Biographical Sketch of William P. Hunt, Johnson County, Missouri, Chilhowee Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** William P. Hunt, president of the Chilhowee Bank of Chilhowee, Missouri was born January 8, 1847, in Cooper county, Missouri. He is a son of Jonathan and Martha F. Hunt. Jonathan Hunt was son of William Hunt, Sr. a native of North Carolina, an early settler of Cooper county, a pros- perous pioneer farmer and stockman. The son, Jonathan, was reared and educated in Cooper county and in early manhood entered the mercantile business in addition to work of farming. He hauled all the goods for his store from Lexington. The mother, Martha F. (Lee) Hunt, was the daughter of Noah and Nancy Lee, natives of Virginia and honored pio- neers of Cooper county. To Jonathan and Martha F. Hunt were born eight children, only two of whom are now living: William P., of this review; and Mrs. Frank Jones, Greenville, Texas. When Mr. Hunt came to Johnson county in 1855, with his parents, all the settlements were along the streams and the prairie was practically unfenced. The father purchased and entered in all 700 acres of land near Kingsville. With the assist- ance of oxen, the sod land was broken and Mr. Hunt began to farm his place and to raise stock. The father hewed logs from the trees on the farm, with which to build their home and part of the lumber was hauled from Lexington. While the new home was in the process of erection, which required one year, the Hunt family resided in an old fashioned log cabin. William P. Hunt attended school held in a log house, having a large fireplace on one side of the room and an entire log left out of the building on the other side of the room, for the window, and punch- eon benches. This was known as the Duncan school and was located on Lost Creek, south of Kingsville. William P. Hunt's first teacher in this school was Abraham Stout. Mr. Twitchell was the next in order and from this man, Mr. Hunt received his first lesson in physiology. Among the pioneer preachers, whom he knew, were Reverends George W. Longan, Pitts, and Minton. The Hunts obtained their mail at Rose Hill once a week. The neighbors went "by turns" for it, one man going one week and another man the next week. William P. Hunt saw his first circus at Rose Hill. The year of the outbreak of the Civil War found Jonathan Hunt successful and prosperous. He enlisted in the Confederate army and served for some time in the war. At the battle of Independence, he was severely wounded. While he was away, the mother died, leaving the children in the care of William P. Hunt, who took the family back to their old home in Cooper county. The close of the war found the father almost financially ruined. In 1867, he began life anew, opening a store at Kingsville. His son, William P., assisted in his father's store, working as clerk. Jonathan Hunt died in about 1878. In 1868, William P. Hunt was united in marriage with Mary Medora McFarland, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, and to them were born five children, three of whom are now living: Mrs. Gussie Scarborough, Warrensburg, Mo.; Albert P., Kansas City, Mo.; and Herbert S., Chilhowee, Missouri. Mrs. Hunt died in 1899 at Kansas City, Missouri. In 1903, Mr. Hunt and Mrs. S. Ella Carrington, daughter of Mr. Yankee, of Pettis county, were married. William P. Hunt was appointed deputy county treasurer of Johnson county in 1873 and served in this capacity until 1877, when he became the first tax collector of Johnson county. Mr. Hunt served the county in this office four years and then was elected judge of the county court, serving as presiding judge four years. During his incumbency, the pre- sent jail of Johnson county was erected and several splendid iron bridges built in different parts of the county. William P. Hunt was one of the charter members of the Bank of Warrensburg of which he later became cashier and then president. From Warrensburg he moved to Kansas City, Missouri, which was his home for about two years. In 1901, Mr. Hunt came to Chilhowee, Missouri, and assumed the duties of cashier of the Chilhowee Bank. He is now president of this institution, which is one of which Johnson county is justly proud. Besides his stock in the Chilhowee Bank, William P. Hunt owns a quarter section of land south- west of Chilhowee and his residence in this city. The Chilhowee Bank was organized in 1901 with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars and with E. N. Johnson, president, and William P. Hunt, cashier. The bank was opened for business in the old bank building. Warrensburg men owned most of the stock at that time, but local men have since bought all of it. The original directors were: J. C. Chambers, R. B. Corson, William P. Hunt, C. A. Hadsell, E. N. Johnson, S. S. Shoemaker and Dr. L. J. Schofield. The present directors of the bank are: Lewis Corson, E. S. James, William P. Hunt, S. Ella Hunt, H. R. Butcher, William Sweeney and C. H. McElwee. In 1915, a handsome bank building was erec- ted, which with the new equipment is valued at seventy eight hundred fifty dollars. The bank's official statement of the financial condi- tion of this institution shows the bank to be in good, sound condition. November 8, 1917, the capital stock was ten thousand dollars and the surplus fund, eleven thousand five hundred dollars; undivided profits two hundred thirty-three dollars and thirty-six cents; and individual deposits ninety-three thousand dollars. William P. Hunt is a valued and worthy supporter of the Baptist church. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being a member of the three orders of this fraternity. He is one of Johnson county's best and most esteemed citizens. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================