Jonathan G. Hunton (courtesy Maine State Museum)
(1781-1851) was born in Unity, New Hampshire on March 14, 1781. After early education in the common schools, he moved to Readfield as a young man to study law with his uncle, Samuel P. Glidden, the first lawyer in that town.
After Glidden’s death, Hunton took over his business. and married his widow, Hunton’s first wife having died in 1819.
He was a National Republican and a member of the Executive Council. In 1829 he was elected Governor to serve the year 1830. He failed to win reelection the following year. During his term he advocated the establishment of “an asylum for the unfortunate insane,” which eventually was completed.
Shortly thereafter, he moved to Dixmont, then to Fairfield where he died on October 12, 1851. Hunton is buried in Readfield.
Additional resources
Chase, Henry. Representative Men of Maine.
*“Gov. Jonathan G. Hunton,” Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Bangor, September, 1898, pp. 257-259.
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*Cited in Friends of the Blaine House at http://blainehouse.org/governors(accessed April 25, 2011) (accessed April 25, 2011)