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Zenas Kent family papers
Special Collections and Archives
Zenas Kent family papers
Special Collections and Archives
Zenas Kent family papers
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
