Edward Kent
Edward Kent, one of Concord Township's foremost citizens, who resides on his valuable farm of 164½ acres, where he carries on general farming was born in Jerome Township, Union County. Ohio, November 2, 1855. He is a son of Elijah and Charlotte (Norris) Kent.
Elijah Kent was horn in Madison County. Ohio, in 1823. and settled in Union County in young manhood, and in Concord Township, Delaware County, about the close of the Civil War, purchasing the Carson farm of 250 acres. He died at the age of sixty-three years. He married Charlotte Norris, who was born in Harrison County, Ohio, and accompanied her parents, Edward and Susan Norris to Union County, where she was reared and married. Her parents died at Richwood, Ohio. She survived until February 14. 1907, dying at the age of seventy-three years. Elijah Kent and wife had eight children, namely: George, residing in Thompson Township, married Maggie Swartz; Edward; Dennis, residing in Concord Township, married Amelia Bass; John, residing in Scioto Township; Silas, residing at Urbana, Ohio, married Hattie Ellis; Benjamin, residing in Kansas, married Jane Martin; Jane, deceased, who married (first) Isaac Jones, and (second) Newton Howard; and Ellen, who died aged eight years.
After his school days were over, Mr. Kent settled down to farming and has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits ever since. Through his industry and his practical methods he has reaped abundant success. He has a well cultivated farm, on which he has a valuable silo, and he also carries on dairying, keeping, about twenty-five cows and selling forty gallons of milk per day at Columbus. He has continued to improve his property ever since it came into his possession and in 1905 completed the building of a very substantial barn.
Mr. Kent married Jennie Rutherford, who is a daughter of Archibald Rutherford, who is one of the prominent and substantial citizens of Concord Township. They have two daughters, namely: Lurabella, who married William Blainey, a successful farmer of Concord Township; and Esther Irene, who is a school girl of twelve years.
In politics, Mr. Kent is a Republican, but he takes only a good citizen's interest in public affairs. The family is one that is well and favorably known all through this section.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908