Hunt was born on January 27, 1840 in Bradford, Pennsylvania. After residing in Limestone, New York from 1848 to 1854, he settled in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. During the American Civil War, he served with the 20th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the Union Army, achieving the rank of sergeant. Events Hunt took part in include the Battle of Fredericktown, the Battle of Fort Henry and the Battle of Shiloh. He was a merchant by trade. Hunt died in 1908.