hunnicutt was a man of many friends and his death brings sadness to hundreds of hearts in this city.
In 1857, Mr. Hunnicutt married Miss Letitia Payne, who died September 24, 1886. He leaves one son, J. E. Hunnicutt, and three daughters, Mrs. Alston H. Green, Mrs. Letitia A. Drake and Mrs. W. R. Prescott. An older son, L. L. Hunnicutt and a daughters, Mrs. Charles O. Tyner, died several years ago.
CITIZEN OF MARTHASVILLE
He came to Atlanta in 1847, when the town was known as Marthasville and lived here continuously except for a few months when he clerked in a store in Cartersville.
Mr. Hunnicutt was born in Mecklinburg County, North Carolina, February 17, 1827. With his parents, he moved to Cobb County, Georgia, in 1838. In 1847, he came to Atlanta and worked in the clothing store of Haus & Levi for his board. After two months trial, his employers gave him $12.50 a month at a branch store in Cartersville, Georgia. In 1848, he returned to Atlanta and worked for the same employers until 1852, when he opened a dry goods and clothing store with John Silvey under the firm name of Hunnicutt & Silvey. He disposed of that business in 1858 to D. O. Dougherty and entered the drug business with Dr. James A. Taylor. In 1866, he embarked in the plumbing business and the firm of Hunnicutt & Bellingrath was for many years one of the best known concerns in the city.
Only twice did he enter public life, although often urged to accept places of public trust. He was a member of the city council in 1859. After the war, he was one of the Fulton County commissioners for fourteen years, and held its chairmanship for eight years.
When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Hunnicutt organized the Fulton Dragoons - Calvary company and was elected captain, but resigned that position for his friend, Caleb Whaley, and became a lieutenant. Later, he went to Cuthbert, Georgia, as an attaché of the medical department of the confederate government.
The beginning of the war found him worth about $65,000 which he had made by hard work and industry. When the war closed, he was penniless and had to start life over again, but he was undaunted and was soon a factor in the business world of a city which had been devastated by war, but which was, liked himself, to rise above disaster and pain.
RETIRED FROM BUSINESS - Mr. Hunnicutt retired from an active business life fourteen years ago, leaving his son in charge.
He was a steward and lifelong member of the First Methodist Church, was a charter member and past master of Atlanta Lodge of Masons and was a member of the Pioneer Citizens society of Atlanta.
In a history of pioneers of Atlanta, it was written by one who knew him: Mr. Hunnicutt is distinctly a business man, a man whose efforts have tended to build up Atlanta and make a great city. He came here when the place consisted of only cross-road stores and always had faith that the city would grow to a large and prosperous metropolis. Modest, plain and unassuming, he has worked his way up to his present independent position, respected of the whole community".
Calvin Welborn Hunnicutt is my 2nd Cousin 4X Removed.
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1. "CALVIN HUNNICUTT, PIONEER, IS DEAD," Obituary, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 21 January 1915, Page_6, Column 4; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : on-line November 2023); https://www.newspapers.com/.
