John Hunt's Final Days
By Tom Carney, Editor "Old Huntsville"

    In 1807, his daughter, Elizabeth, moved to Huntsville from Tazewell along with her children, husband, and five slaves.  They had been delayed from joining Hunt until they could dispose of the inn.
    Elizabeth and her family moved in with Hunt in anticipa­tion of the land sales.  Congress had already called for a land sale, with squatters being given preemptive rights to one section of land each.  With the Hunts occupying the best land in the county, it seemed as if their fortunes were made.
    Unfortunately, when the sales were held it was discovered that John Hunt had not registered his claims.  The wealthy planter LeRoy Pope outbid the other purchasers and ended up with legal title to all of John Hunt's dreams.  Hunt was forced to move from his beloved Big Spring.
    With all the prime land in Huntsville already taken, Hunt purchased a quarter section of land far outside of town, paying eighty dollars as down payment.  This parcel was located approximately where the old airport on South Park­way is now.  Hunt’s daughter and son-in-law purchased the adjoining land.
    Pope had forced the name of Twickenham upon the new community, but many people resented the fact that he had bought Hunt's land.  One of the first actions the new city government took was to change the name to Huntsville, in honor of the intrepid pioneer.
    The next few years of Hunt's life are well documented.  He joined the Masonic Lodge, served on juries and was ap­pointed coroner.  In 1809 he sold his land to Absalom Looney.  By selling this land, he also lost the right to vote or serve on juries in the very city that he had founded.
    According to the law of that period, a man could not do any of the above unless he was a landowner.
    An old man by now, Hunt moved in with his daughter and son-in-law.  In 1820, Hunt, probably prompted by his grandson who was studying law in Huntsville at the time, applied for a Revolutionary War pension.  He was turned down because the unit he served with was not considered a part of the Continental Army.
    Like old men everywhere, Hunt probably spent his last days recounting tales of when he was young and adventurous, hopefully surrounded by his grandchildren.
    On February 27, 1822, John Hunt died at the age of 72.  He was buried in the Acklin graveyard, now known as the Sively graveyard, a short distance from where he spent his final days.
    Ironically, the grave of John Hunt, the man who founded Huntsville and who settled on some of its most beautiful land, lies unmarked, just a few feet from the city dump.

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