Harlan Lemont and his fraternal twin brother Hardin were the third and fourth of 15 children born to James Edward and Hannah Jane (Burkepile) Hunter, on their farm in Lincoln County, Kansas. He was born in Battle Creek township and attended his first few years of schooling at the Paris School. Then his family moved to Scott township when he was 8 or 9 years old, and then was attended school at Rocky Point School, for which he had to walk through cow pastures about 1.5 miles east and a little north of his family home. In his late teens he was a farm hand, both at home and at his Uncle Bill Manning's; he lived with the latter until at least 1916, when he suffered loss of personal possessions and grain when the Manning barn burned down. He also substituted for mail carriers from the Barnard area from 1910 to 1916. He was rejected for the WWI draft due to the loss his right index finger down to the second joint, per the draft registration record. That same record gave a physical description of him as being of medium height and build, having gray eyes and dark grown hair; the injured finger was also pointed out there.

On October 17, 1917 at Lincoln, Kansas the Rev. L. H. McCormick solemnized his marriage to Eula Myrtle Hinkson, the wedding taking place in the Presbyterian Church parsonage. They had two children: Keith, born in 1920 and LaDonna who came along 8 years later.

In Sep 1916 Harlan finally was given a rural mail route. He served the same route, number 3, until he had to retire (due to illness) in 1949. He was also the first president when the rural mail carriers organized in late December 1923. With his six years of substituting, the number of years he carried the mail was 39. For a while, "in his spare time", he was also a mechanic for the Tractor Auto Sales Co. in Lincoln (around 1924).

Harlan was well-liked, and made many friends through his many years of being a rural mail carrier in Lincoln County, Kansas. Ill health forced an early retirement.

Following is his obituary published May 11, 1950 in his hometown newspaper, "The Lincoln Sentinel-Republican":

Harlan L. Hunter, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Hunter, was born April 30, 1890, in Lincoln county and passed away May 2, 1950 at Salina, Kan., at the age of 60 years and two days.

Mr. Hunter had lived in Lincoln, Kan., all his life until about two years ago when he moved to Salina where he had since made his home. He had carried mail in Lincoln for 33 years, and was a substitute carrier at Barnard for six years. He became ill on Nov. 23, 1949, and retired from his rural route.

On Oct. 17, 1917, he was united in marriage to Miss Eula Myrtle Hinkson. Two children came to bless this home, a son Keith and a daughter, La Donna.

Mr. Hunter held a membership in the First Methodist church of Lincoln, and in the Masonic lodge and the Eastern Star of Lincoln.

His parents and a brother, Arthur, had preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife; his son, Keith and his wife Marie and a grandson Kit of Salt Lake City, Utah; his daughter, Mrs. LaDonna Wolford and her husband, Ray, of Salina; five brothers and eight sisters, W.E. Hunter of Barnard, Mrs. Edith Little of Maize, a twin brother, Hardan [sic-Hardin] H. Hunter of Lincoln, Ruth Hunter of Wichita, Bertha Hunter of Denver, Florence Parsons of Oakland, Calif., Mrs. Cora Smith of Beverly, Kan., Roy Hunter of Jewell, Kan., Lawrence Hunter of Alton, Kan., Wayne Hunter of Lincoln, Mrs. Elsie Cole of Beverly, Mrs. Neva Will of Vesper, and Mrs. Anna Hart of Barnard; many other relatives and a great number of friends.

Funeral services were held Friday at the First Presbyterian church at Salina. Burial was in Memorial Park cemetery [in Salina].

[From the Lincoln Sentinel-Republican, May 4, 1950: "Mr. Hunter had been in poor health for a number of years and in November of 1949 took his retirement from his mail route, owing to his health. Following his retirement he entered the hospital for surgery and was seriously ill. His condition improved and he was believed to be recovering but further attacks of illness made further hospitalization necessary and he underwent additional surgery."]