Dr. William West Hunt, son of Dr. Simeon and Anna M. (Balch) Hunt, was born April 22, 1868, at East Providence. During his childhood Dr. Hunt attended the East Providence grammar school and afterwards the Classical High School in this city, from which he was graduated with the class of 1886 and where he completed his preparatory studies. He then entered Dartmouth College, but a year later left that institution to enter the medical school at Columbia University of New York City. It is natural that his early association with his talented and successful father should suggest to him the idea of following in his footsteps so far as his career was concerned. He continued his studies at Columbia University until 1890, when he was graduated with the medical degree, after which he did some special hospital work in the Hood-Wright Hospital. He then returned to Rhode Island and entered the Rhode Island Hospital at Providence, remaining associated with that institution in the surgical out-patient department for fourteen years. In the year 1890 he joined his father in general practice in this city, and continued thus engaged at the same time that he worked for the Rhode Island Hospital. He is now recognized as one of the leading physicians of this community, and is carrying on the splendid traditions established by his father of ability and absolute adherence to the highest ethical standards of his profession. Like his father, he is a prominent Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree of Free Masonry, and is a member and past master of Rising Sun Lodge, No. 30, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of East Providence; Providence Chapter, No. 1, Royal Arch Masons, of Providence; Providence Council, No. 1, Royal and Select Masters, of Providence; past commander of Calvary Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar, of Providence; Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Rhode Island Consistory, Sovereign Princes of the Royal Secret; past patron of Naomi Chapter, Order of Eastern Star. Besides these Masonic bodies, Dr. Hunt is affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men and the Ancient Order of the United Workmen, of which latter he is a charter member and has been medical examiner since its organization here. He is also past master workman of this lodge. Dr. Hunt has also been police surgeon for many years, and is a member of the Providence Medical Association, the Rhode Island State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. In politics Dr. Hunt does not identify himself with any party, but is an independent voter.
Dr. William West Hunt was united in marriage, May 11, 1892, at East Providence, with Eliza A. Johnson, a daughter of Pliny F. and Phoebe (Mann) Johnson. Dr. and Mrs. Hunt are the parents of two children, as follows: 1. Frederick Johnson, born February 24, 1894; he was a student at the grammar school and Classical High School of East Providence, and afterwards attended Brown University, where he graduated with the class of 1915, being one of the honor men of this class; he received at that time his degree of Bachelor of Arts, and afterwards had the honorary degree of Master of Arts conferred upon him by his alma mater; he received his Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year and Delta Zeta Phi in senior year; he is at present connected with the trust department of the Rhode Island Hospital Trust Company; Frederick Johnson married Josephine Johnson, a lady who is no relation of his in spite of the identical name, and they are the parents of one child, Elizabeth Anna Hunt. 2. Arthur Balch, born July 26, 1897; he attended the grammar school and Classical High School of Providence, and afterwards was a pupil at the Rhode Island State University at Kingston for a short time; he is now taking a commercial course at the Bryant & Stratton Business College, Providence. (from the History of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical; NY: The American Historical Society, Inc. 1920)