NINUS L. HUNT

Ninus L. Hunt, 83 years of age October 19, last, died at his home on East Broadway in Denison Friday evening, Nov. 25, at 8:30 o'clock, after a serious illness of little more than one week. Prior to his illness he was at his office uptown, and greeting his friends as usual. During his illness he had the constant care of his daughter and her husband, Fred Westcott, and his many friends were ever solicitous of his health.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the First Methodist church, Rev. L.M. Grigsby, of the First Methodist church, officiating. There was a large gathering of long time friends in attendance at the services. Music was furnished by Mrs. Harry Trexel, Mrs. Rex Moffitt, C.E. Humphrey and Virgil Nelson. Interment was made in Oakland cemetery in the family plot. Hugo Gebert, Frank Pfarr, Guy Johnson, A.B. Wood, M.O. Myers and E.F. Tucker were the pallbearers.

N.L. Hunt was born in Goodrich township, Crawford county, October 19, 1855. He was the son of Alonzo Russell and Margaret Hunt, who were natives of New York state. The father came to Iowa in 1848, settling in Harrison county, and moved to Crawford county in 1853.

Mr. Hunt spent his entire lifetime in this county with the exception of six or seven years' residence in Nebraska. He was reared to farm work, driving cattle, broke prairie, and did all the other tasks incident to the cultivation of the fields, remaining under the parental roof until he reached his majority,

In the acquirement of as education, he attended the district schools and also the public schools of Deloit. After completing his education he followed the profession of teaching for five winter months and devoted the summer months to farming.

While engaged in teaching he was elected to the office of township assessor, holding the office seven years in succession. On the expiration of that period he formed a partnership with his brother, Charles J. Hunt, and in September, 1882, they opened a general store in Deloit, doing business as Hunt Brothers for 12 years. N.L. then purchased his brother's interest, and continues the business alone for four years.

In the fall of 1887 he was nominated and elected county auditor, being the first republican ever chosen for that office in the county. In 1894 he was nominated for the office of county recorder and was elected, and held that office for two years. Subsequently he worked in the Bank of Denison for four years. At the th end of that time he became a member of the firm of Pfarr, Gebert & Hunt in the general mercantile business and the firm name became known as "The Boys Store." This business was continued until the recent fire, when the store and stock were wiped out.

February 22, 1880, Mr. Hunt was united in marriage with Miss Emma Mason, a native of Milford Township, and three children were born to the unions, namely: R. Blaine, now residing in Los Angeles, California; N. Leslie, who was wounded and died in a hospital in France during the world war, and Margaret, Mrs. Fred Westcott, of Denison. Mrs. Hunt died a number of years ago, and on June 24, 1914, Mr. Hunt was wedded to miss Berth Kimpel, who passed away October 21, 1930.

In politics, Mr. Hunt was a republican and his party honored him by election to several offices. While of assessor at Deloit he was elected as township clerk of Milford township, and served as secretary and treasurer of the school board of that township. For three years he was postmaster at Deloit, and after moving to Denison was a director of the Denison Normal & Business College. He also served for 25 years on the Denison school board, was for several years one of he directors of the library board; a member of the cemetery association, president of the Denison Chamber of Commerce, and served as mayor of Denison. At the time of his death he was a member of the official board of the Crawford County Trust & Savings bank.

Fraternally, he had been a member of the Knights of Pythias order and the patriotic order of the Sons of Veterans. Since retiring from business he had been active in the collection of accounts due his firm, and could be found at his office daily.

He is survived by his son, R. Blaine, of Los Angeles, Calif., his daughter, Mrs. Fred Westcott of Denison; one brother, Charles J. of Independence, Mo., one grandson, Wallace Westcott; also a number of nieces and nephews.

From Denison Bulletin December 1, 1938.