James G. Hunter was born around 1811 in New York. He moved to Bloomfield, Michigan, around 1837. He supported the Democratic Party, and he attended the county’s Democratic convention in 1843. He married Mary McGraw, and they had at least three children: Thomas, born around 1844; James, born around 1846; and Edward, born around 1848. He earned a living as a farmer, and by 1860, he owned $2,400 of real estate and $300 of personal property. A decade later, his wealth had grown to $4,000 of real estate and $2,000 of personal property. He died in Bloomfield on September 18, 1885.