The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-04-17
|. S. ]. HUNT, lOWAN
new MONTE CRISTO
Confidential Adviser to King Of
Korea Once Taught School
in Iowa.
HAS MADE TWO FORTUNES
MultimiIlionaire and First Boomer Of
Seattle, He Lost All. Made It Back
in Korea, Paid His Debts, and
Is Again Wealthy.

Columbia City, Ind, April l5.-Lee
s. J. Hunt, born in a log cabin near
here forty-nine years ago; school teach
er, college president, journalist, pro-
moter, railroad builder and multi-mil-
lionaire original boomer of the city Of
Seattle; reduced to poverty and with
debts Of millions by the crash Of 1893;
next, confidential adviser to the King
liable mining concessions in Asia, has
paid every dollar Of his debts and is
again worth more millions than any,
body dare estimate.
For years Hunt lived in Iowa, where
he was well known and had a most in
teresting career. He was the friend
and protege Of Senator James Harlan
of Mount Pleasant; superintendent Of
the East Des Moines schools; then pres
ident of Iowa State College at Ames;
going to Seattle where began
the career that has made him the Monte
Cristo of the northwest. At present he
is in Egypt with his family, keeping
strictly away from business because
his physicians have advised it as abso-
lutely necessary if he would regain
the health sacrificed to his strenuous
career.
An I~nauspicious Childhood.
Hunt was one Of the ten children of
Franklin and Martha Hunt Of Attic
township, this county. The log cabin
In which he was born still stands.
When a boy ne was noted as a
schemer. He always was planning
something to 10, and in his play, his
work, his books, his great desire was to
ebe ahead of his companions. AS he
grew older he was noted as the best
trader in the country. He would buy
was money in, but he never went into
anything haphazard-he made 10 o
but hat he did not figure out it's pos
sibilities in advance.
AT 16 years of age, while his COM
panions were taking life easy, Hunt
was teaching school in Troy township,
and as a teacher he inaugurated many
new ideas. He taught school at
Pierceton, Larwell n in 1869 vas Sc
lected principal of the Columbia City
schools. He traded and speculated and
made some money n seemed to be
getting on well. In 1880 he disappeared
from Columbia City, leaving about
@1,oOO ~ uSDlS Uell11lu ulLl. mo one DuL
Adair, who was his Schoolmaster
and friend, knew Where he had gone,
but each of his creditors got a letter,
sent from different parts Of the coun-
try, telling him in time he would come
back and pay every dollar against
him.
First Went to Iowa.
Hunt landed finally in Mount Pleas
ant, la. Senator Harlan was a member
| ~ %1~ --L~- 49, 49, 49, .- rr--I
applied for a position as teacher. One
of the requirements vas that he should
be a teacher Of languages, and he had
not the education. He declined to pass
an examination or offer any letters of
recommendation, simply saying that if
he was employed he would make the
school the best it ever had been.
Hunt was given the place, hired a
tutor, who instructed him in the Ian
guages at night, and the next day the
new principal ave to the classes the
knowledge he had CLEANED the night
before. His wonderful executive abil-
lily brought about many changes. His
institute work became known all ove1
Iowa. At that time he boarded with
the mother of Frank Hatton, after
wards postmaster general OF the Unit
ed States, and her advice and teaching
had much to do with his success. A!
this time the people Of Columbia City
wondered if Smith" Hunt. as he was
knOWn about here, was dead or alive
From Mount Pleasant Hunt was APP
pointed superintendent of the Des
Moines schools, and later was elected
president of Ames college. During his
school career in Iowa Hunt studied fol
the ministry, and it was while filling
one of his church appointments thai
John w. Baker, editor of the Columbis
City Commercial, found him through
an item in an Iowa newspaper-the
first that had been heard of him since
he had so strangely disappeared from
Columbia City.
Married an Iowa Girl:
While living in Des Moines Mr.. Hun,
became known as a capable politician
His strength vas in commanding tn,
influence of men to assist him. He wa.
the friend and confidante of such mel
as RET" Clarkson, ohm A. Kasson
John S. Runnells, T.. S. Wright ant
other leaders in Iowa affairs. While il
Des Moines he married Jessie Noble
daughter of one of the old families O
the city, and h has been with hin
throughout the career that has sine,
called him to all quarters of the world
IShe was the daughter of II. A. Noble
and a niece of D. w. Smouse, now o
Des Moines
About 1885 Mr.. Hunt went to Seattle
Wash. He had very little money, no
much more than he needed for his dali.
expenses, but he bought the Daily Post
I~ntelltgencer, organized a stock com
pany and in a short time was paid SIS,
OOO, Which he at once put into the plant
In the onduc of the paper his wonder
full executive ability was again dem
onstrated, and it was not long until h
had made it one of the best papers O.
the Pacific coast. He was the origina
boomer of Seattle, and the story Of tina
boom is a worldwide story. Hunt be
came interested in almost everything
railroads, mines, street railways, steam
ra1lWays-was a director in half
dozen financial institutions, president O
a bank, stockholder in dozens of com