PagePedia™
History
Segments Presented by Lyle Harvey
DURAN AND CLARA HUNT
(Read at the Page Methodist Church on Feb. 24, 2008)
Duran
and Clara Hunt came from Bennett, Nebraska in 1882 with a brother-in-law
Thomas McMillan. Duran filed on his claim 1 ½ miles south of
the present site of Page on the east side of the road. Thomas McMillan
filed on a claim across the road to the west where Mrs. Ervin Mosel
now lives.
Their
families came in the spring of 1883 and all four of Duran and Clara’s
daughter’s became ill. One daughter died on May 21st, another
on May 24 and another on June 3rd. These three girls were buried at
Creighton, Nebraska. The fourth daughter survived and many of you may
remember her as Dora Townsend.
Duran
was the first Justice of the Peace for 18 consecutive years. He served
on the first School Board with Ransom Hunter and Sam Hadley. He was
also the first Superintendent of the Old Sodie School House taking turns
with Bob Gray, Mrs. Page and others.
The
Hunt’s had the first pump organ in the community that they hauled
in a wagon or sled to different meeting places or dances. Music and
Religion played an important part in the early pioneer life.
Clara
Hunt also took her place in the pioneer settlement nursing; Nellie Harper
who had lost her mother, preparing Dora and Matie Wood for burial when
these two girls drowned in the Elkhorn River in 1892 and nursing countless
other ill settlers in the area. She is credited with the deliveries
of many new-born babies as she was the local mid-wife for the community.
She also played the organ and sang for the first Sunday school.
It
is well for us to remember the contributions of Duran and Clara Hunt
to our early settlers.
Lyle Harvey
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