Mr. Hunt was married in McIndoes, Vermont, June 10, 1876, to Miss Hopie M. Osgood, who is descended from Revolutionary ancestry. To this marriage were born four children, of whom three survive: Mabelle H., the wife of Wilbur A. Toner, an attorney of Walla Walla; Eugene A., who married Jessie M. Babcock, a daughter of W. H. Babcock, of Walla Walla, and is now living in Hong-kong, China, engaged in the exporting and importing business; and Marguerite A., the wife of Gus Meese, Jr., of Spokane, Washington.
Mr. Hunt was a prominent Mason and was devoted to the order, which he recognized as a great force for good. He was master of Walla Walla Lodge, No. 7, F. & A. M., for seven years, was a Knight Templar and was also connected with the Mystic Shrine. In early manhood he belonged to the Congregational church but later was one of the organizers and the first president of the Christian Science church of Walla Walla. He manifested the keenest interest in educational matters and for eight years served on the board of education, during which time the High and Green Park school buildings were erected, and he was also connected in an official capacity with Whitman College, being a member of its board of trustees at the time of his death. He passed away December 15, 1914, and the grief felt by his many friends found expression in words of love and admiration for his splendid qualities. An editorial writer in the Portland Journal said: "Not alone in public service did his great heart beat, but the life of many an individual was made brighter by a helpful word and a charitable hand." A well known educator who had known him for twenty-five years wrote as follows: "I always found his wit, his geniality, his ready sympathy, his practical sagacity, his helpfulness, sources of strength and encouragement. In the great loss which his family, his friends, the community has suffered in his death we may assuredly find solace in the hope that those qualities which we loved in him are enduring."
PHILIP J. PENTECOST.
Philip J. Pentecost is now living retired in Walla Walla but for many years was actively and successfully identified with farming interests. He was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, December 13, 1856, a son of William C. and Jemima (Wilcox) Pentecost, the former a native of Somersetshire, England, while the latter was born near Utica, New York. The father came to the United States when a lad of fourteen years in company with his parents and settled in New York, where he afterward married. Two children were born to him and his wife in the Empire state. Later he removed to Dodge county, Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1875 became a resident of Seattle, Washington. Soon afterward he went to Portland, Oregon, and still later to Albany, where he and his wife spent the summer. In the following fall they came northward to Walla Walla, looking for a suitable location, and soon after reaching this place the father and his son, Philip J., went up to Spokane, leaving the family in Walla Walla. They returned just before Christmas and spent the winter in this city. The following spring, however, they returned to Seattle, where they remained for a few weeks and thence removed to Forest Grove, Oregon. During their roamings they managed through their work to get together a spike team, consisting of three horses, one leading other two, and after spending the summer in Forest Grove they again came to Walla Walla, driving through by team. After passing through the Indian reservation they reached the Walla Walla valley. The mother was riding in the back of the wagon with the front cover drawn, but just before reaching the valley she had raised the cover to look out and soon remarked, "I should think all the children could find homes here," and a few moments later one of the sons said to her that they had reached their camping place. She did not reply and they found that she was dead, having expired from heart disease in the few moments after speaking to them. The family brought the body on to Walla Walla for interment. They spent the winter in the town and in the spring of 1877 Mr. Pentecost purchased a tract of four hundred acres of choice land located in Spring Valley, about eight miles northeast of the city, on the Waitsburg road. He contracted for this land at a basis of seven dollars per acre, to be paid for with wheat at fifty cents per bushel.
PHILIP J. PENTECOST
