Charles H. Kent
Charles H. Kent, merchant, Kent, was born in Ravenna, this county, August 12, 1818, son of Zenas and Pamelia (Lewis) Kent. He was reared in Ravenna until eighteen years of age, when he received a common school education, after which he attended the Canandaigua Academy, at Canandaigua, N. Y., for two years. In 1889 he embarked in mercantile business at Franklin Mills (now Kent), with Clapp & Spellman, under firm name of Clapp, Spellman & Kent. In 1841 the firm divided up their stock, and our subject succeeded to the business. In 1845 Mr. Kent and his brother Marvin were associated in business in Franklin, at the same time they purchased the goods of their father, Zenas Kent, at Ravenna, and continued the business there. In 1850 Mr. Kent, in connection with two others, built a factory for the manufacture of window glass, with which he was identified for several years. Previous to 1860 he was connected in business with Kent, Wells & Co., and Kent, Grinnell & Co. In 1860 he embarked in dry goods business, in which he has been engaged to the present time. Mr. Kent was married, January 14, 1841, to Mary E., daughter of Rev. Stephen W. Burrett, of Franklin, by whom he has: one child—Charles B. Mr. Kent is the oldest established merchant in Kent, and one of its representative business men. In politics he is a Republican. He has served as Mayor of Kent for four years.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885