Copyright 2001, 2002 - Janine M. Bork
This page part of Walla
Walla AHGP
Oregon was his objective point;
and after the usual trying though interesting incidents of the immigrants'
career, he stopped at Albany in the
fall of 1852. There he took a government claim about
four miles form the town; and there he resided till 1865, when he sold
his seven hundred
and forty acres of land for ten dollars per acre, and
went to the town of Albany, where he formed a business partnership with
Beach & Montieth.
The firm erected a large flouring mill; but, the business
not proving a very successful investment financially, Mr. Hanan sold out,
and in 1871
removed to a farm on Whisky creek, Washington territory,
whence he again journeyed on seven years later to Dayton. There he owned
much
valuable property, and had a pleasant home. His happiness
was irreparably marred, however, in 1880, by the death of his faithful
wife. Her
maiden name was Ann Maria Van Winkle. She became the
wife of Mr. Hanan in 1837, and during forty-three long years had followed
him
through the varying fortunes and vicissitudes of his
lot with the Spartan devotion which is nowhere better shown than in the
lives of the
frontier women of this coast.
Among the other evens of his
active and varied career, Mr. Hanan was a prominent actor in the great
Indian war of 1855. He was first
lieutenant of Company H of the First Regiment of Oregon
Mounted Volunteers, and took a most creditable part in the fierce fight
on the Walla
Walla.
Mr. Hanan has no children, though
he cared for and educated a girl who is now living near Cheney, Washington,
and who is the mother of
nine sons and one daughter.
In spite of his burden of years,
Mr. Hanan is still hale and hearty, and enjoys in this autumn of his days
the deserved esteem of a large circle
of friends and acquaintances.
History of Pacific Northwest - Oregon and Washington
Volume II
361
Godfred Hanson, who has been actively and successfully identified with the farming interests of Walla Walla county for the past three decades, is the owner of sixty-one acres of productive land on section 1, Ritz township. His birth occurred in Denmark on the 17th of March, 1856, his parents being Hans and Cecil (Rasmussen) Hanson, who were also natives of that country. In the '70s they crossed the Atlantic to the United States and here spent the remainder of their lives. They became the parents of nine children, but only two are now living, the surviving brother of our subject being Fred, who makes his home in Wisconsin.
Godfred Hanson was reared and educated in the land of his nativity, there spending the first seventeen years of his life. In 1873, attracted by the greater opportunities of the new world, he emigrated to the United States and took up his abode in Wisconsin, where he remained for fourteen years. On the expiration of that period, in 1887, he made his way westward to Washington, settling in Walla Walla county and purchasing a farm of sixty-one acres in Ritz township which he has operated continuously to the present time, covering a period of three decades. He erected substantial and commodious buildings on the property and now has a well improved farm on which he makes a specialty of the raising of alfalfa. His undertakings as an agriculturist have been attended with well merited success, so that he has long been numbered among the prosperous and representative citizens of his community.
In 1888 Mr. Hanson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Jensen, a native of Denmark, by whom he had four children, namely: Cecelia, Howard and Mildred, all at home; and Fred, who is deceased.
In politics Mr. Hanson is a stalwart democrat and at present he is ably serving as school director and clerk. He was reared in the Lutheran faith and still adheres to the teachings of that church. He is indeed a self-made man and deserves all the praise that term implies, for the success which he now enjoys is attributable entirely to his industry, energy and perseverance.
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County - 1918
Page 814, 815
Gilbert's Historic Sketches
Biographical Supplements
1882
Page 18
************************
J.W. HARBERT.
J.W. Harbert, of Small township, whose residence in Walla Walla county dates from 1859, is one of the earliest pioneers of this section now living. He was born in Fountain county, Indiana, September 25, 1835, a son of Richard J. and Mary (Zumwalt) Harbert, natives respectively of Havre de Grace, Maryland, and Cynthiana, Kentucky. Their marriage, however, was celebrated in Indiana, where they resided until 1844, when they removed with their family to Dubuque, Iowa. Three years later they went to Mount Vernon, a college town in Linn county, Iowa, which remained their place of residence for many years. The father came to Walla Walla in 1878, but after spending over a year in this locality returned to Iowa, where his wife died in 1888. Immediately after her death he again came to Washington and made his home with his son, J.W. Harbert, until his death, which occurred about a year later, in 1889.
J.W. Harbert was reared at home and received his education in the common schools. In 1859 he decided that the west offered the most favorable opportunities for an ambitious young man and accordingly made the long overland trip to Walla Walla county, driving an ox team for another man in exchange for the privilege of having his provisions transported. Following his arrival here he worked for Charles Russell for two years and then devoted eight years to freighting from Wallula and Umatilla Landing to the Idaho mines and to other points in this part of the country. When the railroad was built through, the need for freighting by team ceased and he turned his attention to farming. He worked hard, gave careful attention to the management of his affairs and in time acquired fourteen hundred acres of the finest farm land in the county. He was quick to recognize and take advantage of any unusual opportunity and one of the chief factors in his success has been the close personal supervision which he has given to his work. In 1863, while hauling a load of freight from Wallula to Idaho City, he camped on the night of July 2d on the site of Fort Boise, the officers choosing that site the following morning for a fort. In 1864 he hauled one hundred and seventy-five thousand feet of lumber from the mountains to Boise city and watched the loading and unloading of every board. His natural vigor and strength have been conserved by wholesome outdoor life, and today, at the age of eighty-two years, he superintends all his farm work and is as active as most men twenty-five years his junior. When he arrived in Walla Walla county he had but three dollars and the financial independence which is now his is the direct result of his own labors.
On the 13th of July 1866, Mr. Harbert was united in marriage to Miss Emma Evans, a daughter of G.W. Evans, who came to Walla Walla county in 1861. To this union were born six children, three of whom survive, namely: Ida H., the wife of Thomas Paine, of Richland, Washington; Floy, who married Frank Holman, of Freewater, Oregon; and Liberty, the wife of Julius Jensen, of this county. On the 8th of January, 1878, Mrs. Harbert passed away and on the 8th of April, 1884, Mr. Habert married Miss Lizzie D. Groff, a native of Iowa. They have two living children, Clifford G. and Hazel, both at home.
Mr. Harbert supports the republican party at the polls and for twenty years has served as school director, his continuance in the office indicating his ability and trustworthiness. Although he does not hold membership in the church his religious belief is in the main that of the Methodist Episcopal church and he contributes liberally to its support and also to various charitable projects. His many admirable qualities are generally recognized and there is no resident of the county more highly esteemed than he.
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County - 1918
Page 292, 297
Horace G. Hart is spoken of by friends and neighbors as a man of high purpose that has found expression in his daily conduct. He is now engaged in general farming on section 3, township 9 north, range 36 east, in Walla Walla county. He was born in Macon county, Missouri, on the 7th of September, 1858, a son of Horace and Margaret E. (Mercer) Hart. The father was a native of Connecticut and the mother of Kentucky. The former first crossed the plains in 1846, making his way to Spalding's mission at Lapwai, Idaho, Mr. Spalding's first wife having been his sister. In the fall of 1848, when gold was first discovered in California, he went to that state and subsequently he crossed the continent four times, twice by way of the Isthmus route and once around the Horn. He was married on the 22d of November, 1855, and in 1864 he brought his family across the plains, making his way to the Touchet valley, where he established his home about twenty miles north of Walla Walla. There he became actively identified with farming and stock raising and acquired two hundred and forty acres of land, upon which he spent his remaining days, passing away September 1, 1892, when in his eightieth year. His experiences were broad and varied, acquainting him with all phases of mining life and with all phases of pioneer life in the far west. On the 29th of May, 1893, his wife passed away when sixty-nine years of age.
Horace G. Hart was reared under the parental roof upon the western frontier, having been but six years of age when the family came to Washington. His education was acquired in the district schools and as early as his eighteenth year he began farming on his own account, operating his father's farm, which he continued to manage until after his father's death. In the meantime, on attaining his majority, he filed on a homestead adjoining his father's place and continued its cultivation in connection with the further development of the old homestead. Following his father's demise he came into possession of the farm on which he still resides, but has sold much of the land, retaining one hundred acres as a home. His career has been that of a very busy man. He has closely applied himself to the care and management of his property interests and he has long ranked with the leading and representative agriculturists of his section of the state.
On the 28th of March, 1881, Mr. Hart was united in marriage to Miss Ollie L. McKinzie, of Walla Walla, a daughter of Isaac McKinzie, one of the early settlers of the county. To this union have been born ten children: Myrtle A., the wife of Daniel Callahan, a farmer of this county; Carl E., of Waitsburg, Washington; Ralph H., a farmer of Walla Walla county; Lulu P., the wife of Arthur Coe, a farmer residing at Milton, Oregon; Mabel, the wife of Herbert E. Carr, of Prescott; Dorsey, a resident of Detroit, Michigan; and Mary, Lester, Loverne and Horace, Jr., all at home.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Hart has given stalwart allegiance to the republican party but has never been an aspirant for public office. He, however, allowed his name to be used on the prohibition ticket for the office of county commissioner. He has always been a stanch advocate of temperance and does everything in his power to advance the cause. He belongs to Prescott Lodge, No. 46, I.O.O.F., and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and his wife are members of the Federated church at Prescott and his aid can always be counted upon to further any movement that tends to uplift the individual or advance the best interests of the community. His standards of life are high and those who know him have come to recognize the fact that his word is as good as his bond.
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County - 1918
Page 186, 187
Before locating at Spokane Falls
he made a thorough investigation of the country form the Snake river to
British Columbia, and found no
other place so entirely commending itself to him as adapted
to meet the requirements of a great center. Its water-power, timber, agricultural
and
mining advantages leave little to be desired. There,
therefore, he lives in a hale age, doing the work of the most active business
man at a time of
life when "superannuated" is sometimes written after
a minister's name.
History of Pacific Northwest - Oregon and Washington
Volume II
367
P.B. Hawley is engaged in farming on section 27, township 7 north, range 33 east, and is regarded as one of the representative agriculturists of Walla Walla county. He has been in former years a leading factor in political circles and has been called upon to fill various offices, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity. Throughout his entire life he has been a resident of the northwest.
Mr. Hawley was born in Umatilla county, Oregon, on the 30th of June, 1862, a son of Philip L. and Sarah J. (Roberts) Hawley, both of whom were natives of Illinois. They were married, however, in Ohio and in 1861 they crossed the plains to Walla Walla, Washington, attracted by the opportunities of the growing northwest. Subsequently the father removed with his family to Umatilla county, Oregon, where he took up a homestead near Pilot Rock, and thereon resided for two or three years. He then turned his attention to the lumber business, in which he engaged in connection with George H. reed, forming the Reed & Hawley Lumber Company. They operated mills in Umatilla county and had lumberyards in Walla Walla. The father was identified with this business throughout the remainder of his active life but his labors were terminated in death in 1878. His widow survived him for only a brief period, passing away in 1879.
P.B. Hawley after attending the public schools continued his education in the Whitman College and thus became well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. In partnership with his brothers, L.R. and W.B. Hawley, he purchased extensive farm lands in Walla Walla county, built irrigation ditches and for seven years the three brothers were most closely associated in the conduct of their farming enterprises. In recent years, however, their holdings have been divided and P.B. Hawley now owns in his home place two hundred and fifty acres of rich and valuable land which he has carefully and persistently cultivated, bringing his fields under a very high state of development, so that he annually gathers good crops. He displays keen sagacity and business discernment in the management of his interests and success in large measure has attended his labors.
In 1905 Mr. Hawley was united in marriage to Miss Lillie Hunziker, of Walla Walla, and to them has been born a daughter, Alida F. He belongs to Trinity Lodge, No. 121, I.O.O.F., of which he became a charter member, and he also has connection with the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife are members of the Community church of Touchet and their aid and influence are always given on the side of progress and improvement. He is a well known and representative citizen of Walla Walla county and there are various chapters in his life history well worthy of emulation. He is genial in manner, social in disposition and is cordial but never to the point of familiarity. These qualities have won him personal popularity, while his enterprise and diligence have gained him prominence in business circles.
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County - 1918
Page 123, 124
Smith F. Henderson, a prominent brick and cement contractor of Walla Walla, was born in Pennsylvania, January 28, 1849, a son of R.S. and Margaret (Keys) Henderson, who was born in the Keystone state, of Irish descent. Both passed away in Pennsylvania and three of their ten children are also deceased.
Smith F. Henderson spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof and received the usual educational advantages, attending the public schools. In 1875, in early manhood, he went to California but three years later came to Walla Walla, where he has since remained. He has always followed the brick and cement contracting business and his thorough knowledge of the principles of construction in those materials and his scrupulous fulfillment of every detail of his contracts have enabled him to build up a large patronage. He has erected many of the better buildings in the city and ranks as one of its leading contractors. He holds title to an excellent building, from the rental of which he derives a gratifying profit.
Mr. Henderson was married in 1880 to Miss Katherine Root, who was born in Tennessee, but who has resided in Walla Walla since the early '60's. To them have been born four children, of whom three have passed away, one son, Arthur G., surviving.
Mr. Henderson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church, to which his wife also belongs, and of which he has served as chairman of the board of trustees. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in which local lodge he has filled all the chairs, and with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His integrity, his public spirit and his business ability are generally recognized and his personal friends are many.
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County - 1918
Page 775, 776
John Hoffmann is one of the honored pioneer settlers of Walla Walla and of the Inland Empire. there is no phase of the frontier development with which he is not familiar, for he came here when the work of progress seemed scarcely begun. In the years which have since elapsed he has not only witnessed remarkable changes that have brought this county to a foremost place in the way of improvement and development but he has also taken a most active part in bringing about this result by reason of his extensive interests and activities as an agriculturist.
Mr. Hoffman was born in Germany, March 28, 1852, and remained in that country until he reached the age of sixteen years, when his father sent him to the new world in order that he might escape Bismarck's compulsory military service law, which had been established at the close of the Franco-Prussian war. He remained for a period in New York and in the eastern part of the country but in 1878 reached Walla Walla, being then a young man of twenty-six years. He began life as a farm hand, and something of the intense activity and enterprise which has ever characterized him is indicated in the fact that he came to be the possessor of eight thousand acres of the finest land in the wheat belt of Washington, having six thousand and eighty acres in one body, which was but bunch grass land when taken by Mr. Hoffman. It is now well improved with fine buildings, supplied with best modern improvements, including electric light and baths. Water is secured at a depth of nine hundred and forty-five feet, Mr. Hoffmann being the first to drill a deep well in this locality. His fine place certainly indicates what energy, good judgment and determination can do. At the time of his arrival, however, little land had been brought under the plow and the city of Walla Walla was scarcely more than a trading and military post. The wide fields were covered with sagebrush or bunchgrass and there were no railroads. Mr. Hoffmann brought with him a heavy team and with this he at once began work, hauling freight from Wallula to Spokane and into the Coeur d'Alenes. It often required two or three months to make such trips, for the horses had to be fed on grass, as there was little grain for that purpose. With the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Mr. Hoffmann recognized the fact that freighting would no longer be profitable and therefore looked about him for some other means of support. He was unable to secure a homestead because he could not remain upon it, necessity forcing him to provide for his support in other ways. He therefore used his preemption right and occupied one hundred and sixty acres of land on what is now Eureka Flats. He used his team in work for others and as opportunity offered rented adjoining land. It was about 1880 that he threshed his first wheat crop from a tract of seventy-five acres, selling the crop at about forty-four cents per bushel after hauling it eighteen miles to Prescott. In his third year he harvested half a section of wheat but as yet had no farm machinery. When sowing and threshing time came, Mr. Hoffmann with his eight horses continued to work for others and in this way paid for putting in and gathering his crops for several years. In the meantime he was most carefully saving his earnings in order to equip a farm, and whenever opportunity offered he also added to his holdings, becoming the owner of four thousand four hundred acres on the Eureka Flats. There he introduced punctuality and regulations as stringent as those of a factory. He began work after three o'clock in the morning to round up the horses and ended the day's work at dark or later. He secured modern steam machinery and with his working system he did more work than if he had forced his employees to continue their labor from daylight until dark. There was no loss of time and each move was made to count for the utmost. He kept in touch with every phase of progressive farming and in fact was a recognized leader in introducing improved methods. He studied agriculture from the practical and from the scientific standpoints and, in fact, he recognized that these two things are one. The results achieved were marvelous and as his financial resources increased he continued making investments. From time to time he purchased cheap land. He bought six sections of railroad land along the Snake river to be used as horse pasturage until rapidly moving settlement required it. For this he paid only seventy-five cents per acre and after a few years he sold it at a net profit of five dollars per acre, thus realizing a handsome sum on his investment. He made other similar purchases of land, which in time he turned into ready money, continuing to realize a fair profit. His holdings at one time embraced over twelve thousand acres. He continued to occupy his farm until 1893, when he removed his family to Walla Walla, and in 1903 he retired from the active management of his farming property. He helped to organize and is a director of Walla Walla's Farmer's Agency.
On April 25, 1881, Mr. Hoffmann was united in marriage to Miss Theresa Kirchner, a native of Minnesota, who came to Washington with her parents when she was a child of but four years. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann have become the parents of ten children, seven of whom are yet living: John Edward, an agriculturist of Columbia county, Washington; Bessie D., who is the wife of Ben Grote, of Walla Walla; Anna, who gave her hand in marriage to George Retzer, a druggist residing in Walla Walla; Valline, who is pursuing a course in mechanical engineering in the University of Washington at Seattle; Philip, a senior in the high school; John William, who is an eighth grade pupil; and Corleen, who is a freshman in the high school.
In politics Mr. Hoffmann has long been a stalwart republican and gives unfaltering allegiance to the principles of the party, yet without desire for office. He belongs to the Commercial Club and through that agency works for the upbuilding and development of the city in which he makes his home. He is well known in fraternal circles, holding membership in Blue Mountain Lodge, No., 13, A.F.&A.M.; Walla Walla Chapter, No. 1, R.A.M.; Columbia Commandery, K.T.; Oriental Consistory, No. 2, A.&A.S.R.; and El Katif Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. For from thirty to forty years he has belonged to the order. He and his wife are also members of the Order of the Eastern Star and they are widely and prominently known socially, having a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. The life record of Mr. Hoffmann is indeed a notable one and there is no resident of Walla Walla who has more truly earned the proud American title of a self-made man. Being early released from the military rule of Germany, he found in the opportunities of the new world the chances for advancement if the individual possesses industry and determination. These qualities are his in large measure and step by step he has progressed until he has long since occupied a place among the men of affluence in Washington. For almost forty years he has been a witness of the changes which have here occurred and is today one of the honored pioneer settlers of Walla Walla county, his memory forming a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County - 1918
Page 378, 383, 384
(The book does have the above dates - Janine)
Gilbert's Historic Sketches
Biographical Supplements
1882
Page 18, 19
That sad event threw him upon his own responsibility. Leaving his stock with his sister, he then entered upon a scheme of cattle-driving to Nevada for a Mr. Hildreth. In that state of deserts and silver lodes, he remained four years, at Humboldt and Elko, and in 1880 was attracted northward to Walla Walla. He found employment in the city of poplars for a couple of years, and thence came to Adams, where he engaged permanently in the hotel business. He is one of the leading men in the place. His present settled life and secured fortune is largely due to Miss H.J. Hamilt, whom he married in 1881. Two children have come to bless their home, - William A. and Minnie Pearl.
History of Pacific Northwest - Oregon and Washington
Volume II
383
He was born in New York in 1821,and when a young man went to Missouri, but was deterred from making a home there by the fact of slavery.Going to Iowa, he was a resident of the now populous Iowa county when there were but three men above the required number for jury duty. At Iowa City he became acquainted with and married Miss Mary Clark, the plucky and patient companion of his trials.
They crossed the plains in 1850, the year in which the emigrant trains were scourged by cholera; and the air along the route was infected with the stench of dead bodies of animals. Mrs. Hull fell a victim to the disease, but recovered. The meat and tallow of the three buffaloes which they killed at the Black Hills gave out long before they had crossed the rocky, alkaline stretches of the Snake; and bacon was the sole subsistence until, in the Grande Ronde, they purchased a few potatoes at six bits a pound. A terrific wind near the Cascades brought their boat into great peril; and it was with difficulty that the portages was made.
After reaching Portland, Oregon, Mr. Hull left his family on a farm near by, and went to Yreka, California, where he remained a number of years, mining, prospecting, trading and picking up whatever offered, even fiddling for a time in a gambling house, and finally bringing his family thither and going into the hotel business. In a short time the Indian war swept over Southern Oregon; and the settlers were obliged to protect themselves by stockades. Mr. Hull on one occasion running bullets while her husband was cutting portholes. He took an active part in the campaign that followed, more than once coming within a few inches of an Indian's tomahawk or bullet, until the final battle at Big Meadows.
After leaving Yreka, Mr. Hull made a home on the Coquille; but the great flood of 1861 swept his house away, compelling him to put his family aboard a scow and live upon a knoll in a cluster of trees for five days, until the storm subsided. This disaster determined him to return to Iowa; but upon arriving in the beautiful and productive valley of the Walla Walla, Washington Territory, he decided to make it his residence. There he has remained as one of the most active farmers of the country, breaking the railway monopoly, and reduce the freight from six to four dollars per ton to tide water. Under his lead, freight to the amount of two million bushels of wheat has been pledged to any competing line; and from this largely results Hunt's railway.
History of Pacific Northwest - Oregon and Washington
1889 Volume II
Page 385, 386
*********************
The home farm is situated seven miles east of Walla Walla City, and at the base of the Blue mountains, Russell creek running through his door yard. The land is like the other foot hill farms; it is all inclosed and under cultivation. He has 41 stand of bees, something rare in Washington Territory; an orchard of various kinds of fruit trees, including a number of varieties of excellent apples. Taken all together, it is a home worthy the effort to make it such, combining merit in production, with beauty in location, from where the Blue mountains loom up in the south east, and the beautiful Walla Walla valley lies like a dream of Canaan, stretching away towards the Columbia below and to the west.
Mr. and Mrs. Hull have three children: Viola, wife of T.J. Anders, who lives in Walla Walla City; Hila, wife of Smith Swezea, who lives in Garfield Co., W.T.; and Eva, who lives with her parents. In conclusion we would say of these two, Mr. and Mrs. Hull, that the fortune, which, in the autumn of life, surrounds them, has been gathered by worthy hands and properly rewards the life labors of two pioneers of this country. It is not unfrequent, that those who struggle less and are favored according to their efforts, are envious of those who succeed; but we can only say, success is generally the result, as in this case, of intelligent and honorable endeavor to succeed. In the wandering to seek a favored spot for a life home, there have woven into their history some strange adventures and hair-breadth escapes, where want of food and the Indian scalping knife have lurked close upon their trail, but to detail these would require move space than is admissible in this work.
Gilbert's Historic Sketches
Biographical Supplements
1882
Page 19
L.L. Hunt is familiar with the methods of Indian warfare in the northwest, as he early became connected with the army in this section of the state. Since then he has been active in business along various lines and step by step has progressed until he is now in possession of a handsome competence that enables him to live retired. He makes his home in College Place, Walla Walla county, and has important farming interests on section 36, township 7 north, range 35 east. His career in many respects has been an eventful one. The width of the continent separates him from his birthplace, for he is a native of Maine. He wa born on the 2d of August, 1855, his parents being George and Mary Ann (Prescott) Hunt, both of whom were representatives of old families that sent forth solders to the Revolutionary war. Both the father and mother spent their entire lives in the Pine Tree State.
L.L. Hunt was reared under the parental roof until he reached the age of sixteen years, when he left home and went to Boston, Massachusetts, where for four years he was engaged in railroading. The opportunities of the west however, attracted him and he left New England, making his way to Nevada. Locating in Carson City, for more than a year he there worked in the timber region, and in 1876 he went to San Joaquin county, California, where he engaged in driving a team during the following winter. In 1877 he came to Walla Walla, where he worked for the government during the Joseph Indian war, driving a team used for transportation of supplies. A year later he became identified with Joe Woodworth in the operation of the old Cayuse stables in Walla Walla. He was connected with the conduct of this business for about three years and then turned his attention to farming on the Eureka Flats, becoming one of the large operators on the flats. He homesteaded, preempted and also took up a timber claim and he likewise purchased railroad and, owning at one time seven quarter sections. He farmed altogether seventeen hundred acres of rented land and he remained on the flats for about twelve years. He next removed to Walla Walla but after a year took up his abode at College Place, where he engaged in gardening. Subsequently he organized the L.L. Hunt Fruit & Produce Shipping Company and built up the business to extensive proportions, his interests becoming one of the chief industries of this section. He managed his affairs wisely and well and prosperity resulted. He now has retired from active business life and is enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly merits.
In 1888 Mr. Hunt returned to Boston for his bride and was there married on the 21st of October of that year to Miss Olivia Crosby. She was born in Nova Scotia and came to the United States at the age of sixteen years, her parents continuing in Nova Scotia, where they passed away. Mr. Hunt brought his bride to the west and they have since been widely and favorably known in this section of the state. They are consistent members of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest, and Mr. Hunt is now serving as one of the elders of the church. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and while living on the Flats he served for two years as postmaster. He also belongs to Trinity Lodge, No. 121, I.O.O.F. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Pioneers Association and are honored as among the early settlers who have contributed in marked measure to the upbuilding and progress of this section of the country. Mr. Hunt has led a most busy, active and useful life. From the time when he became connected with a military post on the frontier he has done everything in his power to further the interests and development of this section of the country and his business affairs, too, have been of a character that have contributed to public progress and improvement as well as to personal success. His memory compasses the period when the majority of homes in this section of the state were little cabins, when few roads had been laid out, when the forests were uncut and the streams unbridged. He has lived to witness many changes since those days in the work of transformation has borne his full share.
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County - 1918
Page 320, 321
Mr. Hungate is a native of Illinois, where he was born in 1836, coming to Nevada in 1864. Not suited with that state, he moved on to California in the Willow Springs, and at length taking up some desert land at the north of Cache creek, where he remained seven years. Hearing now of the bunch-grass hills, of Eastern Washington, he came hither in 1873, engaging largely in sheep-raising, finally turning his farm into a horse ranch. He thinks this county equal, if not superior, to any other in the world for the production of all sorts of grains and fruits, and that it simply needs people to live upon it to be the finest of regions.
As a public servant, Mr. Hungate has had a full share in county offices, and was a representative to the territorial legislature in 1881. In both public and private life he is prompt and efficient, and is well known throughout his section.
History of Pacific Northwest - Oregon and Washington
Volume II
386