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Zenas Kent family papers
Special Collections and Archives
Zenas Kent family papers
Special Collections and Archives
Zenas Kent family papers
- Repository: Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
- Title: Zenas Kent family papers
- Inclusive Date(s): 1827-1949
- Author: Finding aid prepared by Caitlin McCallum, June 2015
- Creation: Finding aid encoded by Caitlin McCallum using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2015
- Origination: Kent, Zenas, 1786-1865
- Extent: 1.5 cubic feet (2 boxes= 1 record storage box and 1 oversized box)
- Physical Location: 11th floor
- Finding Aid Identifier: OhKeUSC0165
- Abstract: The Zenas Kent family papers, dating from 1827 to 1949, contain a general overview of the lives of Zenas Kent and other Kent family members. This collection consists of various items including correspondence, financial documents, news clippings and newspapers, photographs, as well as other publications and writings pertaining to and originating from the Kent family.
- Language(s): The records are in English
Biography of Zenas Kent and Marvin Kent
Zenas Kent, born July 12, 1786, in Middletown Connecticut was married to Pamelia Lewis, also of Connecticut in 1811. During their fifty-three years of marriage they had thirteen children. Shortly after getting married, Zenas moved with his father's family to Mantua, Ohio and after securing a home, returned for Pamelia. In 1815 they moved to Hudson and Zenas, after receiving some initial financial backing, opened a general store in Ravenna. He continued to be prosperous in his endeavors in Ravenna as both a merchant and a builder. By 1831, Zenas was the senior partner of the firm Kent and Brewster which had a store in Hudson. In 1832 Zenas, with David Ladd, purchased a large tract of land in Franklin Mills which included waterpower from the Cuyahoga River. Zenas later bought Ladd's portion and built the Kent Flouring Mill which remained in operation for many decades after its opening. Zenas sold this property to the Franklin Land Company which afterward became the Franklin Silk Company for $75,000. By 1843, the Franklin Silk Company was in a disastrous state and Zenas ended up with most of the property he had sold. After being active thirty years in business, Zenas Kent retired and sold most of his stock of goods to his sons Marvin, Charles H., and Henry A. Despite being retired, Zenas remained an important member of the community as the president of the Franklin Bank of Portage County from its establishment in 1849 until 1864. Zenas passed October 4, 1865. Through his career, Zenas helped shape the city of Franklin Mills which later became the city of Kent.
Another prominent member of the Kent family was Marvin Kent, the third child born to Zenas and Pamelia on September 21, 1816. At age nineteen, he was sent to Philadelphia and New York with the instructions to buy stock of goods which proved to be a profitable venture. Upon his return home, Marvin continued to develop as a businessman through overseeing several businesses his father had started such as the tannery and the Kent Flouring Mill. Marvin also established a glassworks that was later purchased by Day, Williams, and Company. His greatest endeavor was yet to come; in 1851 he joined others in the engineering of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. The railroad was completed in 1863 and using his influence, Marvin had Franklin Mills selected as a site for the railroad's shops. The construction of these shops caused a boom in the population of the city. Out of gratitude, and to honor the work Marvin had done, the city name was changed to Kent. Marvin became president of what was now called the Kent National Bank and held his position until 1908 when he passed away.
Scope and Content
The Zenas Kent family papers include correspondence, financial documents, news clippings and newspapers, photographs, publications, writings, reports and certificates. Correspondence forms the bulk of this collection and includes correspondence written to and from Zenas Kent and other Kent family members. The correspondence details the personal and professional lives of the Kent family. Included in the collection is correspondence to and from Frank Rumrill which were written during Rumrill's time in California. The items within the collection give insight into the significance of Zenas and the Kent family to the city of Kent as well as documenting their activities.
Statement of Arrangement
This collection is arranged predominantly in chronological order with the exception of the series Photographs and Publications and Writings. The items that are not arranged chronologically are instead arranged alphabetically. The Zenas Kent family papers are divided into series as follows:
- Series 1: Correspondence
- Subseries 1: Correspondence to Zenas Kent
- Subseries 2: Correspondence to and from Frank Rumrill
- Subseries 3: Other Correspondence
- Series 2: Financial Documents
- Series 3: News Clippings and Newspapers
- Subseries 1: News Clippings
- Subseries 2: Newspapers
- Series 4: Photographs
- Series 5: Publications and Writings
- Series 6: Reports and Certificates
Related Material
Further information concerning the Kent family can be found in the Kent Family papers.
Restrictions on Access
Original periodical clippings are very fragile, color photocopies for research use have been provided.
Preferred Citation
Zenas Kent family papers. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Acquisition Information
Mary Johnston donated this collection to Special Collections and Archives on September 2, 2014.
Bibliography
Grismer, Karl. The History of Kent: Historical and Biographical. Kent: Kent Historical Society, 2001.
Subject Headings
The following subjects are found in this collection:
- Subjects:
- Kent, Zenas, 1786-1865--Archives
- Franklin Mills (Ohio)--History
- Kent (Ohio)--History
- Railroads--Ohio--Kent
- Banks and banking--Ohio
- Stores, Retail--Ohio
- Flour industry--Ohio--Kent
- Persons:
- Kent, Marvin, 1816-1908
- Rumrill, Frank
- Functions:
- Letter writing
- Commerce
- Industrial management
- Occupations:
- Industrialists
- Businessmen
- Bankers
- Civic leaders
- Material Types:
- Correspondence
- Financial records
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Photographs
- Publications
- Reports
- Certificates
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Correspondence, 1827-1905
Sub-Series 1: Correspondence to Zenas Kent, 1827-1862
- Box 1 / Folder 1
- S. Robin to Zenas Kent, January 31, 1827
- Box 1 / Folder 2
- Alonso Chapmon to Zenas Kent, May 29, 1831
- Box 1 / Folder 3
- Zalmon Felch to Zenas Kent, June 15, 1831
- Box 1 / Folder 4
- Charles G. Paine to Zenas Kent, October 23, 1831
- Box 1 / Folder 5
- Graves and Merrick Goodun to Zenas Kent, January 3, 1832
- Box 1 / Folder 6
- B. O. Brown to Zenas Kent, May 30, 1832
- Box 1 / Folder 7
- Henry Kent to Zenas Kent, April 24, 1833
- Box 1 / Folder 8
- A. Sepnom to Zenas Kent, February 15, 1834
- Box 1 / Folder 9
- George Kirkurn to Zenas Kent and Cyrus Prentiss, December 20, 1834
- Box 1 / Folder 10
- Roswell Kent to Zenas Kent, August 23, 1835
- Box 1 / Folder 11
- Marvin Kent to Zenas Kent, September 10, 1835
- Box 1 / Folder 12
- Henry Kent to Zenas Kent, 1835
- Box 1 / Folder 13
- Henry Kent to Zenas Kent, February 5, 1836
- Box 1 / Folder 14
- Henry Kent to Zenas Kent, March 11, 1836
- Box 1 / Folder 15
- Henry Howe to Zenas Kent, October 5, 1836
- Box 1 / Folder 16
- George Kent to Zenas Kent, January 12, 1837
- Box 1 / Folder 17
- Roswell Kent to Zenas Kent, April 6, 1837
- Box 1 / Folder 18
- P. F. Griswold to Zenas Kent, November 16, 1837
- Box 1 / Folder 19
- D. H. Beardsley to Zenas Kent, March 7, 1838
- Box 1 / Folder 20
- Marvin Kent to Zenas Kent, April 8, 1839
- Box 1 / Folder 21
- B. Bostwick to Zenas Kent, February 1, 1840
- Box 1 / Folder 22
- J. F. Potmin to Zenas Kent, March 11, 1840
- Box 1 / Folder 23
- J. B. Douglass to Zenas Kent, April 16, 1840
- Box 1 / Folder 24
- D. H. Beardsley to Zenas Kent, April 6, 1841
- Box 1 / Folder 25
- Marvin Kent to Zenas Kent, February 20, 1843
- Box 1 / Folder 26
- B. Hendly to Zenas Kent, September 12, 1844
- Box 1 / Folder 27
- M. Johnson to Zenas Kent, March 5, 1846
- Box 1 / Folder 28
- W. I. [G.?] Otis to Zenas Kent, July 16, 1847
- Box 1 / Folder 29
- [J. W. Bringham?] to Zenas Kent, August 2, 1847
- Box 1 / Folder 30
- George Kent to Zenas Kent, January 25, 1848
- Box 1 / Folder 31
- Marvin Kent to Zenas Kent, May 26, 1848
- Box 1 / Folder 32
- Marvin Kent to Zenas Kent, June 8, 1848
- Box 1 / Folder 33
- Roswell Kent to Zenas Kent, November 25, 1848
- Box 1 / Folder 34
- George Kent to Zenas Kent, March 19, 1849
- Box 1 / Folder 35
- J. Poag to Zenas Kent, January 28, 1850
- Box 1 / Folder 36
- Roswell Kent to Zenas Kent, April 15, 1850
- Box 1 / Folder 37
- Roswell Kent to Zenas Kent, December 23, 1850
- Box 1 / Folder 38
- James H. McClentie to Zenas Kent, March 6, 1851
- Box 1 / Folder 39
- Marvin Kent to Zenas Kent, March 22, 1851
- Box 1 / Folder 40
- L. J. Pick to Zenas Kent, April 12, 1851
- Box 1 / Folder 41
- Charles H. Kent to Zenas Kent, August 20, 1861
- Box 1 / Folder 42
- Lewis Kent to Zenas Kent, October 17, 1862
- Box 1 / Folder 43
- Anne Kent to Zenas Kent, March 12
- Box 1 / Folder 44
- George L. Mills to Zenas Kent, May 13
- Box 1 / Folder 45
- George Rurdhin to Zenas Kent, May 23
- Box 1 / Folder 46
- Unidentified to Zenas Kent, August 15
- Box 1 / Folder 47
- F. R. Elliot to Zenas Kent, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 48
- T. C. Perkins to Zenas Kent, undated
Sub-Series 2: Correspondence to and from Frank Rumrill, 1851-1856
- Box 1 / Folder 49
- Austin Babcock and L. D. M. Neal to Frank Rumrill, February 23-February 24, 1851
- Box 1 / Folder 50
- G. E. Clarke to Frank Rumrill, March 26, 1851
- Box 1 / Folder 51
- Fred Wadsworth to Frank Rumrill, August 2, 1851
- Box 1 / Folder 52
- G. E. Clarke to Frank Rumrill, August 30, 1851
- Box 1 / Folder 53
- J. W. Gregory to Frank Rumrill, November 24, 1851
- Box 1 / Folder 54
- Frank Rumrill to unidentified, May 23, 1852
- Box 1 / Folder 55
- Frank Rumrill to Henrietta, June 20, 1852
- Box 1 / Folder 56
- Frank Rumrill to Henrietta, July 13, 1852
- Box 1 / Folder 57
- J.W. Gregory to Frank Rumrill, September 20, 1852
- Box 1 / Folder 58
- J. W. Gregory to Frank Rumrill, September 23, 1852
- Box 1 / Folder 59
- Frank Rumrill to J. W. Gregory, September 26, 1852
- Box 1 / Folder 60
- R. W. [Warhms?] to Frank Rumrill, July 25, 1853
- Box 1 / Folder 61
- Wells, Fargo, and Company to Frank Rumrill, July 25, 1853
- Box 1 / Folder 62
- Frank Rumrill to Henrietta, August 10, 1853
- Box 1 / Folder 63
- Henrietta to Frank Rumrill, August 15, 1853
- Box 1 / Folder 64
- Frank Rumrill to Henrietta, August 21, 1853
- Box 1 / Folder 65
- Frank Rumrill to Brother, May 23, 1854
- Box 1 / Folder 66
- W. M. to Frank Rumrill, May 28, 1854
- Box 1 / Folder 67
- Frank Rumrill to Henrietta, August 5, 1854
- Box 1 / Folder 68
- G. J. Davis to Frank Rumrill, November 3, 1854
- Box 1 / Folder 69
- W. J. Pardee to Frank Rumrill, February 3, 1855
- Box 1 / Folder 70
- W. J. Pardee to Frank Rumrill, February 3, 1855
- Box 1 / Folder 71
- Unidentified to Frank Rumrill, March 7, 1855
- Box 1 / Folder 72
- Unidentified to Frank Rumrill, March 8, 1855
- Box 1 / Folder 73
- James Pullman to Frank Rumrill, March 12, 1855
- Box 1 / Folder 74
- Unidentified to Frank Rumrill, June 28, 1855
- Box 1 / Folder 75
- James Pullman to Frank Rumrill, May 21, 1856
- Box 1 / Folder 76
- James Pullman to Frank Rumrill, October 19, 1856
- Box 1 / Folder 77
- Frank Rumrill to unidentified, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 78
- Unidentified envelopes, undated
Sub-Series 3: Other correspondence, 1842-1905
- Box 1 / Folder 79
- Marvin Kent to Norman Rood, December 8, 1842
- Box 1 / Folder 80
- Mr. Taylor to Joseph Lepran, January 4, 1843
- Box 1 / Folder 81
- Marvin Kent to Wells, Woodbridge, and Edward, April 23, 1843
- Box 1 / Folder 82
- Farmer to J. Poag, November 21, 1849
- Box 1 / Folder 83
- W. J. Pardee to C. H. Hedges, March 13, 1855
- Box 1 / Folder 84
- C. Aluatu to J. F. Brimmach, June 1861
- Box 1 / Folder 85
- Syman C. Draper to Marvin Kent, May 21, 1862
- Box 1 / Folder 86
- Henry to Joe, March 3, 1864
- Box 1 / Folder 87
- Henry Kent to Josie, April 10, 1864
- Box 1 / Folder 88
- Josie to Mother, March 23, 1868
- Box 1 / Folder 89
- Josie to Mother, 1868
- Box 1 / Folder 90
- Josie to Mother, May 30, 1869
- Box 1 / Folder 91
- Henry Kent to Grace, September 30, 1889
- Box 1 / Folder 92
- Momma to Grace, October 20, 1889
- Box 1 / Folder 93
- Marvin Kent to Grace, July 26, 1904
- Box 1 / Folder 94
- Marvin Kent to Marvin Kent Curtis and Josephine Curtis, September 28, 1905
- Box 1 / Folder 95
- Harriet Clapp to Mother, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 96
- Unidentified envelopes, undated
Series 2: Financial Documents, 1828-1889
- Box 1 / Folder 97
- Receipt from Johnson and Wickson to Zenas Kent, November 9, 1828
- Box 1 / Folder 98
- Invoice for "The Statesman from John B. Butler to Zenas Kent, May 23, 1830
- Box 1 / Folder 99
- Receipt from Clarke and Tallmadge to Zenas Kent, July 31, 1830
- Box 1 / Folder 100
- Duplicate invoice from unidentified to Zenas Kent, Decmber 18, 1830
- Box 1 / Folder 101
- Receipt from unidentified to Zenas Kent, November 27, 1835
- Box 1 / Folder 102
- Property appraisal from John B. Butler to Zenas Kent and Brewster, February 20, 1840
- Box 1 / Folder 103
- Bankruptcy notice from the District Court of the United States for the District of Ohio to Zenas Kent, June 10, 1842
- Box 1 / Folder 104
- Invoice from B. Taylor to Zenas Kent, February 1, 1843
- Box 1 / Folder 105
- Receipt from Sprang and Company to Zenas Kent, October 12, 1846
- Box 1 / Folder 106
- Order to E. H. Limes Court Dressmaker, October 1872
- Box 1 / Folder 107
- Receipt from Heyse and Weisgerber to Marvin Kent, October 1889
- Box 1 / Folder 108
- The Kent National Bank, Ten Dollar Bill signed by William S. Kent, 1904
- Box 1 / Folder 109
- Memorandum from Marvin Kent to Henry A. Kent, September 15
- Box 1 / Folder 110
- Franklin Silk Company, Five Dollar Scrip, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 111
- Franklin Silk Company, Ten Dollar Scrip, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 112
- Memorandum of Drafts drawn by Frank Rumrill, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 113
- Transcript of Ledger due Wells, Fargo, and Company, undated
Series 3: News Clippings and Newspapers, 1858-1951
Sub-Series 1: News Clippings, [1860?]-1951
- Box 1 / Folder 114
- Weekly Plain Dealer, [1860?]
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Box 1 / Folder 115
- News clippings in reference to the Atlantic and Great Western Railway and Marvin Kent, [1865?]
-
Physical Description: Original copies are fragile; please use reference copies
- Box 1 / Folder 116
- The Akron Times, December 11, 1908
- Box 1 / Folder 117
- The Glasgow Herald, June 23, 1935
- Box 1 / Folder 118
- The Daily Mail, February 23, 1931
- Box 1 / Folder 119
- The Plain Dealer, June 29, 1938
- Box 1 / Folder 120
- unidentified news clipping, November 26, 1948
- Box 1 / Folder 121
- Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 3, 1951
- Box 1 / Folder 122
- The Akron Times, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 123
- Unidentified news clipping, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 124
- Unidentified news clipping, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 125
- Unidentified news clippings, scrapbook, undated
Sub-Series 2: Newspapers, 1858-1927
- Box 1 / Folder 126
- The New York Times, February 22, 1858
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Box 1 / Folder 127
- Cleveland Daily Review, May 6, 1861
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Box 1 / Folder 128
- The Saturday Review, June 2, 1866
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Box 1 / Folder 129
- The Saturday Review, June 9, 1866
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Box 1 / Folder 130
- Cleveland Daily Herald, July 6, 1875
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Box 1 / Folder 131
- The Chicago Record, August 18, 1899
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Box 1 / Folder 132
- The Kent Courier, December 18, 1908
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Box 1 / Folder 133
- The Kent Tribune, March 8, 1923
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Box 1 / Folder 134
- Reprints of The Times for the British Empire Exhibition, 1924
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Box 1 / Folder 135
- The Nassau Guardian, July 31, 1926
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Box 1 / Folder 136
- Le Matin, May 22, 1927
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Language(s): The records are in French
- Box 1 / Folder 137
- Paris-Soir, June 5, 1927
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Language(s): The records are in French
Series 4: Photographs, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 138
- Grace Kent, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 139
- Grace Kent, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 140
- Marvin Kent home, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 141
- Marvin Kent home, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 142
- Marvin Kent home, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 143
- Marvin Kent home, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 144
- Marvin Kent home, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 145
- Marvin Kent rail car dedication, undated
-
Physical Description: Includes George Bowman, Frank Dangler, Paul Johnston, Josephine Curtis Bergin, Judith Kent Bergin, George Morse, Charles Gilbert
- Box 1 / Folder 146
- Zenas Kent, illustrated plate, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 147
- Unidentified house, Shaker Heights, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 148
- Unidentified male, undated
Series 5: Publications and Writings, 1855-1949
- Box 1 / Folder 149
- "Bill of Fare", June 4, 1869
- Box 1 / Folder 150
- "Biographical Encyclopedia", excerpt on Marvin Kent, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 151
- "Biographical Encyclopedia", excerpt on Zenas Kent, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 152
- "Catalogue of the Teachers' Institute", March17-28, 1856
- Box 1 / Folder 153
- Comic Valentine by T. W. Strong, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 154
- Grace Kent, composition journal, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 155
- Kent National Bank, souvenir book, 1918
- Box 1 / Folder 156
- "Life Sketches of Zenas and Marvin Kent", undated
- Box 1 / Folder 157
- "Life Sketches of Zenas and Marvin Kent, Esqs.", undated
- Box 1 / Folder 158
- Marvin Kent birthday commemoration, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 159
- "Ohio's Progressive Sons", excerpt on Marvin Kent, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 160
- "The Ohio Story" script, No. 413 " Marvin Kent's Footnote", August 24, 1949
- Box 1 / Folder 161
- "Panorama of the Seat of the War", undated
- Physical Location: Filed in oversized box
- Box 1 / Folder 162
- "Peter Coddle's Trip to New York, Three Games in One", 1858
- Box 1 / Folder 163
- Photograph booklet of Kent Landmarks, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 164
- Poem, G. E. Kent, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 165
- Poem, unidentified, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 166
- Poster, Franklin High School, April 12, 1859
- Box 1 / Folder 167
- "Rocks of Melchior Islands, Antarctica", Duncan Stewart Junior, August 1947
- Box 1 / Folder 168
- "Sketch of the Life of Marvin Kent with Portrait", undated
- Box 1 / Folder 169
- "Thanksgiving Tempus", November 26, 1867
- Box 1 / Folder 170
- "Third Annual Report of the President, Directors, and Secretary of the Atlantic and Great Western Rail Road Company with the Report of the Chief Engineer", July 10, 1855
Series 6: Reports and Certificates, 1849-1871
- Box 1 / Folder 171
- Grade reports from Union College for George L. Kent, 1847-1849
- Box 1 / Folder 172
- Induction certificate into the Sons of Temperance for Frank Rumrill, February 8, 1854
- Box 1 / Folder 173
- Cleveland Female Seminary report of Miss J. Collins, June 29, 1859
- Box 1 / Folder 174
- Induction certificate into the Supreme Council for Henry L. Kent, March 9, 1871
