Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Kent, Rufus March 16, 1820 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 April 17, 2009, 3:57 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers

RUFUS KENT, farmer on sec. 1, Mecosta Tp., was born in Hampshire Co., Mass., 
March 16, 1820.  His parents, 

Samuel and Loretta (Borden) Kent, were natives of New England, of English 
ancestry.  His mother died when 

he was six years old, and he remained under the care of his father until he 
was of age, attending school 

winters and working on the farm summers.

On attaining to man's estate in 1841, he went to Pennsylvania and found employ 
with his uncle, remaining 

one year, and was afterward in the service of various other persons.  He 
rented the farm of the McCoy 

estate in 18--, and there remained until the winter of 1856, when he settled 
on the place where he now 

resides, in Mecosta Tp.  The family first lived in a rude house of logs, with 
one room and one window.  

Ventilation and light were secured by the style as well as method of the 
architecture.  Succeeding seasons 

have gradualy improved their condition until Mr. Kent now owns a farm 
considered second to none in the 

county, containing 310 acres, worth $100 an acre, and supplied with first-
class buildings.  At the date of 

their location the wilderness was in its primal condition, bears and wolves 
disputing the right of 

possession with the settlers.  One instance is related of a bold Bruin, which 
approached near enough to a 

blackberrying party to devour a pail of the fruit which had been gathered and 
left to await the end of the 

picking.

Mr. Kent occupies a prominent position in his township as a pioneer and a man 
interested in all that can 

affect the substantial and material growth and prosperity of the community.  
He is a Democrat in political 

sentiment, and although he has held the post of Supervisor two years, he has, 
with that exception, declined 

all elective positions save that of Township Clerk, which he held two years.

He was married June 3, 1847, to Mary, daughter of David Butler.  The family 
were of English descent.  Mrs. 

Kent was born in 1826, and died June 27, following her marriage, a period of a 
little more than three 

weeks.  Mr. Kent was again married Dec. 18, 1848, to Mrs. Mary McCoy, daughter 
of William and Elizabeth 

(Lock) Greer, of Scotch and Irish descent.  Mrs. Kent was born May 14, 1825, 
in Mercer Co., Pa.,  She was 

left an orphan at the age of 13 years and secured such educational and other 
advantages as she could under 

the circumstances.  The 12 children of Mr. and Mrs. Kent were born as 
follows:  Laura, Oct. 9, 1849; Sadie, 

Sept. 8, 1851; Edward, Sept. 17, 1854; Mattie, May 16, 1858; Thompson V., 
Sept. 20, 1859; Monroe, Aug. 3, 

1862; William G., June 17, 1865.  The above are the survivors, seven in 
number.  Following is the record of 

the deceased:  Franklin, born, Feb. 12, 1853, died Oct. 19, 1855; James L., 
born Sept. 17, 1856, died June 

28, 1860; Ernest, born Feb. 14, 1861, died Feb. 22, 1861.  John G. McCoy, a 
son by the first marriage of 

Mrs. Kent, was born April 28, 1847, and died Feb 14, 1871.

The parents are members of the M.E. Church, and take a great interest in the 
moral and intellectual 

developmet of their children.  The daughter Mattie is a teacher in the high 
school at Cadillac, Mich.

Additional Comments:
1883 Portrait & Bio Album of Mecosta Co.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/kent540nbs.txt

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