Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-03-15
THE FAMOUS HUNT FAMILY.
e. p. Wheeler Writes In New York Post
Concerning Group Of Remarkable Broth
ers Born In Bratteboro.


The recent death Of Col. Leavitt Hunt,
whose obituary was published In The
Phoenix Feb. %. was the occasion for
bringing out an interesting letter by
E. z. Wheeler on the Hunt brothers,
members of a famous Brattleboro fami-
ly The letter which was published in
the New York Evening Post, was as
follows
The last survivor OF an interesting
group Of brothers passed away on Feb
ruary 16, at Claremont n. II. William
NJ. Hunt and Richard NJ. Hunt will
be renowned in the history Of American
art and architecture, and have left an
imperishable imprint upon both. One
OF William Hunts most characteristic
portraits is Of his brother Deavitt, and
is a family heirloom. The Lenox
library, the William K. Vanderbilt
house, and a thousand buildings In our
great cities would keep alive the
memory Of Richard Hunt, even II no
memorial had been erected in Central
Park.
There was a younger brother-Leav-
itt-who had much Of the versatility
the charm, the ready wit Of his seniors.
They were all Vermonters. Their
father was a member Of congress from
the Brattleboro district. and a contem-
porary OF Webster and Clay; one Of the
Connecticut River aristocracy. as Mr.
Evarts used to call 1t. When he died,
the mother, who was Morris,
woman OF the old school-an aristo-
crat to her finger tips, and yet a good
American took her boys to Switzer-
land for education. They were in
Paris during the Revolution Of 1s4s,
and brought home art treasures, some
of which afterward adorned the Jarvis
homestead in Weathersfeld, VT
In 1860 Leavitt Hunt married Kath-
arine, Consul Jarviss daughter. They
went to Europe. In a cottage on the
banks Of the Clyde their eldest son was
born. And then they returned home.
Hunt went into the army and served
with distinction on Gen. Heintzleman's
stan in the Peninsular campaign. He
returned to New York. and tried a
business life. He soon found con-
genial occupation in the life OF
the Connecticut. There in the old
family mansion he resided till his
death.
Certainly there never was a more
picturesque group than that Of his family
before the young men went out TO make
their own way in the world. Mr.. Hunts
artistic taste laid out the shrubbery and
grounds about his home with a charm
that made II one Of the most attractive
in the beautiful valley.
1t was truly said Of CONSUL Jarvis
that he introduced the merino sheep
to make soup Of the calves heads,
! which before his time had gone into
the heap. Not only this but ne and
/ his wife (who was an aunt OF that brill
| liant soldier, Gen. William Bartlett
set an example Of intelligent farming
and good housekeeping which was
/ constant lesson on lines which their
1 neighbors could follow. 1t may be said
/ Of Leavitt Hunt that he taught his
state TO make good roads. and that he
| and his true wife maintained the fam
! ily tradition OF intelligent farming and
! generous hospitality. These lessons
have not brilliancy Of conquest But
| perhaps they are more useful
! Blindness came upon him during the
| last years OF his life. Solaced by the
/ devotion Of his wife and daughter he
bore It like a hero. And now he has
| died in peace. and been laid to rest
/ at the base OF the stately Ascutney
| which he loved.
He leaves three sons. Clyde. who
took the message to Garcia and has
shown constructive ability in the Phil
ippines; Jarvis. an architect OF original
genius in Chicago. and Leavitt, a law
yer in New York.
The maiden na-,a ~ tho r,otla- ~ +ba