Keziah Kent

KENT, BURKE, MAYER, BACON, ENOCHS, PAXTON AND GREENBECK

Posted By: Mary Giles (email)
Date: 3/17/2005 at 13:59:49

Mrs.Keziah Kent aged 73 years, 8 months and 3 days, died Jan.7,1892, at her homein Madison Township.

Keziah Burke was born in Kentucky, June 4,1818, removed to Indiana with her parents when quite young. She was married to Moses Kent in 1839 and moved with her husband to this township in 1852 and has made this her residence since. She was the mother of 12 children, 8 of whom survive her. Mrs. Kent united with the M.E.Church when quite young and has lived a faithful wife, a loving mother and a friend to all. Funeral services were held at the house Friday morning, conducted by Rev.Dr.E.Benson, and the body was laid to rest in the Cemetery near the Kent school house,

THEIR CHILDREN
Wm.B.Kent of Madison Township died Dec.29,1898, aged 55 years, 6 months and 20 days. He was born in Putnum County, Ind. in 1843 and came to Iowa with his parents Moses and Keziah Kent. They came overland in a covered wagon and were among the early pioneers of this county. At that time their trading point was Iowa City and their mail was brought by stage to what is now Brooklin. Mr. Kent was interested in educational matters and was director in hisdistrict many years. He was married to Mary A.Mayer July 11,1866 and from this union 7 children wee born 6 boys and 1 girl. 1 boy died in infancy and 5 sons and a daughter survive to mourn the loss of a father. The funeral services were held Saturday, the 31st of Dec.in the Kent School House, and were attended by a large number of neighbors and friends. The services were conducted by Dr.Benson who spoke comforting words to the bereaved family and friends.
The death of Lewis Kent last week brings another early family name to the attention of the community.
The community north of Brooklin has been called Kent for many years. The Kent school, chapel,cemetery,grove and in fact the whole neighborhood has born this name. The large and prominent family, which gave the name to the community are nearly extinct now- Lewis Kent occupying the only farm owned by a Kent in a neighborhood which had had many farms and much land in the possession on that 1 family.
Mr. and Mrs. Moses Kent and 16 children came to Madison Township in 1853 and took up land from the government. They came from Putnum County, Ind. and some of their childrenwere grown at the time. 1 of the sons, Joseph was married the same years in Montezuma to Miss Eliza Enochs a native of Ohio, but whose father was the 1st setler in Madison Township. Thiswas the 1st marriage in Madison. They settled in the same neighborhood as Moses and raised 4 children Bailey, Lavinia, Joseph, Jr., and Anna. Harry Kent of Brooklin is a son of Bailey now deceased, Bailey was the 1st white child born in Madison Township. Another 1 of the 16 children of Moses and Keziah was a son Moses Jr. who was the father of Albert Kent, Louis Kent, Thomas, Edward, Steven, Dolly[to name a few].Lewis was married and had 1 child Mrs.Ray Bacon.
Hiram Kent was another son of Moses Sr. He was the 1st settler on the section of Madison taken off Sheridan when Madison was organized. He raised a large family. Many of the family are buried in the Kent Cemetery but, it is unusual to see so large a family so large a family so nearly gone as the Kents in 3 generations.
Sam Kent another one of moses Sr. went to the Civil War and was wounded at Champion Hill. He returned however and lived a number of years.
Louis T. another son of Moses Sr. was born Feb.21,1859 in Madison Township near the farm where he died. He passed away at the age of 72 years, 4 months and 7 days. He lived on the farm where he died for the past 35 years. He was the youngest of a family of 9 children of which only 1 is living. Mrs. Sally Spaulding of Fontanelle, Ia. On Dec.25,1886 he was united in marriage to Flora Jones and to this union was only 1 daughter born, Mrs. Ray Bacon. He had 4 grandchildren Leo, Grace, Lewis and Wayne and a nephew Harry.