Butte County
Biographies
MRS. FRANCES LUNT
MRS. FRANCES LUNT.—A representative of one of the old pioneer families pf Butte County, who herself dates back to pioneer days, is Mrs. Frances Lunt, a native daughter of Butte County, born at Magalia, May 23, 1854, the daughter of James N. and Mary C. (Tucker) Smith, natives of North Carolina, each removing to Virginia with their respective parents where later on they met and were married. Both parents came of old and prominent Southern families of Revolutionary stock. In 1852, Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Smith crossed the plains in an ox-team train to California. This was the year of the cholera, and Mr. Smith’s brother died of that disease en route. The rest of the family arrived safely in Butte County, their first Christmas being spent at Frenchtown, where Mrs. Smith was the only woman. She prepared a big Christmas dinner for the miners, which was enjoyed exceedingly. After mining a while at Rich Gulch, the Smiths removed to Magalia, where they were merchandising. In 1856 they came back and located at Frenchtown, purchasing the farm that Mrs. Lunt now owns. Mr. Smith engaged in farming and stock-raising. Being a man who loved nature, he beautified his place with trees and flowers and set out an orchard which is still bearing. He and his estimable wife both died on the place. To this worthy pioneer couple were born seven children, four of whom are living, Mrs. Lunt being the eldest.
Mrs. Lunt was reared on this farm and attended the local schools, but the opportunities were very meager, so she was obliged to resort to self-study and has thus acquired a large and useful fund of information, and having a retentive memory, she is an interesting conversationalist.
In 1877, she married Edwin R. Lunt, a native of Eastport, Maine, who is also descended of Revolutionary stock, and is a descendant of the Governor Bradford family. Mr. Lunt served in the Mexican War and afterwards came to California, and was a prominent miner in Calaveras County, where he was known as Dr. Lunt. Coming to Butte County in early days, he mined awhile, but also taught school for many years. He was a contemporary with Judge John C. Gray. For some years after his marriage Mr. Lunt taught school, but later gave his attention to farming, until his demise, in 1903. Mrs. Lunt purchased the old Smith homestead at Frenchtown, where she engages in stock-raising and horticulture. She has set out orchards of olives, peaches, and pears. A large spring furnishes ample water for irrigation. She is assisted by her sons in the operation of the ranch and one of them, Albert Lunt, owns three hundred twenty acres adjoining the home ranch. Since 1913 she has served as postmaster at Yankee Hill, the office being fitted up in her residence. Mr. and Mrs. Lunt had three children: Albert f. and O. K. assisting their mother and also farming at Frenchtown; and Edwina, the second born, who is Mrs. Harding. The latter was postmaster at Yankee Hill for several years; she now lives at Westwood.
Mrs. Lunt has always been interested in the cause of education and has served for some years as a member and clerk of the board of trustees of Concow school district. Fraternally she is a member of the Oroville Lodge of Rebekahs. Mrs. Lunt is a cultured and refined woman, endowed with much native tact and business acumen. She is liberal and kind-hearted, has a charming personality, and is highly esteemed by her friends.
Transcribed
by Sharon Walford Yost.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1085-1086, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Sharon
Walford Yost.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies