Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Hunt, William B. 1854 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 31, 2007, 12:40 am

Author: Emma E. Forter (1917)

WILLIAM B. HUNT.

    Genesee county, New York, recognized as one of the greatest agricultural
counties in the United States insofar as the richness of the county is
concerned, was the birthplace of William B. Hunt, one of the most prosperous.
and progressive farmers of Blue Rapids township, Marshall county, where he is
the owner of four hundred acres of splendid land, which is improved with the
best and most modern of buildings. His birth occurred on May 6, 1854, he being
the son of James and Esther (Bond) Hunt.

    James Hunt was born in Somersetshire, England, on February 4, 1826, and was
the son of Thomas and Jane Hunt. Thomas and Jane Hunt were also natives of that
section of England, and there they received a limited education in the public
schools of those times, and there they grew to maturity and were later married.
They reared their family of children and they died in that country many years
ago, after a life of usefulness, highly respected by the entire community. James
Hunt received his education in the schools of his native country, and there he
was united in marriage, on May 15, 1852, to Esther Bond, who was born in
Devonshire, England, on December 1, 1834, and was the daughter of Thomas and
Annie Bond. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hunt continued to live in England
until the spring of 1853, when they decided that they would leave that country
and seek a home in America, where they believed their opportunities would be
greatly enhanced. On completing the ocean voyage, they landed at Quebec and then
proceeded to Genesee county, New York, where they established a home on a farm.
In that county they made their home until 1871, when they came to Kansas, and
here purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land of the railroad company in
Blue Rapids City township, Marshall county, at eight dollars per acre. This farm
he developed and improved and he became a successful farmer and stockman, and
one of the influential men of the county. He and his wife were always held in
the highest regard and esteem and were among the active people of the social
life of their home district.

    To James and Esther Bond Hunt were born the following children: William B.,
Emma, Frank, John, Charles, Thomas, Esther, James and Sydney. Emma is the wife
of William Means and is now a resident of North Yakima, Washington; Frank L. is
a resident of Anthony, Kansas; John lives at Manhattan, Kansas; Charles is a
resident of Ottawa, Kansas; Thomas is now deceased; Esther became the wife of
James Means; James lives at Pond Creek, Oklahoma, and Sydney is a resident of
California.

    James and Esther Hunt were active members of the Episcopal church and
always, took much interest in all church work and were prominent in the
community. They were a highly respected people and because of their pleasing
qualities and high regard for others, they made many friends. They devoted their
lives to their home, their children and the interests of the community, until
the time of their deaths, the father dying on November 17, 1907, and the mother
on July 1, 1912.

    William B. Hunt received his education in the schools of New York state and
there received a splendid education. He was reared on the farm in his native
state and at the age of seventeen years, came with his parents to Kansas in
1871. Here he engaged in general farming with his father, with whom he remained
until he was twenty-four years of age, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits
for himself.

    On March 24, 1878, William B. Hunt was united in marriage to Ella L. Ham, a
native of Brooklyn, New York, where she was born on July 29, 1861, being the
daughter of Ezbon and Harriett E. Haseltine. Her father was born at Kinderhook,
New Ytfrk, in April, 1820, and the mother at Bath, Maine, in November, 1838.
They were married in the state of their nativity, where they lived for a number
of years, when they came to Kansas and established their home on a farm in
Marshall county, where they became prominent in the affairs of the community. To
them were born the following children: Ella, now the wife of William B. Hunt;
Edgar S., of Arkansas; Charles E., of Blue Rapids City township, Marshall
county; Carrie M. Blair, of Elm Creek township, where Mr. Blair is one of the
successful farmers of the district, and Frank Alonzo, a resident of Center
township. Mr. Ham died September 3, 1898, and some years later, Mrs. Ham was
united in marriage to James R. McAtee, of Blue Rapids.

    To William B. and Ella L. Hunt have been born the following children: Esther
B., Harriett A., James E., William W., Jennie, Frederick Robert, Stuart L., and
Louis Eugene. Esther B. Lewis is a resident of Rock Island, Illinois; Harriet A.
Axtell resides at Blue Rapids, where Mr. Axtell is one of the prominent dealers
of the county; James E. is engaged, as farmer near Prince Albert, Canada;
William W. is a successful farmer of Blue Rapids City township; Jennie
Christianson resides in Waterville township, where her husband is successfully
engaged in general farming; Frederick Robert and Louis Eugene are at home and
Stuart L. is a student in Manhattan College. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt are active
members of the Presbyterian church and have always taken much interest in all
church work and are prominent in the social life of the community in which they
live and where they are held in the highest regard and esteem.

    Politically, William B. Hunt is identified with the Republican party and
since reaching his majority, he has taken the keenest interest in the civic life
of his township and the county. For a number of years he has served as township
clerk and has been a member of the County Fair Association. He is a most
diligent worker and uses his best efforts in carrying out the wishes of the
people. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is one of the active
participants in the work of the local order.

    In 1892 Mr. Hunt erected a house, which he remodeled in 1916, making it one
of the most modern eight-room houses in the township. He has installed every
modern convenience, having a furnace, bath, water, sun-porch, and was the first
in the county to place in the home the Delco lighting system. The house is most
beautifully situated, a mile south of the town of Blue Rapids, on the Marysville
and Blue Rapids road, and overlooks the beautiful valley of the Blue river. No
more ideal place could be found for a country home, and the view presents some
of the most magnificent scenery of the district. His barns and out-buildings are
modern and are kept in the highest state of repair. The farm buildings are so
arranged that they present the most satisfactory arrangement and convenience for
the care of the stock and grain of the farm. His cement silo is the only one of
the kind in the township, and is modern and substantial. Mr. Hunt is a most
progressive man, and conducts his farm according to the latest methods of
farming. His fields are under the highest state of cultivation, and during the
growing season of the year they present a pleasing sight with the golden grain,
waving in the light of the Kansas summer sun. Every detail of the farmer's art
is known to him, and his excellent tract of land is recognized as one of the
finest in the county. He keeps a splendid lot of stock and his herd is one of
the finest in this section of Kansas. He operates his farm with the most
improved machinery and is a firm believer in modern and up-to-date methods.

    Mr. and Mrs. Hunt are intelligent, well read and cultured. One of the
greatest pleasures of Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, is that derived from entertaining their
friends. Their lives have been most active ones, and by their own efforts they
have risen to places of prominence and influence. They are devoted to their
children and have reared a splendid family of boys and girls, who are assuming
responsible places in their home communities.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions
by
Emma E. Forter

Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917)


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