My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH S. HUNT, M. D., engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Easton, is a native of Sussex County, N. J. His father was born in New Jersey, while his grandfather was a native of Scotland, and located in the above state after his emigration to this country. He was a farmer by occupation, and in religious matters was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church.

John Hunt, the father of our subject, was engaged during his life in farm pursuits near Gratitude, of which place he was Postmaster for thirty years. He married Miss Catherine Slater, a native of New Jersey, and the daughter of Joseph Slater, whose birth also occurred in that state. To Mr. and Mrs. Slater were born six sons and one daughter, whom they reared to mature years and gave the advantages of as good an education as could be acquired in that day. The parents of our subject died at the respective ages of eighty-six and seventy-six years.

The parents’ household included three sons and three daughters, of whom our subject was the youngest son. He remained upon the home place until sixteen years of age, when he went to Mt. Retirement Seminary, where he was a student for two years, after which he entered Claverack Institute, on the Hudson River, taking a course of two years. Young Hunt then engaged in teaching school in New Jersey until 1858, when he went to Virginia and accepted the position of Principal of Pine Grove Academy. Two years later we find him located in North Carolina, as teacher and Assistant Principal in the Kernersville Academy, which contained one hundred and twenty students at the outbreak of the late war. In June, 1861, the school being deserted, Mr. Hunt started home, via Georgia Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana.

On reaching New Jersey, our subject again engaged a school, on the line between Sussex and Warren Counties, after which he went to Vernon, where he taught, and later in Fredon. While in Virginia he began his medical studies, and in 1864 entered Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, and one year later became a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, from which institution he was graduated in 1866. He at once located for practice in Brick House, N. J., opposite Milford, Pa., and a year later removed to Hainesburg, Warren County, N. J., where he remained for three years. In 1869 he came to Easton, and purchasing a drug store on the corner of Fourth and Northampton Streets, carried on a profitable business until 1873.

In the above year Dr. Hunt engaged in the iron business with his father-in-law, Peter Uhler, at the Lucy Furnace and Mines in New Jersey, where he made his home for the following three years, when he opened an office for the practice of medicine, to which calling he has given his undivided attention ever since in Easton. He has a finely equipped office, and is regarded by the profession as one of the most prominent physicians in the county. Dr. Hunt, besides his general practice, is one of the consulting physicians of the Easton Hospital. The Doctor was physician to the prison for four years, or until 1885, when he resigned in order to take a trip to Europe. His destination was Vienna, in which city he attended the general hospital, and carried on his studies for a year. The following three months were spent in traveling in Europe, after which he returned to Easton, where he made his permanent home. He has been President of the Board of Health of this city, and is connected with the Northampton County Medical Association, of which he has been President. He is likewise a member of the State Medical and the Lehigh Valley Medical Societies, in all of which bodies he takes a prominent part. Socially he belongs to the Masonic order and to Hugh de Payen’s Commandery, K. T, and Lulu Temple of Philadelphia. He attends the Presbyterian Church, and in politics never fails to cast a vote for Democratic candidates.

Dr. Hunt is greatly in favor of all public improvements, and strongly favors setting aside property for the establishment of a park and industrial school in the city. He has also been very active in founding numerous hospitals throughout the county, his qualities of head and heart being duly appreciated by his fellow-citizens, who accord him his just measure of respect.

The marriage of Dr. Hunt with Miss Annie, daughter of Peter Uhler, was celebrated in 1868. Mr. Uhler is one of the old iron merchants of Pennsylvania, as well as an extensive dealer in lumber.