William Claiborn Hunt

As printed in 1906

WILLIAM CLAIBORN HUNT.

There is no name in Des Moines county which carries with it more of integrity, of uprightness, of earnest citizenship, or calls forth more universal expressions of regard, than that of W. Claiborn Hunt, now among the oldest settlers in the county. Whatever of virtue in the character of Mr. Hunt, whatever of quality in his li\'- ing, has been directly founded upon traits inherited from an ancestry rich in the virtues of patriotism, loyalty, steadfastness, and principle, which today places him in the foremost ranks of the highly honored and respected men of the community.

Mr. Hunt was born January 21, 18 18, in Bond county, Illinois, and is a son of John Bael and Esther (Bartlett) Hunt. His father was born in Baltimore, Maryland, February 2, 1771, and located in Bond county in 181 1, where he bought a large farm, and was engaged in general farming for many years. He died February 21, 1850, at the age of seventy-nine years. The mother of our subject was born in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, June 27, 1773, and survived her husband eight years, dying September 10, 1858. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom all are dead but three: Claiborn, of this review; Esther, the wife of Peter L. DelasHmutt, of Montgomery county, Iowa; and Louise Hunt, who resides near Chicago. Mrs. and Mr. Hunt were devoted members of the Methodist church, and the latter w'as a firm democrat, but by no means an office seeker. He served all through the war of 18 12, stationed at Edwardsville, Madison county, Illinois.

Claiborn Hunt attended the district schools in Bond county for a short time, and then later pursued his studies in a little old log schoolhouse in McDonough county, Illinois. He then remained on his father's farm till he was about twenty-one years of age, when he went to Eddyville, Iowa, in 1836, and lived alone on a piece of land for a while.

On November 21, 1843, i*- Hunt married Miss Ann Smith, who is a daughter of Peter and Martha (Ellison) Smith, and was born in Sutton, England, August 15, 182 1. A full history of her parents will appear in the sketch of her brother, Samuel Smith, on another page of this book. Mrs. Hunt was educated in the Moravian school, in England, and came to America in 1835 '''ih her parents. After the marriage of this worthy couple they settled on forty acres of land in Union township, Des Moines county, and at first lived in a little log house in the old-fashioned pioneer times. From time to time he added more land, made the improvements of a substantial kind, which are necessary for the progressive farmer, and built a comfortable brick residence. He carried on farming andstock-raising, and continued to live on this farm, which had increased to one hundred and fifty acres under his careful management and general supervision for over fifty-seven years. In 1 90 1 Mr. Hunt sold his entire farm, and shortly afterward moved to the city of Burlington and purchased a beautiful home at 10 1 Woodla\\n avenue, where he and Mrs. Hunt can have more frequent social intercourse with their many friends and acquaintances, and spend the evening of their active and well spent lives in ease and pleasure. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were born eight children, of whom six are still living: Laura, married Albert Gunn, of Cobden, Illinois, and died in 1901, leaving three children, Josephine, Lucy

Elizabeth, and George; William A., an employe of the Rand Lumber Company, of Burlington, Iowa, residing at loi Woodlawn avenue. He has one son, Harvey, who is a railway postal clerk, and lives with his parents. Josephine died September 28, 1872. Esther is the wife of H. J. Whipple, who had three children by his former marriage, Amy, Elsie and James, who are students in a Boston college. Mr. and Mrs. Whipple formerly resided in South Dakota, but now live in Cuba. Charles C., who is also in Cuba with his sister. Martha B. married Fremont Jackson and lives on a farm in Kansas. She has three children, Claiborn, Josephine Denirah and Frances. Francis Bell, a farmer in Burlington township, who has three children, Xixon Claiborn, Gray and Robert. Dr. John P., a prosperous dentist in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, has seven children, Ethel May, James, Arthur, Paul, Annie Christine, Alice and Walter.

Mrs. Hunt has.been a devoted member of the Methodist church for over fifty yTars. and in her younger days was much interested in Sunday-school work. j\Iv. Hunt has always cast his vote for the democratic candidates, but did not care for office, though he served his township as school director for six years. Time has dealt gently with this aged and worthy couple, as soon the sixty-third anniversary of their marriage will Ije celebrated — a happy occurrence which falls to the lot of but very few. Irs. Hunt made a visit to the land of her birth alone several years ago, and Mr. Hunt is also physically able to visit his children often. They have noted many vast changes in the county during their long sojourn through"h life.

and can give some very interesting accounts of the pioneer times of fifty years ago. Wdiat Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have accomplished in life by their moral and upright lives cannot be measured in words; the fruits of their living will go on beyond the borders of the present, and blossom again, bringing into the lives of those yet to come the beauty and richness of unselfish pioneer lives, strong in the elements upon which a statehood is always founded.

As printed in Biographical review of Henry County, Iowa, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past .. (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.