Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-12-29
(Frnm the Toledo Blsds.)
MRS. MARY SOPHIA HUNT.

saIt1s VI AM DVE MA
DISp. On Christmas morning, 1875, At her
residence In this city, Mrs. Mary Sophia Hunt,
wife OF General John Il. Hunt, in the eighty
FIRST year OF her age.
To have known Mrs. Hunt through any
part Of her four-score years was to learn
the loveliness of every good attribute Of
womunly character. No remarkable event
marked the long current OF her life; no
accident Of fortune or position lifted her
into unusual prominence; yet wherever
and among whomever she has lived or
moved there has gone from her presence
an aroma Of goodness and grace OF charac-
ter which has made her presence felt
among all classes and social circles as of
breath from n better world. So sympa-
thetic, 50 gentle in manner and word and
voice, 80 practical, sensible and self-deny.
ing in work and life, she has lived an EN-
bodiment Of all that Imagination pictures
Of goodnpssin women aud at last, crowned
with years, has rounded out life filed
with duties done, and sweet and unobtru-
sive charities The white snow and merry
hearts OF Christmas timo are typical of the
light aud Joy of welcome TO her home in
Heaven by the Lord she has loved and
eerved.
Mrs. Hunt was born in Western Virginia,
near the banks of the Ohio River, seven
miles below Marietta, at the home of her
father DIR. Joseph Spencer. Her mother
was a Selden, and both father aud mother
we're from Connecticut. The latter was
nearly related to the mother OF Chief JUS
tice Waite. Her grandfather Spencer was
General in the Army of the Revolution.
At the age of fourteen Miss Spencer was
invited to a home with her Oldest sister,
Mrs. CasS, wife of Gen. Lewis Cass, then
Governor OF the Northwest Territory,
whose home was in Detroit, the Capitol
of the Territory. There she completed her
education and moved in the choicest cir
Gle Of the French, English and American
elite Of that old city How much the mag
netism ef her sympathetic heart height
ened by the refinenents of manners inbred
by her social surroundings VIC cannot
know but many who have known her
half IL century are quick to believe that
nature so gifted her with a treasure OF
amenities that she has always been more
blessed in giving, than in receiving from
society.
In May, 1922, she was married, Mt the
residence OF Gen. Cass, in Detroit, to Col.
John f. Hunt, already ut that time a 81 Z
years resident of Mnumee. She immedi-
ately accompanied her husband on horse
back to his home in Maumee, making the
journey in three stages; the first to Tten'
ton where they put up at the farm inn OF
Mr.. Truax. The next day they arrived in
Monroe, and were there entertained by Col
johnson. The third day, facing driving
rain, and each carrying an umbrella, they
arrived at the Maumee river. Mrs. Hunt
was delighted with the scenery al Maumee
and at once loved her new home, and won
the love of every one within the circle ol
heracquaintance. They commenced house.
keeping in log house, but soon afterward
moved into their pleasant home OH the
bank Of the river in old Maumee, when
seven children were born to them-hve
daughters and two sons. Their house was
not simply the abode OF most courtly
gentleman and n Christian woman, but il
was a center of hospitality to rich and
poor alike, and Of little social worlt
more cultured than is usually supposed tC
exist in pioneer settlement. Here hei
eldest daughter, Sophia, was married il
ls43, to Dennison B. Smith; in 1874 he
second daughter, Eliza, was married to Z
A. Brush, of Detroit; and in l849, TIN
third daughter Isabella, to Edward ii
Hunter, Of Maumee. In 1858, Gen. Hun
removed his home to Toledo, and sine
that time the family home on jefferson
street, has been blessed by the presence O
"the loveliest little grandmother that eve
lived" who now, alas, sleeps in death.
Wealth and aristOcratic position neve
warped the good fibre of Mrs. Hunt
Christian character. Early associated wit
the Methodist Church, and a life-lon
member her heart overnowed with desir
to do good through every possible channe
During her long residence ut Maumee, tn
family had two pcws in church, Mrs. Hun
sitting or standing at the head Of one an
the General at the other. Her eyes wer
always alert TO see il some poor man Q
woman, or child, were without place, nn
the inviting welcome of her eyes to com
~ her was expressed without language, br
with clenrness and warmth of welcom
that no one who felt it could ever forge
. Her Christian enrnestness was Of that raj
type which, like deep but noiscless four
tain, overflowed unconsciovsly with bles
ings to all around. No scctarianisT
bounded her sympathies. She was decpl
religious, yet yearned 10 do good in praci
cal ways to air and with all alike. I'll
warmth Of interest she exhibited in the we !
being Of friends and acquaintances, tn
cordiality of her greetings to all and til
quiet selffOrgetting earnestness of hC
daily efforts to do something for thol
around her and to seek the needy and II
flicted to do for theln-nH these traits, e.
hibited in their full activity almost to HI
dying day made up the souvenirs of
character "whose like we ne'er shall Sc
again" True of her, beyond all others
None knew her but TO love her,
None named her but to praise.
The old and the middle aged who hay
known her long, will feel that societ
which has been warmed by her present
for half a century, has a void at its hea
which will never be fl led during their live
The venerable conHort bowed by age m
grief, the loving family so long and plea
nntly grouped around the noble pair-a
may weep loss for which there is no r.
pair in this world but with what prou
consolation tlmt they weep for snch a w
man, and that they have been privileged
he blessed by her life and example.
The King Of the Belgians has offered