John Herman Hunt

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LZB8-7B7
• Initiatory (LDS): 26 Oct 2012, PROVO

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: 9X92-RN7
• Initiatory (LDS): 19 Oct 2006, GUADA

Edson married Eva White on 15 Apr 1880 in Ionia, Michigan, United States. Eva was born in Vermont, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: 9X92-RNF
• Initiatory (LDS): 18 Oct 2012, HAWAI

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LHNQ-RGR
• Initiatory (LDS): 7 Oct 2011, PAPEE

Notes:

Email from Gar Watson.


Herman Hunt was the second son of Ormond Hunt and Delia Noyes. He was bo r n in Tunbridge, VT in 1824, and emigrated with his family to Michigan a ro und the age
of 12 in 1836. Though not a "forty-niner," he went to California for t h e "Gold Rush" with Dr. Cyrenus Kelsey of Saranac, leaving home on 30 M a r 1850. They made it to Hangtown or Placerville by 10 Aug 1850, but th e h ardships of their journey took it's toll on Dr. Kelsey who died soo n afte r. For the sake of his own health, by December Herman decided to h ead bac k home to Michigan. Having made the trip west across land, he ret urned b y boat via Nicaragua, New Orleans, Havana and New York. Returnin g poore r then he left, he wrote in his journal he had "seen the Elephant ." Tha t was a consolatory phrase for those who endured hardship on the C aliforn ia trail to find disappointment in the end. He had taken his chan ce to se e the world, but the hardships endured lead to disappointment in stead.

After his return, he married Elizabeth English on 29 Sep 1852. Having so l d his share of the original family homestead in Boston township, Ioni a co unty, Herman
and Elizabeth set up housekeeping in a log house, on the farm which he h a d bought, just east of Saranac. Their three children were born in the l o g house, and the family lived there until 1864, when a frame house wa s bu ilt across the road. A kitchen was added to the frame house in 1880 . A ro w of maples along the road was set out by Herman Hunt in 1860.

When Company I, of the 21st Michigan Infantry Regiment was organized Aug u st 19, 1862, and Herman Hunt was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant. His wi f e insisted he
had been given a field promotion to Captain, but was never able to pro v e this to the government and only received the widow's pension for a Li eu tenant.

Word was sent back home to Michigan that Herman was in a hospital in Nas h ville. His brother Simeon and brother-in-law John English started o n a tr ip to help bring Herman back to Michigan. Along the way they wer e sen t a telegraph by a surgeon who told them Lt Hunt's condition was im provin g. Sadly the man had not taken the time to get the given names cor rect an d confused Herman with a Lt Hunt from Ohio.

In a letter dated December 1862, Simeon Hunt wrote to Herman's widow Eli z abeth:

"Oh how much I would have given could we have reached Nashville before H e rman died - but it was impossible - he died at 1/2 past 3 P M and we d i d not arrive there until 8 in the evening.

Oh I cannot realize yet that Herman is dead! It was so unexpected to u s f rom the Dispatch we received from the surgeon we had hoped to find hi m be tter - and thought in a few days we should be able to bring him hom e wit h us - but it appears that there was another Lieut. Hunt (from Ohio ) at t he same Hospital and the surgeon did not take the trouble to fin d out the ir given names."

As a firm believer in education, after Herman's death, Elizabeth sent h e r oldest son Edson Hale Hunt to Michigan Agricultural College (now MSU ) , to help him better manage the family farm. After Edson's graduatio n i n 1877, he returned home to run the farm, while Elizabeth moved to An n Ar bor, where she put her son Ormond Fremont and Mary Elizabeth throug h th e State University (now U of M).

Herman married Elizabeth English on 29 Sep 1852 in Ionia, Michigan, United States. Elizabeth was born on 14 Dec 1825 in Tunbridge, Orange, Vermont, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: K633-14T
• Initiatory (LDS): 9 May 2012, IFALL

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LCQM-LRX
• Initiatory (LDS): 15 Nov 1934, SGEOR

Ormand married Delia Noyes on 3 Oct 1820 in Tunbridge, Orange, Vermont, United States. Delia (daughter of True Worthy Noyes and Polly King) was born on 18 Aug 1800 in Tunbridge, Orange, Vermont, United States; died on 30 Oct 1822. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LHNQ-5HM
• Initiatory (LDS): 30 May 1919, SGEOR