Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/71



KEPEESENTATIVE MEN OF OREGON. 31

and carried ou an extensive business in the manufacture of wayons and carriages in the town of Liberty, and during iiia youth young John divided iais time between the district school and his father's estabhshmeut, obtain- ing a fair amount of schooling and a practical knowleilge of his trade. In 1847 he removed to Oregon and settled in Marion county, ten miles east of Salem. In that early day, when the country was comparatively unin- habited, and when the pioneer had to endure untold privations, young Hunt displayed an undaunted front and tenacity of purpose. Like thousands of others, he was attracted by the glitter of the California gold mines, and he went thither and spent some time in the northern portion of that State mining for the precious metal. His health becoming impaired, he was finally compelled to leave the mines, when he went to Washington Terri- tory, and located a very desirable farm, but not being able to com|)ly with the provisions of the pre-emption law, he gave up the farm and went to Portland, where he remained two years, and during which time he cast his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln. Some of his friends, who were possessed of more imaginary fear for the country than they were interested in the triumph of principle, inquired of Mr. Hunt why he voted for a Republican, which would certainly precipitate a war. He answered, " If that is the de- mand of the slave power — universal slavery or the dissolution of this union — here is one for Abraham Lincoln and universal freedom." And his answer was that of the true patriot. His early impression of government was, tJiat in a republic subjects could not be half bond, half free; and that its perma- nency and perpetuation depended upon the wisdom and virtue of its sub- jects; consequently his vote and political ambition has been to leave our church. State and government in better condition than that in which he found them. The climate of Salem not appearing to suit Mr. Hunt's con- stitution, he removed to Southern Oregon, where, up to the time of his election, he has been operating a farm and grist mill. He was married in Autmst, 1860, to Miss Ellen Amen.

HON. WM. P. CURTIS,

One of the Representatives from Baker county, is an exceedingly good- natured and pleasant little gentleman of sixty summers. He is hale and hearty, with a well-proportioned figure, an elastic step, and a peculiarly bright eye, and so far as general appearance is concerned, looks much younger than his years. His has been a varied experience, and in the course of his eventful life he has had his share of its joys and sorrows. Born in Owen county, old Kentiicky, in the year 1822, in the days when the village master taught his little school in a log cabin, young William had an oppor- tunity of daily interviewing the grim instructor of the youthful mind until the advanced age of ten years. He was then apprenticed to a hatter, and with that dignitary remained until he was master of the business. He worked for some time at his trade, and went into the general merchandise business in Monterey, in the same county. Hearing of the great gold dis- coveries in California, he settled up his business affairs and set out for the