Muhlenberg County Kentucky

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Local History: H

Daniel Hunt homeplace symbolizes trailblazer spirit

Memories…we keep them in our hearts, we build monuments, we have family reunions, we hang pictures on the wall, attics, trunks, we hold annual celebrations…we do many things to keep memories alive.

God tells us to remember the past to insure spiritual prosperity in the future.

Deuteronomy 8:2 states, “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way….” Deuteronomy 32:7-8 tells us “Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders and they will explain to you….” Proverbs 22:28 “Remove not the ancient landmark….” Scriptures show us that the landmarks of our lives are not just sentimental, the can be used to influence us today.

In Huntsville the other day I stopped to take in a special point of interest, the old Daniel Hunt homeplace. From this home came many indelible monuments on our hearts and minds. Standing on this property one views a captivating scene of the Huntsville Methodist Church, the church cemetery, the typical country store of Neely's. We could see stability had been the key.

About 1805 John Hunt, a Revolutionary War soldier, and his wife Charity (Hunt) Hunt arrived in the happy HUNT-ing ground. They and their seven sons and three daughters came by wagon train through the Cumberland Gap from the Yadkin River territory of Rowan County (now Davidson), North Carolina. Memorials to these two trail blazers are placed over their graves at Old Hebron Cemetery not far from Huntsville, the town bearing their name. Their children were Gershom, Daniel, Owen, Jonathan, John Jr., Samuel, Elijah, Charity, Joan and Margaret (Peggy).

Daniel Hunt, son of John and Charity, married Elizabeth (Betsy) Coates May 10, 1798 in North Carolina before moving to Muhlenberg County. Daniel and Elizabeth were the parents of Amey, John, Susannah, Lucy, Jane, Gershom, Henry, Nancy and Selah M. Hunt. Daniel was born Feb. 25, 1776, died July 19, 1849. Elizabeth Coates, his wife, was born Feb. 25, 1776, and died Sept. 25, 1845.

Daniel and Elizabeth's son John Hunt married Ann Jenkins Nov. 20, 1821. The wedding was recorded in Muhlenberg and Butler counties. John and Ann settled on the Butler County side of Mud River. They were the parents of Mariah, Alexander, William, Elias, Daniel, Granville, Sarah Ann (Sallie), Celia Jane, Mary (Molly), Joel Greenberry (Joe), Elizabeth Wayne, Samuel, and Zachariah, who died at age 11.

John and Ann Jenkins Hunt's son Daniel Hunt was born in Butler County, Sept. 13, 1832. He died Feb. 10, 1906 and was buried in the Methodist Cemetery at Huntsville. On Aug. 16, 1857, he married Sarah Catherine Watkins, who was born Jan. 9, 1839 and died July 7, 1925. This marriage was performed at Quality Valley (Forgy Town) by Samuel Turner of the Methodist Church and was witnessed by Douglass Grubb, Granville Hunt, William Evans, and Samuel Hunt. Daniel and Sarah Catherine settled in the part of the Hunt Settlement known as Gum Grove.

On the Rochester Road adjacent to his farm, Daniel Hunt opened the first general merchandise store in the community. In later years he sold it to George Ward. Gum Grove then had become Huntsville, an honor bestowed upon Daniel Hunt, son of John and Ann Jenkins Hunt, and grandson of John and Charity Hunt. Today in Huntsville, his two story home is a landmark with its spacious rooms and old fashioned sand stone chimneys. For some 30 years or more Roy and Effie Baldwin Vaughn loved and cared for this home. Effie is the granddaughter of Daniel Hunt's brother Joel Greenberry Hunt. Joel's first wife was Sarah E. Mefford and his second wife was the widow Naomi Clark Ewing Lee.

At the age of 19, Daniel Hunt constructed a flatboat on Mud River on which he shipped a load of staves to New Orleans. He continued in this successful venture for several years. For a three year span of time he worked in a tobacco warehouse for Tanner and Campbell. During this time he purchased 196 acres of land where the Hunt home now stands. Later he owned a total of 600 acres in Butler County and 160 acres in Kansas. Daniel Hunt, a Democrat, was elected constable in 1857. He served in the capacity for 12 years and as magistrate for four years. In 1852 he bought and gathered from among the hills of Butler County 250 head of wild sheep, which, with one assistant, he drove a distance of 150 miles through unbroken forests, to a market in Louisville. The three-day return trip was made on foot… no WK Parkway available!

Daniel was a life-long member of the Methodist Church. He was a master mason, a member of Rochester Lodge No. 270. He was considered a progressive citizen, one of the “solid” men of Kentucky, a leader in all public enterprises and was a strong patron of schools and churches in this area.

Daniel and Sarah Catherine Hunt gave land and built the Methodist Church which is still being used for worship today (1984). He also gave land back of the church for a cemetery in which he, his wife, some children and grandchildren are buried. He is believed to be the first settler, having built a house there in Gum Grove as a bachelor. Later he took his beautiful bride to Huntsville and remained for their life time with the exception of 18 months when “Kate” lived with their daughter Bertha and Robert Ward in Florida.

Children of Daniel and Sarah Catherine “Katie” Watkins Hunt:

Daniel Hunt of Huntsville… trail blazer who supported a magnificent dream of rearing a loving family, turning the good earth, planting seeds and with gratitude accepting the harvests, always aware that the privilege of the pursuit of happiness in the Lord was dearly bought for us through courageous Christian forefathers who loved their God, Home and Country with a loyal allegiance to our nation's Flag of Freedom.

Source: Bennett, Edith. “Daniel Hunt homeplace symbolizes trailblazer spirit.” Butler County Banner [Morgantown, KY], 13 Mar 1984, p. B6.

Updated July 14, 2022