This is a story about the Austian side of my family, my mothers side. My mothers maternal Grandfather was Henry Clay Hunt( 1844-1936) . Henry served in the Civil war with the Union forces as a member of the 69th Indiana regiment. Though he was not wounded in his three years' fighting, he twice was captured by confederates, once at the battle of Vicksburg and another time in Kentucky. He was, at one point, a member of an expeditionary force which went up the Red river on the Texas side. Hunt had enlisted from Randolph county, Ind. There is a family legend that at the war’s end he WALKED home...to Indiana from somewhere in the deep south.
There is another family legend that he carved his initials on a tree in Indiana in 1883 and then returned to Indiana from his home in Oklahoma late in his life (1927) and had his photo taken next to the tree. His 1883 initials were still visible in 1927 (see photos). H.R. Hamblen, a family friend wrote a poem about Henry's return to Indiana (see photos to read the poem).
Yet another family legend was that, just prior to the Oklahoma land rush in 1889, Henry was employed as a hunter and/or a scout by the U.S. Army, helping to feed the troops present to support the land rush and serving as a guide for some people who were looking for land to homestead. The Tull family is one of the families he helped find land and, he later married Ruth Jane Tull. The land designated for homesteading in Oklahoma was opened for settlement on April 22, 1889 and there was a, literal, “rush” starting that day. Henry and his wife (Ruth Jane Tull Hunt) and their family made the run into Oklahoma from the Kansas line and filed his declaratory claim April 28 1889. He homesteaded 160 acres cornering on NW50 and Council road. He was one of the few pioneers who continued to live on his homestead. until his death in 1936. 15 years later, on April 22, 1904, Henry's granddaughter, my Aunt Winnie (Winnifred Gladys Austian) was born to Henry's oldest daughter Armina Hunt Austian (my maternal grandmother). Perhaps because her birthday was on the anniversary of the land rush, Winnie always seemed to have a connection to the land rush and a special fondness for her Grandpa Henry. In 1948, I was born on Aunt Winnie's 44th birthday (and the anniversary of the land rush). I feel this connection to Henry, through Winnie. Vicariously, I’m a sooner. Even though I was born in California... maybe I should buy an OU football jersey. In 1992 my grandson Dillon Neighbors, was born on MY 44th birthday and Winnie's 88th (see the photo of the three of us).
OBIT from Indiana Newspaper (Brown County Democrat) 08 Oct 1936
The following was transcribed from the above article in The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, IN, 12 sep 1926
FROM DOWN IN THE HILLS O’
BROWN COUNTY
Porter Hamblen, grocer at Franklin, Ind… issued a booklet called, “A Man, a Tree, A Mark.” Mr. Hamblen came from a family musically inclined. The first few pages covering the title of the booklet are reproduced here, through the kindness of the author.
Some time during the year 1883 Henry Clay Hunt cut his initials and the date, 1883, on a beech tree which stood in the wooded area of his homestead in Brown county, Indiana. In the Spring of 1884 he emigrated to the state of Kansas, and later, 1889, removed to Oklahoma.
Through his influence, A.P. Hamblen moved to the same locality in the spring of 1901. After fifteen years' residence there, Hamblen returned to Indiana. While rambling through the same woods he accidentally came across the long forgotten tree with the initials, H. C. H… 2884, cut thereon. He at once recognized the author and made a photograph of the tree showing the characters and sent a copy to Hunt and also one to Housten Markwell, a relative of Hunt, also a former resident of Brown county, both living in Oklahoma. Markwell was to elated by the incident that, in a mood of mirth, he answered Hamblen’s communication in part as follows:
Stillwater, Okla.. Dec. 19, 1917. Mr. A.p. hamblen, Dear sir-- Your very interesting letter and extraordinary photo received. Yes, Clay was always doing something to the timber. It is a wonder that the trees do not refrain from casting a shadow over his head. When he went into the forest he would snap the buds off every bush he came to. He was famous for cutting the young to make hoop poles.
If he came to a nice chestnut oak he would skin it alive. Every sugar tree he could find h e would bore a hole in it and take from it its life blood. Has he a friend among all the trees of the forest? Did you hear of the great mass meeting held by the trees of the forest, where there were present delegates representing every species of trees?
In the course of the meeting Delegate Old Sour Oak introduced the following resolution:
“Whereas, that after consulting the consensus of opinion of the delegates of this great convention here assembled, representing every species of tree of Brown county, state of Indiana; be it “resolved, that we notify the Hoosier, Henry Clay Hunt, that he is hereby banished from the state of Indiana forever and ever;
“because he has ruthlessly disfigured and destr07ed our forefathers in every manner conceivable by this genius of woodland destruction.” While debating the resolution the following remarks were noted by the secretary:
Delegate Hazelbush -- This bushwacker has grubbed our tribe from the ground and laughed while they burned.
Delegate Pignut-- This Hunt was known to make an ax handle from our kind to slay us and others with.
White Oak said: “He helped to maul and stave our elegant species into near at extinction.
Old yellow Poplar -- He has shingled to death many of our noblest specimens.
Bendy Hickory spoke at length, among other things stating that he had withered into bunches of hoop poles and cast info firewood thousands of his kindred.
Old Father Blackjack offered as an amendment to the resolution that it be made to read to include the name of one Houston Markwell, as he was closely associated with the scoundrel Hunt.
Motion as amended was unanimously adopted.
Yours, Truly, James Houston Markwell.
In the fall of 1917, Hunt was notified of this preceding and while being urged for a reply as to what action he proposed to take in defense, after much delay, it was found that he was serving as a juror at a term of court in Oklahoma City. His reply finally came, wherein he claimed to have laid the matter before the circuit court and that the whole action was set aside. This action was never contested.
In September, 1919, he returned to Brown county and stood himself beside the very three that had brought about this unique jocular contrivance, as the picture accompanying this story bears witness.
Porter Hamblen set to verse the sentiment of the episode in the lines which follow:
Stands there, a man beside a tree.
in the native wood of brown county.
The man stood there once before--
years ago, almost two score.
On that tree he made a mark
in its smooth and shining bark
Storms have raged and winters fell
Yet it remains, you can read it well.
The mark is his name and a date,
They tell a story and lesson relate;
Have brought forth picture and comment--
into distant states a message is sent.
If each mark made could sing.
and from its silence could ring.
Mirth and sentiment as this
Mark and man, be it a world of bliss.
Mark well that mark for it’s known not
how far ‘twill reach nor when forgot.
When in daily life is done an act.
that reaches far, bids well in fact.
Use of care and thought as well,
May work for good for time will tell.
To where that mark made well extend.
Bring in its wake weal or woe at the end.
The author has also arranged music which can not well be published in this booklet, suitable for the above verses that they may be repeated in a song. As a chorus the following verse is repeated after the second, fourth and last verses, all of which is ascribed to the memory of Henry Clay Hunt, Oklahoma City, Okla. Oct 1, 1919.
Marks do last and endure
Longer time than two score
when made by hands honest and fair.
are remembered long, good fruits they bear.
Transcription by Dean Neighbors, great grandson of Henry Clay Hunt
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