Randolph County, Indiana
Bader S. Hunt
The life of the scholarly or professional man seldom exhibits any of those striking incidents that seize upon public feeling and attract attention to himself. His character is generally made up of the aggregate qualities and qualifications he may possess, as these may be elicited by the exercise of the duties of his vocation or the particular profession to which he belongs. But when such a man has so impressed his individuality upon his fellow men as to gain their confidence and through that confidence rises to high and important standing he is deserving of a great deal of credit. Dr. Bader S. Hunt, of Winchester, is one of the scholarly men of Randolph county, who, not content to hide his talents amid life's sequestered ways, has, by the force of will and a laudable ambition, forged to the front in a responsible and exacting calling and earned an honorable reputation in one of the most important branches of human service. His life has been one of hard study and research from his youth and since maturity of laborious professional duty; and the high standing which he has attained is evidence that he possesses the qualities that afford the means of distinction under a system of government in which places of honor and usefulness are open to all who may be found worthy of them.
Doctor Hunt was born December 13, 1868, near Union Port, Randolph county, Indiana. He is a son of Giles P. and Elmira (Botkin) Hunt. His parents were born in this county and here grew to maturity, were educated in the early-day schools and were married here. The mother is a daughter of Dr. J. W. Botkin, also a native of Randolph county, born in 1819, and was thus a pioneer child, and here he practiced medicine for a period of sixty years, a fine type of the old school doctor. His death occurred at the age of eighty-two years. He was one of the first white children born in this locality. His daughter, Elmira, was born September 5, 1847, and she is now living in Winchester. Giles P. Hunt was born January 12, 1843, and his death occurred October 30, 1905. He was a successful farmer. Politically, he was a Republican. He was a member of Company D, Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, enlisting in 1861 under Capt. John Ross, and he served three years in a faithful and praiseworthy manner.
To Giles P. Hunt and wife six children were born, namely: Dr. Bader S., of this sketch; Mary is the eldest daughter; Morton is deceased; Emma is living at home; James is deceased; the youngest child died in infancy, unnamed.
Dr. Bader S. Hunt grew to manhood on the home farm and he received his early education in the common schools, and was graduated from the Winchester high school in 1889. He then entered Rush Medical College in Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1894, and in 1902 he took a post-graduate course in the Chicago Polyclinic institute. In 1894 he began the practice of his profession in Winchester and has remained here to the present time, enjoying a liberal patronage from the first, and he has long since taken his place in the front rank of leading medical men of this section of the state. He practiced alone until 1910, when his brother, Dr. Morton Hunt, joined him, but his death occurred two years later, and since then our subject has remained alone. He has ever been a deep student of all that pertains to the medical profession and is well abreast of the times.
Doctor Hunt was married October 30, 1894, to Winifred Thomas, who was born in Randolph county, September 1, 1870 and here she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of John W. and Eliza (Aker) Thomas. Her Grandfather Thomas came from Missouri, and Grandfather Aker was a native of Virginia. He located in Randolph county in pioneer days and opened the first store in this locality, it being the only one between the cities of Richmond and Fort Wayne. Mrs. Hunt, after graduating from the Winchester high school in 1889, entered the Conservatory of Music at Cincinnati, Ohio, and subsequently took a special course in vocal music, also the violin, in Indianapolis. She is a talented musician, and a lady of refinement and many estimable attributes, a favorite in the best social circles of the county.
The union of the Doctor and wife has been graced by the birth of two children: Frances E., born February 5, 1905, is attending school; and Mary Martha, born June 14, 1909.
Politically, Doctor Hunt is a Republican and has long been active in the ranks and influential; in fact, is a local leader in the party. He is at present ably and faithfully serving as state senator from Randolph and Jay counties, and is making his influence felt for the general good of this locality, being regarded by his colleagues as an able, far-seeing and conscientious public servant, and his course so far has been entirely satisfactory to his constituents. From 1902 to 1906 he served Randolph county as health officer in a most faithful manner. He has been a member of the city council for the past eight years, during which he has done much for the general upbuilding of the city of Winchester.
Doctor Hunt is a charter member of the Randolph Club: he holds membership in the Randolph County Medical Society, the Indiana Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge No.638, and is past master of the same; he also belongs to the Knights of Pythias.
Doctor Hunt has not only kept in close touch with the trend of current medical thought but is also a close student of all social, political and scientific subjects, being broad-minded, full of spirit and a leader in the matters relating to the advancement of the community honored by his citizenship and the welfare of his fellow men. He is a man of decided convictions on all public questions, maintains his stand with resolute firmness and has made his influence felt in formulating and directing political policies, as well as the various official trusts with which he has from time to time been honored. He is a plain and unassuming gentleman, yet possessing that innate dignity which stamps the true man of modern affairs, genial, obliging and never- failing courtesy, and, the genuineness of his public spirit being unquestioned, he is popular with all classes.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson
The full name of the subject of this sketch is
Union Banner Basil Morton Hunt. For this name, Mr. Hunt says, he is not responsible. Neither is he ashamed of it. At the time of his birth his brother was confined in the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Ga., having been captured at the battle of Chickamauga. Hence, the name "Union Banner." "Basil" (pronounced Bazil) is an old family name, and "Morton" is for the great war governor of Indiana.
The father of the present secretary of state, Union B. Hunt, was Joshua Parker Hunt, who was born in Kentucky in 1805, and died in Randolph county, Indiana, in 1889 at the age of 84. In his younger days, Joshua Hunt was a stock dealer and frequently took large droves of hogs from Kentucky to South Carolina, going and returning on horseback. Uniting with the M. E. church early in life, he was actively connected with the ministry. At one time he was well-to-do financially, but most of his money was lost in paying surety debts for false friends, and the subject of this sketch never received any benefit from it, but from the days of his early childhood was thrown upon his own resources and made himself what he is today. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Col. John Hunt, a pioneer of the "Dark and bloody ground." He was a colonel in the War of 1812.
The maiden name of the mother of U. B. Hunt was Rachel Howell. She came of a sturdy, honored and honest family, was a member of the M. E. church and foremost in all good works, being especially devoted to helping the poor and needy and caring for the sick. She was lovingly devoted to the interests of her husband and children. She died in February, 1884.
The Hunt family has done much to make Randolph the wealthy and progressive county it is today. Union B. Hunt was born in Nettle township, Randolph county, Indiana, September 2, 1864. His early education was acquired in common school. His studious habits and cheerful disposition never failed to make him a favorite with his teacher and schoolmates. Though Mr. Hunt is yet a young man, the old-fashioned spelling school was yet a fixture of the district school in his schoolboy days, and in "choosing up," the captain that got first choice invariably chose Union B. Hunt, and seldom failed to stand against all comers. Though Mr. Hunt attended at intervals higher institutions of learning, and made good use of his time, he is not a college graduate. He early acquired a taste for history, both ancient and modern, is quite thorough, and he has an excellent acquaintance with the writers in ancient and modern literature. In conversation he is polished and pleasing.
Being compelled to make his own way in the world, the most of Mr. Hunt's training was received in the hard school of necessity. He went with his parents to Illinois in 1868 and returned to Randolph county in 1876 and settled on the farm, and for a number of years he farmed in summer and attended school in winter. He worked in a tile factory, taught school a short time and worked in a general store, all the time preparing himself for his chosen profession, the law. He was for some time a student in the law office of Watson & Watson.
In religious connections he is a Methodist. For some time he was superintendent of a Methodist Sunday school and president of the Sunday School union of his township. He was a favorite speaker at Sunday school picnics and celebrations, and his services were often in demand.
He was a leader of the old debating society, and always ready for the conflict. As a local debater in the debating societies, while quite a young man, he made much of a reputation.
October 9, 1891, Mr. Hunt was married to Miss Mary Myrtle Hinshaw, an estimable young lady of Randolph county, with who he is still living happily. Their marriage has been blessed with but one child, a bright little girl, named Ethel. Mr. Hunt is passionately fond of his family and devotes all the time he can spare from his professional and official life, with them.
In 1888 he was appointed a special expert in the census bureau and discharged the duties well. In 1889 he formed a law partnership with John R. Wright, since deceased. His physician advising him, on account of a tendency toward heart trouble, to seek more outdoor exercise, he bought a half interest in the Winchester Herald, of which he became editor, though retaining his law partnership. He was a forcible and vigorous writer, well posted on public questions. Regaining health, he sold the newspaper and became a law partner with Clarkson L. Hutchens and Thomas W. Hutchens, and later became deputy prosecutor under the former. He is a strong advocate, eloquent, logical, and quick at repartee. On the stump he is also effective. He is first speech for the Republican party was made when was seventeen. Ever a staunch believer in the principles of the Republican party he never allows politics to enter into his personal friendships. He has never indulged in abuse on the stump. As a political story teller he has few equals. A "good mixer," he is well liked socially, and is held in high regard by his neighbors. He has been a member of the city council of Winchester.
His devotion to the knights of Pythias order is well known. Becoming a member of the order at Lynn, Ind., September, 1887, he was largely instrumental in the organization of Modoc lodge, No. 229, of which he became the first presiding officer. Entering the Grand lodge of Indiana in 1891, his efforts in behalf of James E. Watson were largely instrumental in electing Mr. Watson grand prelate. An effort was made to increase the minimum initiation fee the first year after he entered the Grand lodge. Many of the weaker lodges felt that this would ruin them. In the face of seeming defeat, Mr. Hunt moved to strike out the sum newly proposed by the committee, and, through an eloquent argument for the weaker lodges against great odds, he won his point. He has attended every convention of the Grand lodge since becoming a member, and has done much in many ways to advance the order. Appointed grand instructor by Grand Chancellor Neal, he attended all district meetings in 1895, was elected grand vice-chancellor in '96 and grand chancellor in '97. His term in the last named office, ending in October, 1898, was the longest term of any grand chancellor.
During the Pythian conclave of '98, his address to the Supreme lodge was pronounced by visiting Supreme representatives the best they had ever listened to from a grand chancellor.
August 4, 1898, he was nominated on the first ballot by the Republican state convention for secretary of state, over two very estimable gentleman, Chas. F. Coffin of Indianapolis, and John C. Chaney of Sullivan. His Democratic opponent was Samuel M. Ralston, of Lebanon, a gentleman of high character, and an able lawyer. Though the campaign opened September 15, owing to severe illness, Mr. Hunt did not enter the campaign until October, but after he did begin, he spoke every day, and many times twice a day till the election, Tuesday, November 8, and did much toward securing the victory which was won for the Republican ticket.
Men of Progress in Indiana: A Selected List of Biographical Sketches and Portraits,1899, pages 360-2.
Transcribed by Andrea Long