BELLE HUNT of Texas Belle Hunt, the late Mrs. Samuel A. Shortridge, was born at Cactus Hill, Wise County, Texas on Hunt's Creek. She was the daughter of William Hudson Hunt, a pioneer of Texas, who was commissioned and served as a Lt. Col. in the war with Mexico. Later he was widely known as locator of lands, and as a progressive citizen of the State, often called the Baron of Cactus Hill. Belle Hunt inherited from her distinguished lineage the artistic and literary talent that brought her into general and favorable notice as poet and authoress. Deprived of both parents in early childhood, she was tenderly reared by her guardian, Sylvanus Reed, of Bonham, TX where at Carlton College, she attended school until she entered the Academy of the Visitation, St. Louis, from which institution she was graduated with first honors at seventeen years of age. Shortly afterward she married Capt. Samuel A. Shortridge, of St. Louis, in which city they resided until Capt. Shortridge located permanently at Terrell. Belle Hunt was a versatile and prolific writer, when the time allotted to her is considered. With laudable ambition she went to New York (1890) in the interest of her literary labor, where in a remarkably short time, her articles were accepted and published by the leading papers, journals and magazines of the city. Mrs. Shortridge wrote especially well for children, her "Jingles" (modern Mother Goose) attracted wide attention in the columns of the SUNDAY WORLD. These pleasing rhymes will be published shortly in book form, together with a story in prose (now in complete manuscript) also for children. A collection of new poems and "Circumstance", a novel the scene of which is located in Austin, Texas, will be published later. Beside the miscellaneous articles that have been published in the best publications, Belle Hunt published through Bedford's of New York, a collection of poems entitled "Lone Star Lights," 1891. The dedication of this little volume has been widely copied, and was made the subject of fifty exquisite water colors by Miss_____, of Dallas. The poem, "Peach Blossom Time," in the same volume, was set to music and published by her talented friend, Mrs. George W. Voiers, of Forney, Texas. It was James Gordon Bennett who said of this poem: "Nothing more exquisite is to be found in the English language. "Held In Trust", a novel by Belle Hunt, was published in 1892. Dispassionate critics pronounced it a pleasing story-fresh, clean and sweet as a breeze from a Texas prarie. A memoir of Belle Hunt is now in preparation (early 1900s)- sort of autobiographical sketch of her literary work and mechanical methods, compiled from her journals and letters, by her sister Mrs. Kate Hunt Craddock. Since the death of Mrs. Shortridge many sketches of her life and work have appeared in prominent publications, but this memoir will pressumably be more complete and interesting than anything that has yet been published. Mrs. Shortridge's remains were interred in the family burying ground at Cactus Hill, Wise County".--From PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY by Cliff D. Cates, 1907. (Wise County Historical Society). (Compiler's note: All graves were moved from Cactus Hill to East Bridgeport Cemetery Texas to make way for the lake). END From: "Col. Sanford B. Hunt USMC" Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 17:17:42 -0500