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��COL. HENRY O. KENT.
��campaign which followed was close and exciting, but resulted in the election of Col. Blair, the Republican candidate, by a plurality of 209 votes. While Col. Kent ran ahead of his ticket in some localities, receiving support which would not have been accorded another candidate of the same party, there were a few Democrats in the District, who, remembering his antagonism to their party in former years, could not overcome their prejudices suf. ficiently to give him their support. In the Presidential campaign of 1S76, he was early in the field, as a champion of the election of Samuel J. Tilden. Commen- cing upon the stump in Vermont in Au- gust, he addressed several large audiences in that state. Returning to New Hamp- shire, he was actively engaged for several weeks previous to the election, speaking in all sections, and everywhere to large and enthusiastic audiences, but w r as en- tirely unable to respond to all the calls made for his services on the stump. In the Democratic Convention in his district last winter he was heartily and unani- mously accorded a second nomination and in the canvass that followed, although the odds from the start were strongly against the Democracy, he made a most brilliant run, the plurality of his opponent, Col. Blair, being nearly 400 less than that of Gov. Prescott, in the district.
Col. Kent is now fully engaged in the direction of his business affairs, which altogether, furnish an ample field for all his energies and talent. Yet he has abated in no degree his interest in poli- tics, and will undoubtedly respond to any call which the party with which he is as- sociated may hereafter make for his ser- vices in its cause.
As has been said, he has always given earnest encouragement to all enterprises calculated to promote the material wel- fare and prosperity of his section. Not the least of these is the Agricultural So- ciety of the Counties of Coos and Essex, in securing whose organization he was es- pecially active. He was for several years Treasurer of this Society, and contributed largely by his efforts toward establish-
��ing it upon its present flourishing basis. He has of late declined re-election, but is still Treasurer of the Association owning the grounds upon which the annual fairs of the society are held.
In the advancement of educational in- terests Col. Kent has always been earn- estly engaged, and he is at the present time a Trustee and Chairman of the Ex- ecutive Committee of the Corporation of Lancaster Academy, a flourishing educa- tional institution. He is also a Trustee of Norwich University, and President of the "Associated Alumni and Past Cadets" of that institution. In 1875 he addressed the associated Alumni at their reunion, and in 1876, by request, delivered an ad- dress at commencement before the Trus- tees and assembled audience, which for its eloquence and patriotic sentiments, secured hearty and general commenda- tion.
Col. Kent was married in Boston, Jan- uary 11, 1857, by the Rev. Dr. Edward N. Kirk, to Berenice A. Rowell, daughter of Samitel Rowell, a Lancaster farmer, and a sister of George P. Rowell, the well known advertising agent of New York city. They have two children, a daugh- ter — Berenice Emily — born October 30, 1866, and a son — Henry Percy — born March 8, 1870. Their house is a neat and cosy. cottage, without pretension to elegance, yet the abode of domestic hap- piness, comfort and content. Col. Kent's religious associations are with the Epis- copal worship, and, although not a church member, he is, with his family, a regular attendant upon the service of St. Paul's Church at Lancaster.
Of fine presence, with genial and courteous manners, and strong personal magnetism, public spirited, generous and obliging, his popularity in his section is great, as is evidenced by the large vote which he always receives when his name is upon the ticket at the elections in his own town. Still young, endowed with strong mental and physical powers, am- bitious and courageous, it is fair to pre- sume that he will yet attain still greater prominence in political and public affairs.
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