Newton Co., IN Biography Newton County, Jefferson Township. From A History of Warren, Benton, Jasper & Newton Counties, 1883. ALEXANDER J. KENT, deceased, founder of the town which bears his name, was born August 30, 1815, in Oneida County, New York. His parents were Carroll C. and Pheba (Dymock) Kent, both natives of Connecticut, the latter a daughter of Col. Dymock, who served in the English Army. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Kent were born the same year, same month and same day, October 17, 1777. Carroll C. Kent owned the land at Oriskany, New York, on which was fought the battle of Oriskany, under Gen. Herkimer, during the Revolutionary war, said land being afterward owned by his son, A. J. Kent. Carroll C. Kent died in Whitesboro, New York, at the age of eighty-three, and his wife August 21, 1837, at the age of fifty years. Alexander J. Kent had such educational advantages as the common schools afforded, and was, in the true sense of the word, a self-made man. At the time of the gold fever in California, in 1849, Mr. K. equipped five men, viz., John Allison, W. R. Fowler, Daniel Shaw, James Izzard and J. B Chesebrough, and furnished them with transportation to Sacramento City, California. About the year 1851, Mr. K. joined the firm, W. R. Fowler & Co., in Scaramento City, and the firm name changed to Kent, Fowler & Co. They did a splendid wholesale grocery business for many months, but were interrupted by a destructive fire; they arose again and did a larger business than before. After continuing some two years, they sold, bought a vessel and engaged in the trade between San Francisco and China, and were very successful financially, as importers. That vessel, "Anna Welsh," on her first trip brought the first Chinese that ever came to America as a colony. After making three trips, they sold the vessel to a Chinese mandarin and returned to New York. Soon after, Mr. Kent was visited by his brother, Hon. P.M. Kent, of Indiana, and by him induced to invest in wild lands in Northwestern Indiana. He accordingly made visits in 1853 and 1854 to what became his possessions, and invested largely. He moved to New Albany, Indiana in 1855, engaged in the wholesale grocery trade, and kept one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in the State. He made several visits to Northwestern, Indiana, each time investing, till he had more than 25,000 acres. In 1859, he moved his family from New Albany to what is now Newton County. About this time, many bought farms in this township, with little prospect of paying for them, and had he pressed them for payment many now prosperous farmers would have given up their farms and perhaps have been poor men. Mr. Kent encouraged his debtors, and was patient in waiting for payment. He could seldom refuse help to a deserving person or to a worthy enterprise. It is said that he had $50 to $300 invested in every church in Washington Township, Newton County. To the suffering in Kansas from the drought in 1861, his donations were immense. On one occasion to the solicitors for corn he replied, "Go to my crib and take out what you think I ought to contribute; I don't know exactly how to deal out to the worthy, unfortunate suffers." Five hundred bushels, after taking survey of the crib, gave evidence that the keen edge of the hard times was to be turned, and $400 worth of clothing at a later date went to Nebraska for the grasshopper suffers from Mr. Kent's store, with the same free good will, a generous offering of a kind heart. In 1861 came the war, and with it untold distress to almost every household. Money was close, and, as was characteristic of Mr. Kent, he proved himself a man for the times--the right person in the right place--doing much to alleviate the wants of the soldiers and their families, widows and helpless children, and by the orphan, who looks longingly for charity from those who have little sympathy. Now that his lips, which spoke words of cheer and kindness, are forever closed, and the hands that were ever ready to do acts of kindness are silently folded in their last resting place, it is refreshing to know that all unite in kindly expressions of gratitude for his timely aid in the hour of pressing want and dire distress. On one occasion as a company, composed of his neighbors and his neighbor's boys were about to leave for the South, and were marching to the depot, Mr. Kent came on the scene at this time and directed the Captain, Daniel Ash, to "order open ranks." When the order was obeyed, Mr. Kent passed through from one end of the company to the other, and gave to each man a $5 bill. "That came in good time," said a faithful soldier, "for some of us were leaving home and family without knowing when the next dollar would come, or where it would come from." Mr. Kent was a remarkable man, with a busy life. He was seldom seen talking on the streets except on urgent business. We deem the above details of a successful life due to one of Newton County's most worthy and enterprising men, as showing what well-directed effort, coupled with untiring industry and prompted by unflinching integrity, can accomplish toward building up a county composed mainly of appreciative, deserving citizens. Mr. Kent was twice married, the last time in 1857, at Whitesboro, New York, to Miss Rosamond C. Chesebrough, daughter of Noyers P. and Clara (Moore) Chesebrough, the latter a niece of the poet, Tom Moore. Mr. K. was not a member of any church, but a liberal giver to all churches. He died May 7, 1882. His family, wife and five children reside at the family residence in the suburbs of Kentland. His extensive business is being carried on under the direction of his eldest son, John A. Kent, who is developing business qualifications and sterling qualities such as characterized his lamented father. In politics, Mr. Kent was a Democrat. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitted By Gerald Born Email - Wizzofozl0@aol.com