(From HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1883, Page 792)

William J. Hunt, farmer and blacksmith, was born in New Jersey, May 5, 1826. When quite young he went with his par­ents to Orange Co., N. Y., living there until 1847, then went to Wisconsin. In 1861 he came to Worth Co., Iowa, set­tling in Northwood, where he lived eighteen months, building the first blacksmith shop in the town, in the fall of 1861. He shingled the roof in December of that year, it being so warm that he worked in his shirt-sleeves. In company with his brother, Dr. T. J. Hunt, he purchased a farm in Hartland township, near the State line, where William J. farmed for seven or eight years. He then moved to Northwood, where he lived one year, then went to Manly, Lincoln township, in 1876, purchased eighty acres of land, and has made that his home since. He is engaged in farming and blacksmithing. He has held the offices of road supervisor, school director and constable. He was married June 25, 1853, to Harriet A. Parker, born Jan. 1, 1835, in Orange Co., N. Y. They have had twelve children, seven of whom are living-Elias D., born Feb. 22, 1855; Martha J., born Dec. 11, 1858; Charles H., born July 22, 1864; Ira W., born Sept. 14, 1866; Cora R., born Aug. 12, 1868; Raymond E., born Oct. 23,1870; Wesley E., born Feb. 1, 1875. Joseph Hunt, father of William J., was born in New York State, and died in 1863. His mother, also born New York, died in 1838. They had thirteen children, Wil­liam J., being the eleventh. Mrs. Hunt's parents were also born in New York. Her father died in 1881 from the effects of a kick from a horse. Her mother died in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Parker had fifteen children, Mrs. Hunt being the sev­enth.

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, March 11, 2006