WILLIAM KENT
William
Kent, a native of England, was brought by his parents to the
United States when but six years of age and came to Lucas
county in 1869, where he settled in Jackson township, devoting
the remainder of his life to agricultural pursuits. He was born in the
mother country on June 5, 1826, and his death occurred in
Jackson township, this county, April 24, 1906, but a few
months before his eightieth birthday. He came with his
parents to America in 1832, their first location being
Cleveland, Ohio, where he was reared and grew to manhood. Removal to Maywood,
Illinois, was made in 1865, and 1869 marks the arrival of the
family in Lucas county, where a farm in Jackson township was
acquired. The
property comprised three hundred and twenty acres and to the
cultivation of this Mr. Kent devoted his remaining days,
attaining remarkable success along agricultural lines. The greater portion
of the original home farm is still in possession of the family
at this day. Both
of his parents were natives of England and the father served
at one time in the British army and under the command of
General Pakenham participated in the battle of New Orleans. The father’s name
was Daniel and the mother before her marriage was Miss Ann
Cowley. Both
passed away in Cleveland, Ohio.
In their family were six children, of whom four reached
maturity: John,
deceased; Mrs. Susan Steele, deceased; William; and Ann and
Emma, deceased.
In 1860 Mr. Kent was united in marriage to Miss Anna Wherrett, also a native of England, born in Gloucestershire on January 1, 1842. In 1852, when ten years of age, she came with her parents to America and is still living, residing in a commodious home in Lucas. Her parents were William Trotman and Ann (Carefield) Wherrett, natives of England, the former born in 1801 and the latter in 1804. The father died in Berea, Ohio, in 1871, having long survived his wife, whose death occurred while yet in the mother country, in 1844, at the age of forty years. Their family consisted of eight children: William, born August 18, 1829, who died at Kankakee, Illinois, December 11, 1855; Mrs. Ann Parslow, born July 20, 1831, who died at Strongville, Ohio, January 18, 1865; Eliza, born December 12, 1833, who died April 14, 1834; John, born November 29, 1834, making his home in the state of Washington; Mrs. Ellen Cowell, born November 19, 1836, who died February 23, 1869; George, born May 11, 1838, who passed away at Chattanooga, Tennessee, May 20, 1865, having served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war; Charles, also a Union soldier, born February 6, 1840, who died at Fort Collins, Colorado, February 8, 1910; and Mrs. Kent, the wife of our subject and the youngest member of the family. All of their children were born in Stonehouse, England. Mr. and Mrs. Kent had two sons: Charles Ellsworth, born at Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio, on September 7, 1861, and now a resident of Jackson township; and John Warren, born March 9, 1867, a resident of the same township. The grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Kent are as follows: Ruth, born January 22, 1906; Melville, born November 3, 1907; Irene, born November 9, 1909; and Zelia, born November 24, 1911, the above all being children of Albert Kent; Cleo, born November 28, 1911; and Cecil, born February 2, 1913, both children of William Kent.
Politically Mr. Kent was a republican and always kept well informed upon all government issues. Originally his trade was that of a carpenter and joiner and he was an accomplished ship carpenter, although after locating in Lucas county he followed agricultural pursuits entirely. His fraternal relations extended to the Independent Order of Good Templars, having been a member of the Cleveland (Ohio) lodge. Mrs. Kent, who survives, is a member of the Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints of Lucas, to which she gives her moral and material support. Mr. Kent was greatly beloved and highly esteemed by all who knew him and his memory remains with many who esteemed in him a man of high character. Public-spirited and progressive, he interested himself in all matters concerning the public welfare and although born on the other side of the Atlantic, gave in his life an excellent example of true American citizenship. His widow remains to perpetuate his record and is treated on all sides with respect and veneration for her many womanly qualities, her charitable character and kindliness, which lead her to take an interest in all matters undertaken in the interests of mankind.