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Below is a family biography included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1898.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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DR. HERMAN D. HUNT of Preble village, Cortland County, was born in La Fayette, Onondaga County, N. Y., September 4, 1846. He is a son of Daniel Hunt and grandson of Benjamin Hunt.

Benjamin Hunt was born in Connecticut, and after reaching his majority removed to Otsego County, N. Y., where he followed farming; being one of the pioneers of the county he had to withstand the privations incident to the early settlement and development of a hitherto wild and uncultivated bit of country.

Daniel Hunt was born in the State of Connecticut in the year 1797. Most of his early days were spent in Otsego County, New York, where he married his first wife. She died in 1840 and left four children. He then moved to Onondaga County, later to Cayuga County, and from there to Cortland County. In 1872 he returned to Otsego County, where he died the following year. His second union was with Harriet Ackles, and one child was born to them, Dr. Herman D., the subject of this narration. Mr. Hunt was a successful business man and a good farmer.

Dr. Herman D. Hunt graduated in 1869 from the old Cortland Academy of Homer village. He taught school the four seasons previous to his graduation, and one season afterwards. He began his professional studies with Dr. D. W. Burdick of Preble, with whom he read medicine until he entered the late Geneva College, which became a part of Syracuse University. He attended there the last years it was under the name of Hobart College, and graduated from the Medical Department of Syracuse University in 1873. He immediately began the practice of his profession at Spafford, Onondaga County, where he remained six years. In 1879 he came to Preble, where he has been engaged in a general practice ever since.

Dr. Hunt is a thorough business man as well as a practical physician. He owned and conducted a drugstore from 1889 until 1895. He is a man of superior professional attainments, while toward all he manifests a kind and gentlemanly demeanor, which gives him the good will and respect of the entire community. The Doctor is a member of the Central New York Medical Association, also the Cortland County Medical Association and has served in the official capacity of president of the latter association four different times. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party. He is serving his third year as justice of the peace; his fourth year as postmaster; and has filled out three terms as supervisor of Preble. He has represented his party in many county, district and state conventions. He is a man of natural abilities and genial manners, and thus he is well fitted to be the popular and successful leader of his townsmen. He is a member of Homer Lodge, No. 352, F. and A. M.; Washington Chapter No. 29, R. A. M.; Cortland Commandery K. T. Dr. Hunt was married September 4, 1872, to Emma A. Hobart, daughter of the late Dix Hobart of Virgil, this county. He is the father of two children, namely; D. S. and Iva V., both of whom are still at home.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published in 1898. 

View additional Cortland County, New York family biographies here: Cortland County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Cortland County, New York here: Cortland County, New York Map

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