Claire Conlan Hunt
Birth: Aug 1897, San Francisco, California
Death: 24 Oct 1918, San Francisco, California
Spouse: William Lewis Hunt
Birth: 10 Dec 1893, California
Marriage: 18 Aug 1917, San Francisco, California
Death: 17 Apr 1945, San Francisco, California
Children: Robert Joseph (1918-2007)
Little is known about Claire because she died so young. Claire was born in August ?, 1897 in San Francisco. She grew up on Natoma Street in St. Patrick Parish until the 1906 Fire drove the family into St. Joseph’s Parish, where they lived on Langton, near 7th and Harrison. She was 14 years old when her father died and the family moved to Boyd Street. Claire probably had a high school education like her sisters, but it is unknown where she went to school (possibly Mission High). In 1917, Claire married William Hunt.
William Lewis Hunt was born on December 10, 1893, in San Francisco. William was the oldest of the five children of Caleb Richard Hunt, a teamster from Alexandria, Virginia, and Minnie Buckley, a homemaker from Mill Street, Co Cork, Ireland. His WWI draft registration described him as medium height and build, with blonde hair, and blue eyes. His WWII draft registration expanded the description to 5’ 8”, 170 lbs, with light complexion and brown hair. In 1917, he was employed as a chauffer for Fleishman and Clark, on Bryant Street.
Claire and Bill were married on August 18, 1917, at St. Joseph’s Church. Reverend P. E. Mulligan performed the ceremony. William’s brother John was the best man and the maid of honor was Claire Kelly. They moved with his parents at 2750 – 24th Street and quickly became pregnant. On October 23, 1918, their son Robert Joseph was born at the Lane Hospital on Clay and Webster.
Death: 24 Oct 1918, San Francisco, California
Spouse: William Lewis Hunt
Birth: 10 Dec 1893, California
Marriage: 18 Aug 1917, San Francisco, California
Death: 17 Apr 1945, San Francisco, California
Children: Robert Joseph (1918-2007)
Little is known about Claire because she died so young. Claire was born in August ?, 1897 in San Francisco. She grew up on Natoma Street in St. Patrick Parish until the 1906 Fire drove the family into St. Joseph’s Parish, where they lived on Langton, near 7th and Harrison. She was 14 years old when her father died and the family moved to Boyd Street. Claire probably had a high school education like her sisters, but it is unknown where she went to school (possibly Mission High). In 1917, Claire married William Hunt.
William Lewis Hunt was born on December 10, 1893, in San Francisco. William was the oldest of the five children of Caleb Richard Hunt, a teamster from Alexandria, Virginia, and Minnie Buckley, a homemaker from Mill Street, Co Cork, Ireland. His WWI draft registration described him as medium height and build, with blonde hair, and blue eyes. His WWII draft registration expanded the description to 5’ 8”, 170 lbs, with light complexion and brown hair. In 1917, he was employed as a chauffer for Fleishman and Clark, on Bryant Street.
Claire and Bill were married on August 18, 1917, at St. Joseph’s Church. Reverend P. E. Mulligan performed the ceremony. William’s brother John was the best man and the maid of honor was Claire Kelly. They moved with his parents at 2750 – 24th Street and quickly became pregnant. On October 23, 1918, their son Robert Joseph was born at the Lane Hospital on Clay and Webster.
Claire’s story is sad in the loss of young, unfulfilled potential and in the disconnection between her branch and the rest of the Conlans. Her early death, like that of her Uncle Patrick, created a separation of this branch from the rest of the family. Her son’s children did not even know Claire’s correct maiden name. So much of what is was to be a Silk has continued down the years without knowing it. The reconnection of the branches has been a wonderful thing to see and it is like we were never apart. Unfortunately, this was during a Spanish Influenza epidemic and Claire became sick. She died the next day, in October 24, 1918. She was only 21 years old. Her obituary and her son’s birth announcement appeared on the same page of the Chronicle. The funeral took place at McBrearty and McCormick Funeral Parlor. There does not appear to have been a requiem mass. Claire was buried with her father in the spot intended for her mother Annie.
Bill struggled along with the help of his parents. Robert’s grandmother Minnie took charge of young Robert and raised as she had her own children. In 1920, Bill lost his teamster job, but he took the Fire Department entrance test and passed. He would remain a fireman for the rest of his life. Some time around 1925, William met and married Ella Jones, a restaurant waitress. They lived on Mission and Beale Streets, but William left Robert with hi mother and sister. In 1929, Ella sued for divorce, citing cruelty, and William moved back home to 24th Street with his mother. The divorce was granted in 1933 and they remained separated for the next three years, but by 1938 they were back together.
William died of stomach cancer on April 17, 1945, at the age of 51. It was the same day that FDR passed and the whole country was in mourning. Bill was a member of the SFFD Mutual Aid Society and the Veteran Firemen’s Association. After a requiem mass at St. Peter’s Church on Alabama and 24th Street, he was buried in Section U of Holy Cross Cemetery. Ella remained a widow for the next 31 years. She died on May 31, 1976, in San Bruno. She is buried with her father Patrick, in the grave intended for her mother.
Claire’s story is sad in the loss of young, unfulfilled potential and in the disconnection between her branch and the rest of the Conlans. Her early death, like that of her Uncle Patrick, created a separation of this branch from the rest of the family. Her son’s children did not even know Claire’s correct maiden name. So much of what is was to be a Silk has continued down the years without knowing it. The reconnection of the branches has been a wonderful thing to see and it is like we were never apart.
Bill struggled along with the help of his parents. Robert’s grandmother Minnie took charge of young Robert and raised as she had her own children. In 1920, Bill lost his teamster job, but he took the Fire Department entrance test and passed. He would remain a fireman for the rest of his life. Some time around 1925, William met and married Ella Jones, a restaurant waitress. They lived on Mission and Beale Streets, but William left Robert with hi mother and sister. In 1929, Ella sued for divorce, citing cruelty, and William moved back home to 24th Street with his mother. The divorce was granted in 1933 and they remained separated for the next three years, but by 1938 they were back together.
William died of stomach cancer on April 17, 1945, at the age of 51. It was the same day that FDR passed and the whole country was in mourning. Bill was a member of the SFFD Mutual Aid Society and the Veteran Firemen’s Association. After a requiem mass at St. Peter’s Church on Alabama and 24th Street, he was buried in Section U of Holy Cross Cemetery. Ella remained a widow for the next 31 years. She died on May 31, 1976, in San Bruno. She is buried with her father Patrick, in the grave intended for her mother.
Claire’s story is sad in the loss of young, unfulfilled potential and in the disconnection between her branch and the rest of the Conlans. Her early death, like that of her Uncle Patrick, created a separation of this branch from the rest of the family. Her son’s children did not even know Claire’s correct maiden name. So much of what is was to be a Silk has continued down the years without knowing it. The reconnection of the branches has been a wonderful thing to see and it is like we were never apart.