Arthur Wood KENT December 18, 1847 - September 22, 1912 You are here: Photo Albums • KENT • Arthur Wood History of Arthur Wood KENT By Justin Kent, Arthur's great-great-great grandson Arthur Wood KENT was born to Samuel Wood KENT and Margaret Mary HALL on December 18, 1847, in Essex, England. When Arthur was a young man, he learned the trade of painting and paperhanging, being taught by his father (whose occupation included plumber and glazier). In addition to house painting (both inside and out) and paperhanging, A. W. also learned wood graining, sign writing and mirror silvering. Sometime around 1860, after living in Old Ongar, Essex, the family moved to Croydon, Surrey, England. When Arthur was young (about 18 or 19 years old), living in Croydon, he met Eliza Ann WEST. Eliza was the daughter of John and Eliza WEST, born May 27, 1848 in Croydon, Surrey, England. The couple married on August 29, 1867 at the Pancras District Registry Office in Middlesex. Arthur and Eliza lived at 21 Maldose Road in Pancras at the time of their marriage and later moved to #2 Benson Lane in Croydon where their first child was born. Maude Mary Eliza KENT was born Thursday, April 3, 1868. The year of 1870 brought significant changes for the family. Eliza gave birth to their second child, Jessie Sarah Kent on April 11, 1870 in Mitcham. Around this time Arthur left England on ship to Quebec and then on to Ontario, where he joined two of his brothers (one being Frederick Wood KENT, who came to Canada ten years earlier). Eliza stayed in England until late May or early June, when she and the two girls left on the six week voyage across the Atlantic. After reuniting, Arthur and Eliza decided to settle in Ontario, where they had their next five children. Florence Harriet Kent was born on April 14, 1872 in Walker Villa, Essex, Ontario. The fourth child born was Helen Maria (Nellie) Kent on December 21, 1873 in Dundas Co., Wentworth, Ontario. Around 1875, the family moved to Grimsby, Lincoln, Ontario, where three more Kent children were born. Emily Lucy Kent was the fifth, born February 10, 1876. Sadly though, Emily survived only 5 days. Arthur John Samuel Kent was the next child to join the family, being born on February 2, 1877. The seventh and last of the children to be born in Canada was Alfred George Egbert Kent, born April 28, 1879, in Grimsby. After learning of his brother Frederick’s death in 1878, Arthur decided to move the family to Vassar, Michigan to be near to his brother’s family. The family left Ontario and moved to Michigan sometime in either late 1879 or early 1880. Elgirtha (Gert) May Kent was the first of the Kent children to be born in the U.S. Gert was born October 21, 1881 in Vassar. In 1883 the Kent family moved to Springfield, Illinois. There, Endymion Richard Kent, the ninth child, was born March 28, 1884. During the next five years Arthur and Eliza endured grief beyond which words could describe, losing their next three children as infants. Eliza Ann Kent was the tenth child and second who did not survive infancy, dying the same day as her birth on Monday, May 24, 1886. The eleventh, and third child not to survive was Eliza Jane Kent, born Saturday, April 30, 1887. Eliza Jane lived just two weeks, passing away on May 15th. In 1888, Florence Harriet Kent became very ill and died at the age of sixteen. The twelfth child born was Alice Elizabeth Kent, born February 6, 1889 and passing on June 10th in Lincoln, Illinois. Remarkably, even after the loss of five children, Arthur and Eliza were determined to have more children. Ethel Ilean Kent was born June 26, 1890 in Lincoln, Illinois. The last child born was Celia Ferne Kent, born March 21, 1893 and dying just after her fifth birthday on March 26, 1898. In 1894, nearly 25 years after their move to America, Arthur and Eliza decided to make a return trip to Croydon, England to visit their family whom they had left behind. They left New York for Liverpool in December of 1894, and were gone for nearly two months. On the return trip from Liverpool to Queenstown, Arthur and Eliza sailed on the S.S. Teutonic (of the White Star fleet), a ship known to be one of the fastest of its day for crossing the Atlantic (crossing in just five to seven days). The ship arrived in Queenstown on February 11, 1895, after being delayed and feared lost at sea because of encountering a large storm. Arthur Wood KENT Family c. 1896 - 1898 - Lincloln, Illinois Back Row: Arthur John Samuel, Jessie, Alfred, Maude and Endymion "Dim" Front Row: Arthur Wood, Elgirtha, Helen "Nellie", Ethel and Eliza In 1898, Arthur learned of the cheap land grants being given in Western Canada. The family left Illinois, by train, for Canada in April of 1899 on what would be their last move. Arthur and Eliza first brought the family to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, but decided that it was not the place for the family so they continued west. The family came to Lacombe, Alberta, where Arthur had a sister (Maria Ince) living. Arthur petitioned for a land grant after their arrival, and received the land on May 1, 1899 so he, Eliza, and the three children remaining at home could take up homesteading. The land Arthur received was called Blueberry Hill. Arthur built a small log cabin there which was about 24 by 20 feet. The cabin was built, and residency established, on May 6, 1899. He also built a cowshed and a well on the land. By 1901, Arthur was cropping about 32 acres of land per year. Arthur opened a paint and paper store (with the A. W. Kent name on the store front) on Barnett Avenue about 1902, where he and his sons worked. He often worked outside of the shop painting and putting up wallpaper in houses and other businesses in the local area. He also joined the local Masonic lodge, where he became a valued and respected member. Sometime in the fall or winter of 1911, Arthur became ill. The illness extended nearly a year before it claimed his life on September 22, 1912. His funeral was held on a Tuesday afternoon at the home (presumed Arthur & Eliza's) under the auspices of the local masonic lodge. The ceremony was conducted by Rev. F.W. Locke. After A.W.'s death, the shop was taken over by the three sons (Art, Dim and Alf) and was in business until 1916. Arthur and Eliza were members of the Church of England, and both are buried in the Fairview Cemetery (sharing plots with their son Richard "Dim" and his wife Mabel) in Lacombe, Alberta. Photo Gallery Eliza - c. 1888-90 - Lincoln, Illinois c. 1888-90 - Lincoln, Illinois three of Arthur's children - Arthur John Samuel, Endymion Richard and Alfred George Egbert - Lincoln, Illinois, c. 1890 Arthur Wood KENT Family c. early 1900's close-up of the above photo Lacombe, Alberta - c. April, 1912 Lacombe, Alberta, Canada - Fairview Cemetery Note: A huge thank you to cousin Justin KENT for sharing this information and these wonderful photos! Visit his web site at www.ArthurKent.com for more information about Arthur Wood KENT.

Jump to any section!-------------------------------------- Home Surname IndexPhoto AlbumsWhat's New?Sign/View GuestbookDownload GEDCOMAboutContactWeb Design     Birth: 18 Dec 1847, Croydon, London, England Death: 22 Sep 1912, Lacombe, Alberta, Canada Burial: Lacombe, Alberta - Fairview Cemetery Father: Samuel Wood KENT Mother: Margaret Mary HALL Siblings: Frederick Wood KENT Harry Wood KENT Walter KENT Ted KENT Alfred KENT Jane KENT Harriet KENT Maria Ince KENT Marriage: Eliza Ann WEST - 29 Aug 1867, Pancras District Registry Office, Middlesex, England Children: Maude Mary Eliza KENT Jessie Sarah KENT Florence Harriett KENT Helen Maria KENT Arthur John Samuel KENT Alfred George Egbert KENT Elgirtha May KENT Endymian Richard KENT Eliza Ann KENT Alice Elizabeth KENT Eliza Jane KENT Ethel Ilean KENT Celia Ferne KENT     Death of A. W. Kent A. W. Kent, one of Lacombe's most highly respected businessmen, died on Sunday evening last after an illness extending over a year. He was in his 65th year. The funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon, under the auspices of the local Masonic Lodge, of which deceased was a valued member. The ceremony was conducted at the home by Rev. F. W. Locke. Deceased leaves to mourn his demise a wife and family of grown up sons and daughters, who have the sincere sympathy of the citizens of Lacombe in their great loss. MRS. KENT (Eliza Ann WEST KENT) September 23rd Mrs. Kent who had been a patient at the Deaconess hospital was taken to her home in La Combe, Alta., Canada. She was accompanied by her daughters, Mrs. A.M. Duff and Mrs. Mayo Haas. Her wishes were to see all of her children before passing away and to go to her home in the northwest, which were granted her, with just one exception. One son could not be there at the family reunion. Exactly two weeks after leaving here, Mrs. Kent went into her heavenly reward, dying October 10, at 5:25 p.m. Her wish fulfilled, her vitality seemed to cease and her third and last wish was to go to her heavenly Father to join those who went before her. She was laid to rest in her Canadian home.   www.ArthurKent.com

Arthur Wood KENT is Robyn's great-great-great-granduncle (the brother of Robyn's great-great-great-grandfather). Robyn EASTMAN > Rilla KENT > Warren KENT, Sr. > Arthur KENT > Frederick Wilhelm KENT > Frederick Wood KENT > Samuel KENT & Mary HALL < Arthur Wood

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