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WHO WAS WHO in PLUM TOWNSHIP
~ Titusville Herald ~
By H. W. Strawbridge

Elijah Kent

Elijah Kent, a well respected young man, was born in June 1853. Practically no information is available about his childhood. The place of his birth and names of his parents are also lost by the passing of time. He was a good looking young fellow, as the photograph shows, and is said to have been just average size.
As a youngster he apparently was hired by James F. Davison as a farm laborer on the Davison farm east of Bradleytown. Young Kent helped Davison to clear his large garden plot of stone. There were so many stones on it that both spent a day and a half hauling them off it. Kent later went away or back to his home for some time.
Records show that he arrived back for a definite stay on the Davison place in 1876 or 1877. He then was 22 or 23 years old. He owned a nice horse and carriage.
On Oct. 22, 1877, Lafayette Straite, a brother-in-law of James F. Davison, sold 22 acres and 42 perches to Elijah for 717. This land was due south of the Davison farm, or what is now the residences of Leo S. Bumpus and Robert Noel. Davison was the grandfather of Mr. Bumpus. Although the deed states that Elijah was sole grantee, it is said that Davison also had an interest in the 22 acres too. It was flat and easy to farm.
Elijah and James farmed and worked together. They exchanged tools and work for the benefit of each other. James always thought a lot of Elijah and remarked much about him in later years.
On Jan. 9, 1879, Elijah was married to Miss Lina E. Foster at the home of her stepfather and mother, Lafayette and Isabelle Davison Straite, which was situated just south of the Davison place. They were married by Rev. T.D.Stewart, popular young pastor of the Sunville Presbyterian Church, of which the bride was a member. Lina’s father, Mr. Foster, had died when she was a girl. Her mother later married Mr. Straite, who sold the 22 acres to Elijah in 1877. Lina was a good sized woman, having been taller and heavier than average.
Elijah and Lina were married only two days after the wedding of her aunt, Miss Lysta Davison, to John Zeigler. They were also married by Rev. Stewart.
Elijah and Lina made their home with her folks in the house that now stands vacant back in the field. This old house formerly stood by Oil Creek. Lafayette Straite bought it, and had it torn down and rebuilt on its present location. Milton Rieb carpentered it. It was one of the first jobs that Mr. Bumpus’ late father, Fred Bumpus, worked on, having learned the trade under Rieb. James Davison until Jan. 1, 1881, when he sold his interest to James for the same price he paid for it. Elijah reserved a long lane that extended past the buildings and back into the rear portion of the fields. Incidentally, Elijah’s wife was a niece of James.
Elijah, Lina and their only son, Arthur R. Kent then moved to Cranberry Township. He then secured employment in a sawmill situated in either President Township or Forest County.
On Monday, Jan. 16, 1882, their son, Arthur, died of what may have been diphtheria. The little fellow was about a year and a half old. He was born Aug. 15, 1880. He was interred in the Sunville Cemetery on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Just four months later, May 17, 1882, Elijah was instantly killed in the sawmill when he attempted to throw off a belt. In some manner he got caught in it and was thrown into the workings, which may have been the circular saw. The impact penetrated his skull and laid open his brain. He was of course dead when the other men reached him. He lacked a month of reaching his 29th birthday.
Elijah’s body was returned to Sunville and interred beside his little son. Their graves are just a few feet away from the church building.
Lina later married a man named Orville Cook, and they lived for some time in Lawrence County. They eventually made a trip to Idaho where they lived for some time, then moved back to Lawrence county where he died.
Lina's half-brother, Charles Straite, who lived near Riceville, went down and brought her to his home where she died about 1940 at an advanced age. She is buried at Riceville.

Transcribed by Paula Harry
dharry@pa.rr.com

Disclaimer:there may be errors due to transcription of information from both early and late (current contributors) work.

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