Obituary of Thomas James de la Hunt, Sr. (1835-1872) of Perry County, Indiana
Posted below is an obituary for Thomas James de la Hunt, Sr. (November 12, 1835 - March 26, 1872), husband of Isabelle (Huckeby) de la Hunt (January 4, 1845 - December 7, 1909) of Perry County, Indiana. They had two children: Charles Mason de la Hunt (February 1869 - July 17, 1869) & Thomas James de la Hunt, Jr. (November 1866 - July 3, 1933).
Thomas's obituary was written by his brother-in-law, Charles Holland Mason (1826-1894).
Obituary from the Cannelton Reporter, March 30, 1872 issue. Obituary courtesy of Tony Collignon.
DEATH OF THOMAS J. DELA HUNT
Thomas James Dela Hunt, editor and proprietor of this paper, is dead. The simple announcement of this intelligence will carry sadness to the hearts of thousands who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. To us, upon whom devolves the painful duty of chronicling this sorrowful event, it seems impossible to realize that he has indeed gone from us forever. Yet so it is. death has laid his chilly hand upon his manly form, and the grave has closed over all of him that was mortal. He died at 4 o'clock last Tuesday morning, at the residence of J. B. Huckeby, Esq., his father-in-law, after an illness of about two months.
Maj. Dela Hunt was born November 15th, 1835, at Rathcool, Tipperary county, Ireland; and with his parents, brothers and sisters, emigrated to america when he was but ten years of age. He was of French descent, the founder of the Irish branch of his family being a member of the staff of General Saint Ruth, who fought under James the second, in Ireland, near the close of the 17th century. Arriving in America, the family resided a few years in Quebec and Toronto, Canada, and then removed to New York, where the subject of this botice was confirmed by Archbishop Hughes, at the age of fifteen years. In 1859, he graduated with honor at Genesee College, New York. His brillant abilities attracted unusual attention during his collegiate course, especially in the high accomplishment of public speaking, for which he was awarded the first prize of the college.
The same year in which he graduated, through the recommendation of the late Geo. D. Prentice, he came to Cannelton, and for awhile was engaged in what was then known as the Franklin Institute. In 1860 he visited several cities in the South for the purpose of introducing into the public schools the publications of Messrs. Morton & Griswold, of Louisville, Ky. The war of the rebellion put an end to this business, and he returned to Cannelton. In 1861 he joined Co. "F" of the 26th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, being the first Company raised in Perry County, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant therein. He was soon made Adjutant of the Regiment, and while serving as such in the army of the frontir, was dangerously wounded at the battle of Prarie Grove, Arkansas on the 7th of December 1862. Here he was crippled for life, losing the use of his right arm, besides being shot through the body, and severely wounded in the thigh. After several months' suffering and confinement at Springfield, Missouri, he so far recovered as to be ordered to duty at Indianapolis as Inspector of Recruits. Subsequently he became Post Commandant at Evansville, where he remained about one year, and until he went upon the staff of Gen. A. P. Hovey. Here he served with fidelity and honor; was at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain, where he was again wounded. Exposure and the effect of his wounds so impaired his health that he was compelled to quit the service. He resigned May 22nd, 1864, and returned to this place, where he continued to reside up to the date of his death.
In 1865, upon the appointment of Gen. Hovey, Minister to Peru, he was offered the appointment of Secretary of Legation, to that mission; but having pledged himself to the Democratic party of this county to become a candidate for County Auditor, he did not feel at liberty to accept the postion tendered to him.
At the October election, 1865, he was elected Auditor of this county, which office he held for the term of four years. In January, 1866, he married Isabelle, youngest daughter of J. B. Huckeby, Esq., of this place. During the same year he was placed by Governor Baker, on the committee to investigate the Indiana Sinking Fund at New York, and served as such.
Shortly after his return from the army he purchased the REPORTER, and continued its publicationup to the present time.
During the war his life was saddened by the death of a brother who fell at the battle of Antietem; and of his father who died at Niagara. Since the war another brother, Capt. John Dela Hunt, who served with distinguished bravery through the entire rebellion, and who belonged to the 17th Army Corps, and accompanied Sherman to the sea, died in Ireland, where he had gone as a General in the Fenian organization, with his cousin, Gen. Thomas Francis Bourke. Another brother, who was also a soldier in the war of the rebellion, now lives in Wisconsin and is the only surviving member of his father's family.
Maj. Dela Hunt leaves a wife and one child, a son of five years old, and an orphan nephew, who for the last few years has been an object of his solicitude.
Thus has passed away in the prime of life and in the midst of his usefulness, a man who possessed more of the characteristics of a true hero, than we seldom meet with. With an intellect that towered to the Godlike, and a heart too large for this world, with a tongue tipped with the eloquence of classic oratory, and yet which spoke no evil of his neighbors; with a courage that could defy death upon the battle field, and a fortitude that could suffer the acute pains of exposure and wounds without complaint; with a patriotism that could offer up a life for his Country, and a charity that embraced the whole human family; with a generosity that impoverished, and a _____ to friends as constant as the needle to the Pole; with an eye that beheld and appreciated the ________ in ______; and a taste cultivated and critical; with wit and fascinating manners; remarkable __________ and agreeable ________ he had scarcely a peer in the land.
His organization was _____ that he thought less of the wounds received in battle than of the _____ ________, pretended friends. Their ingratitude weighed upon his spirit _____ _____, and dragged him to his grave. He was unselfish in the ________ and always striving to _______ the happiness of others. He was affectionate, truthful, honest, and just. The conscienceness of sincere motives was _____ him in every trying hour, and he could "walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil." for his faith taught him that the measure of God's mercy is not only justice but infinite love. So he bowed himself in humility to the will of Omnipotence; and, though desiring to live for the sake of his loved ones, _____ _____ as fearlessly and calmly to his ______ home as a child goes to its ______ slumber. Locked in the ________ death, the impress of Peace rested and shone upon every feature of his face as bright and promising as the gilded twilight of the morning paints the heaven of the East.
The loss of such a man in the vigor of manhood, with such capacity, with such possibilities of achievement before him, with so much that is noble and lovable in his character, is a public calamity, the contemplation of which cannot fail to arouse the deepest emotions of regret.
Brave soldier! steadfast friend! _____ hear! farewell. Upon thy grave the morning sun shall cast his quickening beams, but thou wilt not come forth. The years shall gather _____ thee as they have gathered over the good, and the brave of the generations past, but thy voice will no more be heard , except in the whispers of undying memory. Green grow the grass and fair the flowers blossom upon thy dust ______. We will water them with our tears, till the hastening day shall come when we too shall sink to our ______ and ____ thee in that land "where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest."C. H. M.
More Replies:
-
Re: Obituary of Thomas James de la Hunt, Sr. (1835-1872) of Perry County, Indiana
Jesse Stamper 8/07/09