Governor Frank and Ruth Hunt
Governor Hunt. J. H. Hawley photo.
Idaho Governor Frank W. Hunt was born December 16, 1861 in Newport, Kentucky, just across the river from Cincinnati. His father was an officer in the U.S. Army, and that is perhaps how Frank took up mining in Montana around 1885. Three years later, he moved to a mining camp about 25 miles north of Salmon City, Idaho.
From his base in the camp, Hunt prospected extensively, and successfully. It is believed that he also invested in other mining properties. (The usual pattern is for the investor to “grubstake” another prospector, and thereby obtain a share of any later strikes.) Although Frank had no previous history in politics, in 1892 he was elected to a seat in the state Senate.
A Democrat, Hunt became part of a coalition with Populist members that opposed key measures proposed by Governor William McConnell, a Republican [blog, Sept 18]. Besides defeating a reduction in the property tax levy (the new state had collected a surplus under the old levy), the coalition voted down a reapportionment bill.
The legislature did create state Normal schools at Lewiston [blog, Jan 6] and Albion [blog, Mar 7]. Beyond that, Hunt “took a special interest in revising mining law.” He did not run for re-election.
In 1897, Frank explored some mining properties in Canada, but returned in time to join the First Idaho Volunteers when the regiment was mustered for the Spanish-American War. Entering as a lieutenant, Hunt was twice breveted to captain for bravery under fire. The rank was made permanent when the regiment mustered out.
The 1900 political campaign proved even more chaotic that the two previous cycles. The Republican had a slate, which included William McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt at the national level. The Populists again chose to not make common cause with the Democratic Party; they selected their own candidates. The Prohibitionist Party also proposed a nearly full roster.
Wardner mine after 1899 bombing. Idaho State Historical Society.
The Democrats assembled a Fusion Party with the Silver Republicans: They supported William Jennings Bryan for President. However, the Fusion Party suffered from severe internal tensions at the state level. Most of this arose from conflicting positions on labor unrest in the Coeur d’Alene mining districts [blog, Apr 29].
During a succession of eighteen convention ballots, war hero Frank Hunt’s stock rose as various hopefuls dropped by the wayside. Hunt won the state election by just 2,160 votes out of over 56 thousand cast. During his term of office, Hunt approved legislation that established the Academy of Idaho, precursor to Idaho State University, in Pocatello.
His bid for re-election in 1902 failed and he retired from politics. Hunt then returned to mining, with interests that included properties in Nevada. While in Goldfield, Nevada, he contracted pneumonia and died there in November 1906. His remains were returned to Boise for burial in the Masonic Cemetery.
References: [Hawley]
“Ex-Gov. F. W. Hunt Dead,” The New York Times (November 26, 1906).
“Idaho Governor Frank W. Hunt,” National Governors Association.
Robert C. Sims, Hope A. Benedict (eds.), Idaho’s Governors: Historical Essays on Their Administrations, Boise State University (1992).