obituary of Elston Hunt


"Died- At his home in North Bloomfield, January 17, 1913, Elston Hunt, aged seventy-nine years.

Deceased was born in Pittsford, April 20, 1833, and was the eldest of a family of eleven children born to Mansfield and Electa Holmes Hunt, eight of whom attained adult age. One year later he came with his parents to North Bloomfield, and has always resided there and in that vicinity save for a period of eleven years spent in California.

His education was obtained in the common schools, yet diligent as a student he prepared himself for a successful teacher and at the age of 18 years he taught a school at Caledonia, and one year later he taught a school at Victor.

In 1854 he went to California during the gold excitement. Eleven years later he returned and in 1866 engaged with two brothers in the manufacture of woolen goods at North Bloomfield and later in Honeoye Falls. In 1895 he retired from the woolen business and engaged in the successful management of the Honeoye Falls Creamery were his unconscious body was found midday on January 15, resting on his desk with his open account book before him.

In 1866 he married Sarah, only daughter of Rufus Richardson, who bore him two daughters, Lillian and Isabell.

He leaves, besides the daughters, four brothers, William, Sidney, Arthur and Barrett. His daughter Lillian Shepard, gave him eight grandchildren, of whom he was justly proud.

Politically he was a strong defender of the principles of the Republican party and cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, during the civil war period when he was an officer in the Home Guards of Sacramento, California, whose active service saved the city and the county, to the Union cause.

He was a firm believer inn the universal salvation of God, a zealous member of his church from early manhood, and will be missed in its councils. As a citizen many friends will testify to his integrity. A man of few words, but valuable in council, his place will not be easily filled.

Mr. Hunt was a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years, having taken the Blue Lodge and Chapter degrees in California in 1861, and affiliated with Honeoye Falls Lodge in 1867.

His funeral was held by the fraternity from his home church, Tuesday, January 21st, Rev. Mr. Donald Flower officiating.

Rev. Mr. C. J. Nichols, of Lockport, his former pastor, expressed his pleasure to speak some words in connection with the life of his former associate, and ocncluded by reading the following lines:

GOOD BYE

O, blessed life of service and of love,
Full of such duties as God's Angels know!
His servants serve him day and night above;
Thou servdst day and night, we thought below.

O faithful hear, that recked not care or pain,
When duty called, or where love did lead,
Thou gavest freely, asking not again
The word of comfort or the costly deed.

O, gentle handes, so busy evermore,
With ehaling touch or helpful tenderness!
'Twas yours to lift the burdens others bore;
Your sole reward the joy of usefulness.

Oh, lifeless feet still walking til the last,
Your patient round as noiseless as the sun
Your toilsome jorney is over-past,
Your years of pilgrimage at length are done.

We know not how to say the word goodbye;
We know not how to leave thee at the gate
That opens for thee toward that City high,
Where other hands with loving welcome wait.

We long shall miss thee as we our ways,
The home will miss thee from its broken band.
Full many a tear will tell thy sober praise,
And all good works will miss thy helping hand.

And yet, Good-bye, good-bye thou faithful soul,
From toll and trouble thou has earned release;
Thy weary feet are resting at the goal,
The pain of living ended in God's peace."


Source:  "The Honeoye Falls Times," Thursday, 23 Jan 1913, on microfilm, found at Mendon Town Library, Monroe Co, New York, obituary of Elston HUNT, pg 1.