Charles A. Hunt (Wisconsin politician) facts for kids

Charles A. Hunt (born April 17, 1829 – died August 24, 1899) was an American miller and a Republican politician. He was also an early settler in Wisconsin. Hunt helped establish the towns of Clinton and Melvina, Wisconsin. He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly for Monroe County in 1868 and 1870. During the American Civil War, he was an officer in the Union Army. He also played a role in the efforts to relocate the Winnebago people from Wisconsin in the 1870s.

Early Life and Moving to Wisconsin

Charles A. Hunt was born on April 17, 1829, in Gerry, New York. He grew up and went to school there. In 1845, when he was about 16, he moved west to the Wisconsin Territory.

He first settled in Grant County and worked in a mill. When he heard about the California Gold Rush, he traveled west to find gold. A year later, he returned to Grant County and continued working at the mill until 1855.

Settling in Vernon County

In 1855, Hunt moved north to Vernon County, Wisconsin. This area was then called "Bad Ax" County. He settled in what would become Bloomingdale. He was the first blacksmith in this new settlement.

Later that year, he bought half of a mill that was still being built. He partnered with Evan Oleson. Hunt finished building the mill in 1856, making it the first working mill in the area.

In 1857, this part of the county became a new town called "Masterson," which was later renamed Clinton. The first town meeting was held at Hunt and Oleson's mill. Hunt was chosen as the first chairman of the town board.

Hunt, Oleson, and J. E. Palmer also helped plan the settlement of Bloomingdale. They set up a post office there. Hunt became the second postmaster for Bloomingdale. He served in this role until he joined the army. He was also elected to the Bad Ax County board of supervisors for several years, from 1857 to 1861. He served as chairman of the board in 1860 and 1861.

Serving in the Civil War

When the American Civil War began, Charles Hunt was chosen to be on a county committee in Vernon County. His job was to help sign up volunteers for the Union Army. He did this for a year.

Then, he decided to join the army himself. In 1862, he became a first lieutenant in Company K of the 25th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.

Military Campaigns

The 25th Wisconsin Infantry officially joined the federal army in September 1862. Instead of going south to fight in the Civil War right away, they were sent west to Minnesota. Their mission was to help with the Sioux uprising.

The regiment was divided and sent to different towns in southern Minnesota to keep people safe. Hunt and his company were sent to Winnebago, Minnesota. They stayed in Minnesota through the fall and returned to Wisconsin in December.

In February 1863, Hunt's regiment was sent south to Kentucky. They joined the western part of the Civil War. They took part in important battles like the Vicksburg Campaign. They also marched with General Sherman's armies through Georgia and the Carolinas.

For most of 1864, Hunt was in charge of supplies for his regiment. In the fall of 1864, he was promoted to captain of his company. He stayed in this role until the war ended.

Life After the War

After the war, Hunt sold his properties in Vernon County. He moved north to Monroe County, Wisconsin. There, he bought 300 acres of land in the town of Jefferson.

He built a mill on his land. Other families joined him, forming a new settlement. He named this place "Melvina" to honor his first wife, who had recently passed away. Melvina was on the mail route between Sparta and Viroqua. Hunt served as the postmaster for Melvina from its beginning until he died in 1899.

Hunt was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly two times. He represented all of Monroe County in the 1868 and 1870 legislative sessions.

Efforts to Relocate the Winnebago People

In the 1830s, the Winnebago people of Wisconsin had signed treaties to give up their land. However, many Winnebago communities chose to stay in Wisconsin. Several attempts were made to move them in the 1840s, but they did not all leave.

In the 1870s, Wisconsin's governor, Cadwallader C. Washburn, and U.S. senator, Timothy O. Howe, asked the government to try again. Congress and the United States Department of the Interior decided to make another effort to relocate the remaining Winnebago people from Wisconsin.

Jeremiah McLain Rusk, who had been Hunt's commanding officer during the war, suggested Hunt for a special role. Hunt was appointed to organize the relocation of the Winnebago.

Hunt worked to convince some Winnebago people to move to the designated reservation. He used discussions and payments to encourage them. However, many Winnebago people did not want to leave. They used talks and legal actions to slow down the process.

By the end of 1873, Governor Washburn decided to use federal troops to help with the relocation. In December, Hunt led a group of soldiers from the 20th U.S. Infantry Regiment. They went to a gathering of Winnebago people near Portage, Wisconsin. The people were taken and moved. Over the winter and spring, soldiers helped find and move others in western Wisconsin.

Hunt continued this operation until the government funds ran out in the summer of 1874. However, many Winnebago people began to return to Wisconsin almost immediately after the operation ended.

Later Years and Family Life

After his work with the Winnebago relocation, Charles Hunt mostly retired. He stayed involved with groups for war veterans, like the Grand Army of the Republic. He became ill and his health slowly declined. He passed away in August 1899, after being sick for two years.

Charles Hunt was married three times. His first wife was Amanda Melvina Ray. The town of Melvina, Wisconsin, was named in her honor after she died in 1866. Charles and Amanda had six children together. Sadly, two of their children died when they were very young, and two others died early in their adult lives.

Electoral History

Wisconsin Assembly (1869)