Capt Charles A Hunt biography: 
 
Source is Biographical History of La Crosse, Monroe and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin. 
Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company 1892.

Captain Charles A Hunt, a worthy pioneer of the State of Wisconsin, was born in Chantauqua 
County, NY in 1829.  His parents, Melzer and Abigail (Dingley) Hunt, were married at 
Duxbury, MA in 1815, and the following year removed to Chantauqua County, NY.  Both are 
direct descendants of the Plymouth Rock Colony.  They reared a family of six children, 
Charles A being the youngest.  The father was a manufacturer of wollen goods.  He was 
drowned in Lake Chautauqua in Jan 1860, and his body was not recovered until the following 
spring, although a great effort was made by the members of the community, and the Masonic 
fraternity especially.  Capt Hunt was removed to Grant County, WI in 1845, and engaged in the 
milling business there.  In 1850, he pushed on to the Golden State, but returned at the end 
of the year.  He resumed his milling operations in Grant county, which he continued until 
1856.  In that year, he erected a mill in Vernon County, which he operated until 1865, when 
he sold the property and came to Monroe County.  Here he purchased 300 acres of land, a 
portion of which is the present site of Mevina, which was named in honor of the Captain's 
first wife.  He owns a good farm, well stocked with full-blood Durham cattle.

In the Nation's hour of need he volunteered his services, entering the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin 
Infantry as a private;  he was promoted to the office of First Lieutenant, and soon after was 
made Captain.  His regiment was sent to Minnesota to quell the Indian disturbance in 1862, and 
when this trouble was settled, he went to Vicksburg, where he was attached to General Sherman's 
corps;  he went with his general on the immortal march to the sea, and when hostilities had 
ceased returned to his home. 

Capt Hunt was elected a member of the Legislature for the session of 1868-1869, and was 
re-elected in 1870.  He sidchared the duties of this office with marked ability, and 
reflected great credit upon himself and his constituency.  He has held many of the township 
offices, and when a citizen of Vernon County, WI, was made the first Postmaster of Bloomingdale, 
a position he resigned when he removed to Monroe County.  He was appointed the first Postmaster
of Melvina, and still retains the office.

Capt Hunt was married in June, 1849, to Miss Amanada Mevina Ray, a daughter of Elisha Ray, of 
Payson, IL.  Six children blessed this union, only tow of whom are living;  Henery is a merchant 
of Greenwood, Clark County, WI; hje married Miss Mary Joslyn, and they have three children; 
Frank married Miss Hattie Morrison and is living on a farm near his father.  The mother of these
children died Dec 16, 1866, aged thirth-three years.  Capt Hunt was married Apr 28, 1867 to 
Miss Sarah H Ray, a sister of his first wife; she died Feb 27, 1890.  His third union was to 
Miss Mary E Casper, Ovt 28, 1860.  Besides providing for his own children, Captain Hunt has 
adopted four children, three of whom are established in life; he is also guardian to four 
orphan soldiers.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and takes a deep interest in that 
body.  He and his wife are liberal supporters of the Church at Melvina.  Politically, he is 
an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and is a rdical Prohibitionist.
Being a fluent speaker he does his party effective service in campain seasons.  He is a true 
patriot, a philanthropist, a generous benefactor ever ready to answer the call of distress.  
He is one of the most populare men of his county; and merits high regard in which he is held 
by fellow citizens. 

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