Hunt, Ernest A.

HUNT, SHIELDS

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/22/2006 at 15:13:20

HUNT, ERNEST A.

Ernest A. Hunt came to this country twenty years ago and purchased a quarter section of land four miles south of Rock Rapids, at once beginningthe improvement of the land. For twelve years he devoted himself to the raising of flax and wheat, and was quite successful. He bought many acres of land during these years in Lyon county, as well as in Moody county, South Dakota, until he owned at one time over a thousand acres. This land increased rapidly in value, and the most of it he sold at double what he paid for it, or even more, retaining, however, the two hundred and forty acres, which he has now put in the hands of a faithful renter.

Mr. Hunt bought residence property in Rock Rapids in 1897, whither he removed his family, and there he has since continued to live. In 1896 he bought a quarter section and in 1901 five other quarter sections in Rocktownship, making in all 960 acres in that town. This he uses as a ranchfeeding ground for cattle, having sometimes as many as six hundred head at once. In feeding cattle for the market and striking for the top prices, he has met with much success.

Mr. Hunt was born in Canada in 1857, and finished his education in the high school of his native town. When he was twenty years old he went to California, where he worked in the mines four years, and was made manager the last part of his stay there. After having saved about fifteen hundred dollars, he concluded he had enough with which to come home. There he bought a portable steam mill, and sawed lumber, ties, and otherlumber as required. He was at this work for about a year and then sold out with the intention of locating in South Dakota. His ticket was bought for Mitchell, but stopping off in Lyon county, to look at the country, he was so well pleased that he pitched his tent here, and here he has since remained.

It was in California that Mr. Hunt was married in 1880, Miss Minnie, daughter of William Shields, becoming his wife. Her father was killed by an explosion in a quartz mine. This union has been blessed by the birth of four children: Clara, Charles, Florence and Loren, all of whom are at home.

Jesse Hunt, the father of Ernest A., was born in England, and as a small lad came to Canada, with his brother James, who became a member of Parliament. The mother of Ernest A. Hunt came of an English ancestry. Judge Brew, of Vancouver Island, is one of Mrs. Ernest A. Hunt's family. Mrs. Hunt belongs to the Blakes of Galway, of Oranmore Castle. The late
Governor-General Pemberton, of Vancouver, was a great-uncle of Mrs.E. Hunt. She also belongs to the family of O'Briens in England, who are titled.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson