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Thomas Hunt

For other people named Thomas Hunt, See Thomas Hunt

Thomas Hunt
2nd Town President of Monroe, Utah
In office 1890–1891
Preceded by	Andrew Larsen
Succeeded by	August W. Bohman
4th Town President of Monroe, Utah
In office 1894–1895
Preceded by	August W. Bohman
Succeeded by	Andrew Nilsson
Personal details
Born	15 June 1826 Denby, Derbyshire
Died	16 March 1899 Monroe, Utah, USA
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Hannah Moon
Children	10

Thomas Hunt (15 June 1826 – 16 March 1899) was an early patriarch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), a Mormon pioneer and early settler in Monroe, Utah where he served two terms as the Town President.

Early Life

Thomas Hunt was born in Denby, Derbyshire, England on the fifteenth June 1826. He was the oldest son of John Hunt and Sarah Bardell and was the oldest of 10 children.

Thomas and his siblings are recorded on the 1841 United Kingdom Census living at Smithy Houses in Denby and it is thought that he might have been educated at Smithy House School. At the time of the 1841 United Kingdom Census, Thomas was already working in the mines (referred to as the pits) and had done since he was just 12 years old. (See school leaving age in England) Each Monday morning when Thomas was to go to work in the coal mines, his mother would give him one piece of cheese to put in his lunch along with his bread. At noon Thomas had a choice of eating all the cheese that day or saving some of it for the other days in the week. He chose to have a little cheese all week. So, as he ate, he would slide the cheese back on the bread as he took each bite until by the time he had finished the bread he would get just one bite of cheese but he could smell it each time he took a bite. On Tuesday he did the same and on Saturday he would finish up the cheese.

Hannah Moon

Marriage

“When about twenty-one years of age I removed from Denby to Clay Cross. After about six months I got married.” – Thomas Hunt.

The miners of Denby had their own rugby team. Thomas Hunt was on the team and they went to Clay Cross to play with the men there. It was a rough game fiercely fought. During the course of the game, Thomas was kicked in the face which resulted in his left jaw being broken. Although the jaw healed readily, a small cyst began to grow which in later life became so large it covered one side of his face. One of the watchers of this game was a black-eyed, black-haired dairymaid. She was small and slender with sparkling eyes and her face was brimming with mirth. She stood at the edge of the pitch and poked fun at the “pitmen” as the Denby men were called. Thomas Hunt was so badly injured in the game that he was obliged to remain and be treated for his injuries. When he was well enough to get about town, he attended church and this blackeyed girl sang in the choir.

Thomas was very much interested in her but was unable to get acquainted in the regular way. Her father, John Moon, was famous in all the country round about for the artistic work he did in iron and silver. Thomas naturally called at the Moon smithy to look at some of the famous work. He was a strapping big, square-shouldered young man with flashing big, blue eyes and a pleasing handsome face with very fair colour complexion. Mr. Moon became interested in Thomas and invited him to call at the Moon home and see some of the ornaments that Mr. Moon had made of iron. Thomas called at the house and it happened that the black-eyed Hannah was at home spending her day off from the dairy. Thomas at once became too engrossed in Hannah to pay much attention to iron and works of art. Hannah, too, very much impressed with big, handsome, selfassured Thomas. The result, they were married eight months later. Thomas and his wife Hannah Moon did marry on the 27th Dec 1847 in Denby. Thomas and his father John Hunt are listed as Collier’s and the marriage was in the presence of Thomas Wheatcroft and Sarah Moon. Thomas listed his residence at the time of marriage as still living in Denby. This marriage was at St Mary The Virgin’s Church.

One time, Thomas’s mum Sarah went to visit Thomas and his young bride, Hannah. Wishing to impress her mother-in-law how thrifty she was, Hannah took great pains to peel the potatoes very thin. Sarah looked on for a while and then in her old English, she said, "Ay, Hannah, God pity thy pigs if they have to eat thy peelings.”

Religion

“I always had a desire to be religious but never could fix on no society. They differed so much from the scriptures which I always believed to mean what they said. When about twenty-one years of age I removed from Denby to Clay Cross. After about six months I got married. (Married 27 December 1847, Denby, Derbyshire, England to Hannah MOON.) I still resided at Clay Cross, living very comfortable. A young man who was living with me got killed in the pit which led me to think very earnestly about my soul salvation but I knew not where to go to be right. My wife loved the Ranters best and I loved the Methodists. I had not heard that there was any Latter-Day Saints but about this time one Joshaway (Joshua) Cutts with ‘is wife came to live neighbour with us and we knew ‘is wife very well but did not know they was Saints till she came into our house when we were getting ready for chapel, and I asked her if she was going. She said she was going to a house to the Saints. That week I had heard of them so I said I would go with her that night.”

Thomas Hunt went with his friend the Cutts’s to the house of the saints, Thomas wrote (in his spelling) “Mack Fletcher from Chesterfield preached a prest. I liked ‘is preaching very well and he brought forward a deal of scripture which was what I believed. Wednesday night we went again where elder Ward preached. I was delighted for I thought I had found the peoples of God, and I got some books and was well pleased with them. I attended the meetings three other times when I along with my wife went forth and was baptised for the remission of our sins by Thomas Pointon, on the 23rd day of November 1848, after which we rejoiced greatly, and I began to bear my testimony to all I came near and we went over to Denby to see our parents and friends who had not yet heard of the gospel.” “My father name is John and my mother is Sarah Hunt. She was a Methodist and my father never was religious. My mother soon obeyed the gospel, but he has not yet. He is a colyoun and they have had 9 children 6 boys and 3 girls of which I am the oldest. I still went on rejoicing in the gospel when I was called to the office of a priest and ordained under the hands of elders Spooner and Ward, and commence preaching the gospel in Clay Cross and the surrounding villages with the rest of my brethren and the Lord blessed our labours. I still rejoice in the gospel of our Lord. I have seen the power of God in healing the sick and the casting out of evil spirits and so for them, til I was called to the office of elder on the 7th of July, ordained under the hands of elders Travers Bellamy Sheperd Mardian, when I removed 4 miles nearer Chesterfield but continued to labour at Clay Cross when I was appointed to labour at Hiham assisted by T.F. a priest. Preached 1 time July 1 and wee had a good congregation; again on the 8th of July some good hearers, and at Clay Cross at night and at day on the 10th at a fellowship meeting where wee had the gifts of God manifested when the enemy made ‘is appearance among us by entering two sisters but was rebuked by the power of God which caused by heart to rejoice, fulfilling the words of our Savior “In my name they shall cast out devils”. I have also seen the power of God in healing the sick many times.” – Thomas Hunt

Thomas went on to do missionary work and wrote a diary/journal which has been preserved in his own spelling. An exact copy was donated to the Family History Library in 1959 and is also available to read for free on familysearch.

Parenthood

Sarah Ellen Hunt

Thomas and Hannah were living at 32 Clay Lane, in Clay Cross. Clay Lane still exists and even has old Air Shafts along it (as of 2021) but their property no longer exists. The address was found on their first daughters birth Certificate who they named Sarah Hunt. Hannah gave birth whilst at home which was a normal thing to do back then. Hannah gave birth to Sarah Ellen Hunt born on the 16th March 1850.

Moroni Hunt

On the 9th May 1852 in Sunderland,Durham, England Thomas and Hannah had a son called Moroni.

Frederick Nephi Hunt

Just two years later on the 2nd September 1854 in Sunderland, they had another son called Frederick Nephi Hunt.

Ruth Bardell Hunt

On the 3rd of August 1857, they had a daughter Ruth Bardell Hunt born in Alton,Madison, Illinois, USA.

Fanny Moon Hunt

On the 28th Feb 1860, they had Fanny Moon Hunt born in Alton,Madison, Illinois, USA.

Thomas Alvin Hunt

On the 14th March 1862, they had a son Thomas Alvin Hunt born in Alton,Madison, Illinois, USA.

Ammon Hunt

On the 26th March 1865, they had Ammon Hunt born in Moroni, Sanpete,Utah, USA.

Eliza Ann Hunt

On the 2nd of April 1867, they had Eliza Ann Hunt born in Moroni, Sanpete,Utah, USA.

Teancum Hunt

They had Teancum Hunt born in Gunnison, Sanpete, Utah,USA. On the 16th of October 1869.

Hannah Isobella Hunt

On the 6th January 1872, they had a daughter called Hannah Isobella Hunt born in Gunnison, Sanpete, Utah,USA.

Moving to America

The story is told of Thomas and Hannah’s valiant effort to save enough money to move to America. Thomas had always longed to go to America, and now that he was converted to the church, there was a burning desire to go to Zion. As soon as Thomas and Hannah had married, they began saving to go to America. To give Hannah and their first child the comforts Thomas felt that they should have, and to celebrate the arrival of the first born amongst his friends, Thomas took a great deal of their first savings. So, they put a larger amount in the savings for some time. When the account had grown a second time, Thomas lent the money to a dear friend of his who was injured in the coal pit. It has been suggested that it is perhaps the one that Thomas mentioned in his journal who died and caused Thomas to think about his soul. The friend did not recover and the money was lost again. Thomas and Hannah had another friend who became converted to Mormonism but was much more interested in getting to America than he was in his religion. Their friend advised Thomas that since he had, had such bad luck with his passage money, he should try some other plan of saving. The friend suggested that Thomas entrust the savings with him. The friend was very clever so each payday, Thomas gave him all the money he could spare. Thomas and Hannah went without food and clothing that they needed badly so that they could save money to go to America. At last enough money had been saved to go to America. Their friend went to Liverpool to arrange the passage. Thomas and Hannah packed everything and in a high state of excitement awaited their friend’s return. He never came back. Thomas then decided that he would make Hannah the custodian of his savings and in due time they saved enough to enough to take them to America.

Thomas and Hannah were still residing in Durham. They came to the United States in 1855. To reach the USA, they sailed on a sailing ship called the Juventa. They set sail on the 31 Mar 1855 from Liverpool and arrived at Philadelphia on the 5th May 1855. 10 years later the ship that they sailed on sank. (See list of shipwrecks in November 1865)

Long voyages were dangerous. There are many stories of sickness, disease, shipwrecks and other hazards. The family travelled pretty well but Thomas himself was attacked on the ship with boiling water. Thomas survived the incident and an account was written in a letter by William Glover

Upon their arrival they lived in Alton,Madison, Illinois, where Thomas worked in the coalmines. The desire to go to Utah was postponed. No doubt because their money gave out at the time and it was necessary to earn more in order to complete their journey. One day a poor, decrepit man called at the Hunt home in Alton,Madison, Illinois,to beg for food and Hannah recognised their old friend who had stolen their money to come to America. His conscious had hurt him until he took to drinking to try and forget. He was now a “down and outer.” He had no friends and could not get a job. Thomas and Hannah took pity on him and gave him food. Their friend secured a job and afterward repaid the money he had taken, and he and the Hunts remained firm friends for many years.

Settling in Utah

The small boy on the left is Thomas Alvin Hunt, next to Frederick Nephi Hunt, on the far right is Fanny Moon Hunt, Hannah Moon (pictured second from the right) and Thomas Hunt (Third from the left)

Times were very hard at Alton,Madison, Illinois,. The reason they stayed there so long was because they had ran out of money to get to Utah. Every morning Hannah would arise very early and go out into the streets of the town and with her eyes on the sidewalks look for coins, praying for help as she walked. Every morning somewhere she would find a coin which was enough to buy them food for that day. Hannah and Thomas remained at Alton,Madison, Illinois,for eight years. The family, with one ox, and one cow travelled in a covered wagon to Utah. Even if the cow couldn’t travel as well as the ox, Hannah said that the children must have milk. Their arrival was published on 1862-09-03 on Page 6 in the Deseret News. The title was: Arrival of Captain Bronson's Company

The first homes built in Monroe were dugouts. It was a dirt cellar, covered with a willow-dirt roof over the excavation. Steps were formed out of the soil leading to the entrance, with a hole at the bottom to collect the water when it rained or snowed. The Hunt’s had a dugout just across the street from the town square. The Hunt’s helped settle the town of Moroni and then Thomas was called as director of the United Order in Monroe from 1873-1877. He was a member of the high council of Sevier Stake. He and his family built the first two-story house in Monroe.

The travel was naturally slow, as the draft animals were not in the best conditions that time of year and the road was a mere trail. Not much-travelled and after a journey of nearly 159 miles from Spanish Fork, the company settled in the southeast part of Sevier Valley, on the sloping bench and one and one half miles north of the creek and three miles east of the Sevier River. The settlement was first called South Bend and was later called Alma, but after the re-settlement in 1871, it was called Monroe. In Monroe, there were no coal mines so it was necessary for Thomas Hunt to find a new method of making a living. He began farming and also did a great deal of hunting and fishing. It was said of him that he could go through the brush and trees so quietly that the animals would not know he was near, and that he gained the respect of the Indians for this acquired skill.

Hunt's Lake, Utah

To increase water supply, Thomas Hunt and sons went up into the mountains of Monroe and built Hunt’s Lake.

Politics

The following is a quotation from LIFE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, V.5 P 8: "Illinois was a state destined to be in national politics in the next few years. The country was almost equally divided between those who believed in slavery and those who did not. Feelings ran extremely high and the fires which later erupted in the Civil War were evident everywhere. Yet in spite of the deep division over slavery in all sections Americans subscribed to a set of principles so completely accepted as to constitute almost a national creed. They believed that man was a special being with a higher nature and was therefore capable of great, perhaps limitless progress; that God ordered the affairs of men to a predestined and happy end; that his supreme power had revealed to men a higher law and that their own Constitution was the closest human approximation to the divine statute; that the ownership of property was the soundest basis for a prosperous economic system; that thrift and acquisitiveness were among the noblest of the virtues; and that the American experiment in popular government was infinitely precious, unique among the nations, and the hope of all mankind for a brighter future. The concept that America had a world mission was the most moving article in the national faith. None caught its meaning better than a politician from Illinois. Abraham Lincoln spoke of America's destiny in words that reverberate down through the years. The United States was an idea, Lincoln said, and that idea was the sentiment of equality in the Declaration of Independence that gave 'Liberty not alone to the people of this country, but hope to the world for all future time. It was that which gave promise that in due time the weights should be lifted from the shoulders of all men, and that all should have an equal chance.' The American Union was 'the last best hope of earth' he said." The Hunts were now partakers of this 'best hope of earth' and Lincoln was in their back dooryard. They must have been in the crowds that listened to Lincoln speak these great thoughts. How they must have been thrilled to be among these freedom loving people and how their souls and minds must have expanded in this atmosphere. Lincoln and Douglas engaged in one of their most famous debates in Freeport, Illinois in 1858. We can easily imagine Thomas Hunt eagerly absorbing the talk and holding it in his heart the truths spoken by Lincoln. Thomas Hunt became a Republican and his descendants note that he was an ardent supporter of that Party all his life.

Career

Mining in Derbyshire

At just 12 years old, Thomas Hunt began working in the mine pits. It is assumed that the pits Thomas Hunt worked in at 12 years old, were at Denby's Drury - Lowe Colliery which was closed in February 1968 after 126 years. The reason that it is assumed he worked at this mining pit is because Drury - Lowe Colliery was located at Smithy Houses to the north west of Denby Village. right by where he was living.

Research carried out at the beginning of the 19th century showed that children who worked in the industry spent most of their life underground: "In 1800 the working day for small boys started at 2 a.m. when the caller-out came round. They were down the pit by three o'clock and did not return until after eight at night. They spent the time minding a door. As pits went deeper, and underground workings became more extensive, it was important to control the ventilating currents of air.

Author Eric Hopkins claimed that the children working in mines were very badly treated: "Children were often beaten as they were in other industries, but in the pits, a good deal of cruelty might take place in secret... It was also alleged that immorality was rife in some pits.”

It was a very dangerous industry, especially for a small boy. A serious accident in 1838 at Silkstone revealed the extent of child labour in the mines. A stream overflowed into the ventilation drift after violent thunderstorms causing the death of 26 children (11 girls aged from 8 to 16 and 15 boys between 9 and 12 years of age). The story of the accident appeared in London newspapers Queen Victoria put pressure on her Prime Minister Lord Melbourne to hold an enquiry into the working conditions in Britain’s factories and mines. The campaign against child labour culminated in two important pieces of legislation – The Factory Act (1833) and the Mines Act (1842). The Factory Act prohibited the employment of children younger than nine years of age and limited the hours that children between nine and 13 could work. The Mines Act raised the starting age of Colliery workers to 10 years old.

Mining in England

Thomas worked at various mines across England, including in Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Sunderland

Mining in America

When the family moved to America, Thomas worked in Alton as a Miner.

Farming in Utah

When Thomas first moved to Utah there were no mines. Thomas took to farming, hunting and fishing.

Town President

Thomas Hunt is documented to have been the second town president of Monroe, Utah from 1890 - 1891 and served a second term from 1894 – 1895

Military

Thomas Hunt was a 2nd Lieutenant in Utah's infantry. He enlisted on the 1st of May 1867 and discharged on the 1st November 1867. Thomas also has a military headstone right next to his grave that he shares with Hannah Thomas still participated in The Battle of Cedar Ridge. This battle was fought with the Indians on April 5, 1868 by fifteen of the early settlers of Monroe. In 1866 Fort Alma was built in Monroe.

An artist's interpretation of what Fort Alma may have looked like.

In April 1867 all of the people in Sevier Co. were compelled to move away on account of Indian troubles. Thirty teams were sent to Monroe from Sanpete County to assist the people in moving to better protected settlements. In April 1868 fifteen men led by Frederick Olsen, former bishop of Monroe, decided to return and plant grain and other crops and try to re-establish the settlement. They loaded their wagons with farm implements, provisions, and seeds and travelled peacefully as far as the Cedar Ridge a few miles north of Richfield, when they discovered Indians skulking toward them among the brush and cedars. Frederick Olsen said perhaps they were friendly Indians, and he started to meet them, when they began firing at him. Wagons were corralled immediately, every man whirled his wagon into the circle and made preparations for battle. With their shovels they hurriedly made a dirt bank for protection. The battle was soon raging. One man was so frightened, he hid among the sacks of flour in his wagon. Lars Alexander Justisen was killed during the battle, and Mr. Wilson was wounded and constantly called for water. Edward Duffin crawled on hands and knees through the brush a long distance and found water and brought it back safely to the wounded man. The battle lasted for several hours. The men discovered that the Indians outnumbered them several times, and they knew that they could never escape without help. Axel Inerson and Adolph Thompson volunteered to try to break through the Indian’s lines and go to Gunnison for help. They made a dash for safety, the Indians pursued them. Inerson rode rapidly toward the west mountains, and Thompson, on a fine black horse, rode east closely followed by Indians. He was finally shot in the thigh, the Indians headed him off, and he turned and fled toward the camp. The Indians fired at him from both sides. Walter Barney and others saw his danger and rushed out from the enclosure and engaged the pursuing Indians in battle, while Thompson rushed into camp. Later in the afternoon the Indians withdrew toward the point of the mountain which comes down to Rocky Ford. The men in camp dug deep holes inside the enclosure throwing the dirt into a high embankment for protection. During the night the Indians were prowling around camp making noises, and trying to imitate animals, and fowls. The men supposed they were trying to lure them outside the enclosure. Inerson reached Gunnison in safety and came back with a company sufficiently large to bring the company back to safety. Following are the names of the men who took part in that battle: Frederick Olsen Lars Alexander Justisen Axel Inerson Walter Barney Sen. Walter Barney Jr. Walter Jones John Bohman John Knighten Edward Duffin Adolph Thomson Thomas Hunt Mr. Wilson David Griffith Andrew Rasmussen C. C. Brown

Death

The Grave of Thomas and Hannah

Published in the Picture Gallery of the Deseret News: “Thomas was a director and worker in the old cooperative order or system known as the united order. He was a member of the high council of Sevier Stake and filled numerous other responsible positions both in church and civil capacity. He was a successful agriculturist, specialising in the sheep and wool industry, and he gave also much of his time, attention and means to the development of the mining industry, exhibiting his confidence in the native resources of this great section at a time when courage was needed to take the initiative in ventures of that nature. Rounding out a long and useful life Thomas Hunt passed away on the 16th March 1899 surrounded by friends and family, highly esteemed by all who knew him in Monroe the 17th March 1899 at the age of 72.”

Thomas and his wife Hannah are buried together at Monroe City Cemetery

After his death, the Daughters of Utah Pioneers erected a monument in Monroe in 1937 which lists all of the pioneers of Monroe.

References

contains Thomas Hunt life story edited for 2021 with many sources