Dr. Jacob Hunt |
JACOB
HUNT was born in Hillsdale,
Columbia Co., N.Y., Jan. 25, 1811. He was the
eighth child and fourth son of Captain William Hunt
and Betsey Calkins, - the former a native of
Vermont, the latter a native of Sharon, Litchfield Co.,
Conn. His father came with his family and settled
in the town of Westmoreland, this county, in the year
1814, purchased a farm, and, to some extent, in
connection with his farming, carried on the tan and
currying business. He was captain in the war of
1812-14, raised a family of six sons and four daughters
to manhood and womanhood, and died in the town where he
settled, aged seventy-three years. His wife
survived him some seven years, and died at the age of
seventy-three years. All of the sons have held
honorable, and some of them prominent, places in
society.
Dr. Hunt spent his early life at home on the
farm, and received his education at the common school,
at Clinton Academy, and Cazenovia Seminary, and during
his minority was a teacher for four terms. At the
age of twenty-one he began the study of medicine with
Dr. Parker Sedgwick, of Lowell, Oneida Co., and
subsequently studied with Dr. Josiah Nolton, of
Cazenovia, N. Y., and, after three courses of lectures
at Fairfield Medical College, graduated from that
institution, receiving the degree of M. D. from the
Regents of the University of the State of new York, Feb.
2, 1836.
He at once commenced the practice of his profession in
Lowell with Dr. Sedgwick, and after three years
settled in practice by himself at that place, where he
remained until the spring of 1853, when he settled in
the city of Utica, and has since remained continuously
in practice. Dr. Hunt began practice where
he had been raised from boyhood, and during his career
there as a physician had the confidence and esteem of
all who knew him. His specialty has been in the
treatment of fevers, in which cases he has been
remarkably successful, and his skill and ability in that
direction is worthy of note in writing this sketch.
Dr. Hunt has never taken an active part in
political circles, but in early life identified himself
with the Democratic party; but upon the formation of the
Republican party became a strong supporter of its
principles. During his time of practice in Lowell
he held for several terms the office of school
superintendent.
Dr. Hunt is a member both of the Oneida County
Medical Society and the State Medical Society, and has
been elected at two different times as delegate to the
American Medical Association.
At the age of twenty he united with the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and has since that time been connected
not only as a member, but closely identified with the
councils of that body, in the various offices of trust
and responsibility; has been an independent delegate to
the General Conference at five different times.
Dr. Hunt has been twice married: First to Harriet
Nurse, of Utica, Sept. 29, 1852. She was born
June 10, 1815; was an exceedingly modest, unassuming
woman; had a high sense of propriety; was always
judicious and remarkably independent in her opinions and
convictions. She was ever true and loyal to the
church, of which she became a member in 1842, he married
Elizabeth a., daughter of Captain Henry W.
Snyder, formerly of Albany, but at the time of her
marriage a resident of Utica. Dr. Hunt is
kind and affable, generous and sympathizing, has a high
sense of honor, and abhors the vulgar. He is a man
of acknowledged piety but holds the broadest views of
catholicity, and, as a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, has been instrumental in introducing the lay
delegation into the Conference of that Church.
Source:
1667 - History of Oneida Co., N.Y., publ. 1878 - Page
354 |
