Leigh S. J. Hunt
Encyclopedia
Leigh S. J. Hunt was an American businessman. He is best known as the third president of Iowa State University
(1885-1886), and as publisher of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
from 1886 to 1893. The community of Hunts Point, Washington
bears his name.
, in August 1855. His parents, Franklin and Martha (Long) Hunt, were natives of the same State. Hunt earned an undergraduate degree from Middlebury College
via correspondence course and studied law on his own before passing the Indiana bar exam.
, and engaged in teaching school, subsequently becoming Principal. There he established his reputation as an educator, and some time later he was engaged as Superintendent of the Schools at Mount Pleasant, Iowa
(1880) and Des Moines, Iowa
(1882) and still later as President of the State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa (now the Iowa State University
).
In 1886 he went to Seattle and purchased the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
, which he owned and published until 1893. His later career included real estate development, operating a gold mine in Korea, growing cotton in Sudan (1904-1910), and mining and land development in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
(1885-1886), and as publisher of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
from 1886 to 1893. The community of Hunts Point, Washington
Hunts Point, Washington
Hunts Point is a town located in the Eastside, a region of King County, Washington, United States, and part of the Seattle metropolitan area. The town is located on a small peninsula surrounded by Lake Washington, and is near the suburbs of Medina , Clyde Hill , Yarrow Point , and Kirkland , as...
bears his name.
Early life and education
Leigh Smith James Hunt was born on a farm near Columbia City, IndianaColumbia City, Indiana
Columbia City is a city in Columbia Township, Whitley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 8,750 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Whitley County.-Geography:Columbia City is located at...
, in August 1855. His parents, Franklin and Martha (Long) Hunt, were natives of the same State. Hunt earned an undergraduate degree from Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
via correspondence course and studied law on his own before passing the Indiana bar exam.
Career
After completing his education in 1879 he went to Cedar Falls, IowaCedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States, and it is home to one of Iowa's three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa. The population was 39,260 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 36,145 population in the 2000 census...
, and engaged in teaching school, subsequently becoming Principal. There he established his reputation as an educator, and some time later he was engaged as Superintendent of the Schools at Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Iowa, in the United States. The population was 8,668 in the 2010 census, a decline from 8,751 in the 2000 census. It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders.- History :...
(1880) and Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
(1882) and still later as President of the State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa (now the Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
).
In 1886 he went to Seattle and purchased the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
, which he owned and published until 1893. His later career included real estate development, operating a gold mine in Korea, growing cotton in Sudan (1904-1910), and mining and land development in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Marriage and children
Hunt and his wife Jessie Noble Hunt (c. 1862-1960) were married in 1885 and had two children:- Henry Leigh Hunt (1886-1972)
- Helen Hunt Rives (1893-1996)