BIOGRAPHY: John J. HUNT, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, 
Pennsylvania.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, 
pages 444-445.
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  J. J. HUNT, Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., was born at Ardmore, 
Montgomery county, Pa., September 8, 1849, son of Joseph and Deborah H. 
(Kirgan) Hunt. The Hunt family were English Friends, and settled near 
Philadelphia during old provincial days. Among them was Joseph Hunt, who in 
1724, bought and occupied a tract of land in Chester county, Pa., the same 
now known as the Brinton Serpentine Stone Quarry, in Westtown township. In 
1727, Joseph Hunt married Mary Hickman, of Chester Creek valley, Delaware 
county, Pa. Among their children were three, named William; Joseph; and 
John. William Hunt's youngest son was Benjamin. The second son of Benjamin 
Hunt was Nathan Y., grandfather of J. J. Hunt; he married Huldah Taylor, 
daughter of Colonel Taylor, of Brandywine. Their family consisted of three 
daughters and two sons, one of whom was Joseph, born August 17, 1820. This 
Joseph Hunt married Debbie H., daughter of Valentine and Debbie (Taylor) 
Kirgan, who was born at Westchester, Chester county, Pa., November 1, 1824. 
Mrs. Debbie Kirgan and Mrs. Huldah Hunt were sisters. The children of Joseph 
and Debbie H. Hunt are: E. Estelle, born August 29, 1843, married Ralph H. 
Wilson, of Bel Air, Md.; J. J.; James Valentine, born April 23, 1851, 
married Emma Bevard, resides at Westchester, Pa.; C. Aurelia, born April 19, 
1857; and Bessie, born February 6, 1860. Mrs. Joseph Hunt died April 17, 
1893; her husband surviving her until March 5, 1896.
  After attending a private school in Philadelphia, J. J. Hunt went to a 
Baptist educational institution at Highstown, N. J. He then took a course at 
the Quaker City College, Philadelphia, and graduated; afterwards serving an 
apprenticeship of five years in mercantile business in the same city. He was 
for the next six years connected with the office of Henry Wood, the late 
president and superintendent of the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central 
railroad, at Philadelphia. In 1882, Mr. Hunt removed to Lewistown, Mifflin 
county, and on March 11, 1884, he went into business as seedsman, florist, 
and dealer in agricultural implements. His warerooms and office are on Court 
House square, Lewistown. He has established and conducts a successful 
business in that line. He is a member of Council No. 1384, Royal Arcanum, at 
Lewistown, of which he was a charter member. He has served through all the 
stations, and is now a District Deputy Grand Regent of the State. Also a 
member of Loyal Additional Benevolent Association and member of State 
Regents' Association. He supports the principles of the Republican Party.
  J. J. Hunt was married January 1, 1878, to Emma, daughter of Thomas and 
Deborah (Sill) Ottey. They have had these children: Joseph, born December 3, 
1880; Anna Brodess, born April 14, 1882, died February 1, 1889; and 
Valentine Kirgan, born September 10, 1884, died August 16, 1885. Mr. Hunt 
and his family are members of the Baptist church.

Note: John J. (50), Emma (50) and Joseph H. (19) Hunt appear in the 1900 
Lewistown, Mifflin County census.