Augustus P. Hunton

From "The Illustrated Historical Souvenir of Bethel, Vermont," 1895

Augustus P. Hunton (February 23, 1816 – June 20, 1911) was a Vermont lawyer and politician. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives including three years as Speaker.

Early life

Augustus Pingry Hunton was born in Groton, New Hampshire on February 23, 1816.^[1] He was raised in Hyde Park and Johnson, Vermont, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1837.^[2][3]

Hunton practiced in Stockbridge, Bethel and Chelsea before settling permanently in Bethel in 1848. Hunton usually practiced in conjunction with one other attorney, and one of his early partners was Governor Julius Converse. In addition, Hunton was a relative of Samuel Pingree and Samuel's brother Stephen M. Pingree, both of whom studied law with Hunton before forming the Hartford firm of Pingree and Pingree.^[4]

Political career

Originally a Whig, he became a Republican when the party was organized in the mid-1850s. Hunton represented Bethel in the Vermont House of Representatives In 1849, 1854, and 1859 to 1862. From 1860 to 1862 Hunton served as Speaker.^[5][6][7]

From 1856 to 1857 Hunton represented Windsor County in the Vermont Senate.^[8][9]

During the Civil War Hunton was superintendent of recruiting for Windsor County.^[10] In 1864 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.^[11] After the war Hunton was a U.S. Pension Notary, responsible for verifying the documents presented by claimants before they were delivered to Vermont's U.S. Pension Agents.^[12]

Other activities

Hunton was a trustee of Norwich University from 1862 to 1867.^[13] He was the recipient of honorary master's degrees from the University of Vermont in 1847 and Dartmouth College in 1859.^[14]

Death and burial

Hunton died in Bethel on June 20, 1911.^[15] He was buried in Bethel's Cherry Hill Cemetery, of which he was an original incorporator.^[16][17]

Notes

1. New Hampshire, Births and Christenings Index, 1714-1904, entry for Augustus P. Hunton, accessed January 29, 2012
2. Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography, edited by Prentiss Cutler Dodge, 1912, page 232
3. Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889, edited by William Adams, 1889, page 92
4. Biographical sketch of Augustus P. Hunton, by Samuel Pingree, published in Annual Meeting Reports, Vermont Bar Association, Volume 10 Number 1 (1917), pages 72 to 76
5. Journal of the Vermont House of Representatives, published by Vermont General Assembly, 1849, page 4
6. Early History of Vermont, by LaFayette Wilbur, Volume 3, 1902, page 382
7. Newspaper article, The Vermont Election, New York Times, September 4, 1862
8. Journal of the Senate of the State of Vermont, published by Vermont General Assembly, 1857, page 4
9. History of Windsor County, Vermont, edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich and Frank R. Holmes, 1891, page 98
10. Annuel Report, by Vermont Adjutant General, 1864, page 149
11. Proceedings of the First Three Republican National Conventions of 1856, 1860 and 1864, compiled and published by Harrison & Smith, Minneapolis, 1893, page 248
12. Vermont Year Book, Formerly Walton's Register, published by E. P. Walton, Montpelier, 1875, page 50
13. Norwich University, 1819-1911; Her History, Her Graduates, Her Roll of Honor, edited by William Arba Ellis, Volume 3, 1911, pages 28 to 29.
14. General Catalogue of Dartmouth College, published by the college, 1880, page 139
15. Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, record for Augustus P. Hunton, accessed January 29, 2012
16. Acts and Laws Passed by the Legislature of the State of Vermont, published by Vermont General Assembly, 1902, page 421
17. Bethel Vermont Cemetery Records, 1792 - 1919, prepared and maintained by Bethel Town Clerk, 1952, page 45