Author unknown

England, a monarchy, is a beautiful country of rolling green hills, rivers and lakes. Except for a few large cities, it is a country of small villages, each crowned by the village church steeple. This is the land where the Hunt family and its progenitors lived for generations. James Hunt was born 20 May 1850 in Derby, Derbyshire, England, to John Hunt and Elizabeth Milnes (Mills) and was christened in St. Peter’s Parish. His parents were members of the Church of England, and raised their children according to that faith. Nothing is known of his childhood. Clara was born 30 May 1849 to Isaac Harrison and Hannah Dore’ in Belper, Derbyshire. She was a small person with dainty features, light hair, and blue or grey eyes. Her early life is recorded in her parent’s story. James, who was living at Liverage Street in Derby as a young man, was a good elastic weaver having served a full apprenticeship when he was younger. Clara worked in a silk mill and also helped her parents in their newspaper shop. Both James and Clara had been taught to be thrifty and industrious.

James and Clara Marry

James was married to Clara Harrison 4 October 1868 in the Beckett Street Chapel in Derby, by Minister William Griffith. Between the years 1868 and 1878, James and Clara had five children born to them. John Robert, 24 November 1868; Clara, 1 May 1870; James, 13 September 1872; William, 20 March 1876; George Albert, 12 May 1878.  John Robert (Bob) and James (Jim), the two oldest boys in the family, went to school in Derby. They quit school after a few years as their father was not well, and the boys went to work to help support the family. Both Bob and Jim delivered newspapers around the countryside in Derbyshire and had to cross the many canals in that area. On 31 March 1883, James, who was then living at 46 Bridge Street in Derby, sent to John Henry Smith for an application to seek passage for himself, wife and family to the United States as converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were to convoy on the 11th of April. The family names and ages were sent along with the money which was borrowed from a Mr. Pringle and David Eccles, and the family prepared to emigrate. James’s baptism date was 1 May 1892, and Clara’s was 15 July 1883. perhaps further research will show that these are rebaptism dates, as it seems unlikely that they would seek passage as converts to the Church if they were not members.

Hunt Family Leaves for America

The family left for Liverpool, England, boarded the steamship “Nevada”, and sailed for America on 11 April 1883... When the family arrived in New York City, James was offered a good position there as skilled weavers were scarce.  He and Clara discussed this offer, but decided to journey on to Utah so they could raise their family in an L.D.S. environment.  Clara’s parents and sisters were already settled in Plain City, and she preferred to live near them.  The emigrants boarded a train and continued on their journey to Utah.  After arriving in Plain City, they built their small home at 2650 North 4200 West near Clara’s parents who had welcomed them with open arms.  Clara kept the house neat and tidy.  She kept the old fashioned black stove shining like a looking glass.  There was a kitchen, front room and bedroom.  A cellar was built west of the house, and a patch of raspberries grew near by.  Along the path north of the house were a few grape vines. Honeysuckle and snowball trees grew around the house, and the surroundings were well kept.  On 27 November 1883 a son, Joseph, was born in Plain City, followed by Fredrick on 18 September 1887.  A daughter, born about 1889, died at birth.  Elizabeth was born 16 February 1890.  Clara married Joseph Singleton on 20 October 1888.  Bob, Jim and William hauled salt from Great Salt Lake to the refinery.  On 20 July 1894 Bob married Emma Dix in Ogden, and shortly after, they with Jim, went to Baker, Oregon, to work in a sawmill.  William continued working with the salt to help support the family.  James received his certificate as a citizen of the United States of America in September 1895. This was a proud day in his life, and he and Clara did not regret their decision to leave their homeland so they could live among the Saints in Zion.  Jim came back to Plain City to marry Christiana Folkman in the Salt Lake Temple 15 December 1897.  They made their home in Baker.

Appendicitis Operation

About 1898, Clara had an attack of appendicitis, and at that time, operations were crudely done.  Dr. Driver was called from Ogden to see her.  He performed the surgery on the kitchen table.  There was some doubt that Clara would survive the operation but she did, although she was never very well after that.  Clara stayed in bed much of the time and kept her purse at her bedside so she could handle all money transactions for food and bills.  She had her own tea cup of dainty English china, which no one else could use.  Clara died on 20 January 1903. The funeral notice in the paper read: “Funeral services will be held over the remains of Mrs. James Hunt this afternoon in the ward meeting house.  Mrs. Hunt died at 12 o’clock on the evening of the 20th, after a long period of ill health.  Five years ago she underwent an operation for the cure of appendicitis, and the operation was not the success it might have been.  The opening never healed up, and she has hardly seen a well day since.  The end came with great pain.”

Elizabeth, or Lizzie as she was called, was only 13 at the time, but she took care of the house work and did the cooking for her father and the boys, George, Joseph and Frederick, who were still at home... James, Sr. passed away 1 November 1910. Both Clara and James were buried in the Plain City Cemetery.