William Hunt

HUNT, TOULOUSE, COLSTON

Posted By: Deb Barker (email)
Date: 3/21/2006 at 20:29:44

WILLIAM A HUNT is one of the brilliant and resourceful members of the Ottumwa bar. He has enjoyed a large patronage as a lawyer, and is a man of many interesting connections and associations with his home community and state. The Republican party organization regards him as one of its ablest young leaders and speakers.

Mr. Hunt was born in Davis County, Iowa, December 17, 1887, a son of Charles E. and Clara B. (Colston) Hunt, and grandson of Thomas A. Hunt, who came from Virginia to Iowa in the early 1850's and served with an Iowa regiment in the Union army. The maternal grandfather, William Colston, was born in England, came to the United States and located in Iowa prior to the Civil war, and during the war was a member of the Sixth Iowa Cavalry. Before leaving the military service he participated in several Indian campaigns. Mr. Hunt's father, Rev. Charles E. Hunt, was also born in Davis County, Iowa, and devoted his active life to the ministry of the Christian Church. He and his wife had two sons, William A. and Elmer, the latter of whom was also an attorney, located at Creston, Iowa.

William A. Hunt was graduated in 1906 from the Southern Iowa Normal School at Bloomfield in Davis County. He then spent over six years in the University of Iowa. He was graduated from the liberal arts course in 1910, completed the work of the college of law in 1912 and remained for a year in the graduate school. Mr. Hunt was admitted to the bar in 1912 and for three years practiced in the State of Ohio. He then returned to Iowa, and has since been located at Ottumwa. He was city solicitor from 1919 to 1925, inclusive, and since 1926 has been chairman of the Wapello County Republican Central Committee. He is a member of the Wapello County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations.

Mr. Hunt came in for some unusual honors in the political campaign of 1928, being made temporary and permanent chairman and keynote speaker in the Iowa Republican State Convention at Des Moines on July 18, 1928. In the same campaign he was presidential elector at large from Iowa. Mr. Hunt is a director of the Ottumwa Y. M. C. A., a member of the Chamber of Commerce, a past president of the Kiwanis Club, is a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner and a member of the Knights of Pythias, B. P. O. Elks, Moose and Yoemen. During the World war he was chairman of the Wapello County four-minute speakers. Mr. Hunt and family are members of the First Christian Church and take and active part in that organization.

Mr. Hunt married at Des Moines in 1911 Miss Grace Toulouse, daughter of Joseph H. and Priscilla (Wayne) Toulouse. Mrs. Hunt is of French ancestry, and her mother was a direct descendant of the family of the famous "Mad Anthony" Wayne. Mrs. Hunt is a prominent factor in social and civic organizations, being a past matron of the Eastern Star Chapter, is a member of the Ottumwa Woman's Club and has given much time to the work of the home beautiful and gardening movement. Her own home is a contribution to the ideals of this movement. It is known as Torbin Hill, being located on the summit of one of Ottumwa's heights, commanding a fine view of the Des Moines River Valley and surrounding country. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have spent a great deal of time and labor in landscaping the grounds. They have three children: William A., Jr., who graduated from the Ottumwa High School in 1929 and is now an Iowa representative in the United States Military Academy at West Point; Dorothy, who graduated from the Ottumwa High School in 1929 and is a student in the University of Iowa at Iowa City; and J. Paul, attending high school.

The People of Iowa

with

SPECIAL TREATMENT OF THEIR CHIEF ENTERPRISES IN

EDUCATION, RELIGION, VALOR, INDUSTRY,

BUSINESS, ETC.

by

EDGAR RUBEY HARLAN, LL. B., A. M.

Curator of the

Historical, Memorial and Art Department of Iowa

Volume IV

THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc.

Chicago and New York

1931