Kent, William, 1864-1928

Variant names

Hide Profile

William Kent was born on March 29, 1864 in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from Yale (B.A., 1887). From 1895 to 1897 he was a member of the Chicago City Council and was a founding member of the Municipal Voters' League. Kent moved to California in 1907. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives from California (1911-1917) and served on the U.S. Tariff Commission (1917-1921). He lost the nomination in the California senatorial election of 1920. Kent died on March 13, 1928 in Kentfield, California.

From the description of William Kent family papers, 1768-1961 (inclusive). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122563229

From the description of William Kent family papers, 1768-1961 (inclusive). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702153485

William Kent was born on March 29, 1864 in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from Yale (B.A., 1887). From 1895 to 1897 he was a member of the Chicago City Council and was a founding member of the Municipal Voters' League. Kent moved to California in 1907. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives from California (1911-1917) and served on the U.S. Tariff Commission (1917-1921). He lost the nomination in the California senatorial election of 1920. Kent died on March 13, 1928 in Kentfield, California.

Born March 29, 1864, in Chicago, Ill.

Died March 13, 1928, in Kentfield, Calif.

Father, Albert Emmett Kent (B.A. 1853), a merchant, banker, and founder of the packing industry in Chicago; son of Albert and Lucinda (Gillette) Kent; descendant of Thomas Kent, who came to America from England about 1643 and settled in Gloucester, Mass. Mother, Adaline Elizabeth (Dutton) Kent; daughter of Alvah and Elizabeth (Holt) Dutton; ancestors came from Wales to Vermont before 1700. Yale relatives include four cousins: Norton A. Kent, '95 Albert E. Kent, '97, S. Kent Morris, ex -'19 S., and Edward L. Burke, Jr., '26.

Hopkins Grammar School. First and third prizes in English composition Sophomore year; Freshman member of Yale Courant board; an editor of Yale Literary Magazine ; Class historian; member Eta Phi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Chi Delta Theta, and Skull and Bones.

Upon graduation became engaged in the management of his father's estate as member of firm of A. E. Kent & Son; in 1903 entered into partnership with his classmate, Edward L. Burke, under name of Kent & Burke (later Kent & Burke Company), dealers in live stock, grain, and land (in Genoa, Nebr., until 1012 and since then in Omaha), and remained in that connection until his death, becoming president of the company upon the death of Mr. Burke in 1926; president of Golconda (Nev.) Cattle Company 1895-1920; director of American Trust & Savings Bank of Chicago 1890-1907 of Genoa National Bank 1904-1915, and of International Company (mining) since 1902; member Chicago City Council 1895-1897; president of Municipal Voters'. League 1898-1900 (a founder of the league in 1897 and member of executive committee 1897-1904); vice-president of the Old Age Pension Association; had lived in California since 1907; represented 2d District of California in 62d Congress (1911-1913) and reelected as an Independent to 63d and 64th Congresses for the new 1st District; member U. S. Tariff Commission 1917-1921; resigned to become candidate for senator from California (defeated for nomination); honorary M.A. 1908; elected a governor of Yale Publishing Association in 1925, for a four year term; in 1924 appointed by Governor Pinchot of Pennsylvania member of Giant Power Advisory Board, which was formed to pass on final report of Giant Power Survey before it was submitted to Pennsylvania Legislature; donor of three hundred acres of land on Mount Tamalpais to the United States Government as a national monument to be known as the Muir Woods; vice-president of National Parks Association (representing California) since 1920; author: Practical Politics, A Lay Sermon (1896); had contributed numerous articles on politics to Yale Review, Survey, American Magazine, Collier's Weekly ; and other magazines; member American Economic Association, National Municipal League, Civil Service Reform League, and Illinois Civil Service Association; trustee of All Souls' Church (undenominational), Chicago 1891-1895; donor with his father in 1885 of Kent Hall, Yale University (known as Kent Chemical Laboratory until 1922).

Married February 23, 1890, in Ojai Valley, Calif., Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Anthony Thacher (B.A. 1835, LL.D. Western Reserve 1869), assistant professor and professor of the Latin language and literature at Yale 1838-1886, and Elizabeth Baldwin (Sherman) Thacher, granddaughter of Roger Sherman (B.A. 1787), great-granddaughter of Roger Sherman (honorary M.A. 1768), treasurer of Yale 1754-1776 and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a sister of Sherman D. Thacher, '83, and William L. Thacher, '87, and half sister of James K. Thacher, '68, Thomas Thacher, '71, Edward S. Thacher, '72, Alfred B. Thacher, '74, and John S. Thacher, '77. Children: Albert Emmett, '13; Thomas Thacher, '15; William, Jr., '17; Elizabeth Sherman, the wife of G. Stanleigh Arnold, '03; Adaline Dutton (B.A. Vassar 1923); Sherman, '26; and Roger, '28.

Death due to pneumonia. His ashes lie in California. Survived by wife, five sons, two daughters, and ten grandchildren.

Yale College Obituary Record, 1927-1928 . pp. 106-108.

From the guide to the William Kent family papers, 1768-1961, (Manuscripts and Archives)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn William Frederic Badè papers, 1871-1936 Bancroft Library
referencedIn Andrew Jackson Gregg Collection, 1885-1917 California state library
referencedIn James H. Barry papers, 1889-1957, (bulk 1906-1927) Bancroft Library
referencedIn Meyer Lissner Papers, 1903-1923 (inclusive), 1910-1920 (bulk) Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Kent, William, 1864-1928. William Kent family papers, 1768-1961. Yale University Library
creatorOf William Kent family papers, 1768–1961 Yale University Library
referencedIn Addams, Jane, 1860-1935. Jane Addams microfilm collection, 1890-1931(inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
referencedIn Bingham family papers Yale University Library
referencedIn Goethals, George W. (George Washington), 1858-1928. George Washington Goethals microfilm collection, 1901-1915 [microform]. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn MacVeagh, Franklin, 1837-1934. Franklin MacVeagh papers, 1861-1925 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Commonwealth Club of California. City Planning Section. Commonwealth Club of California, City Planning Section records, 1923-1927. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Yale University. Library. William Kent family papers [microform] : scrapbook. San Jose State University
creatorOf Campaign Committee for California's Water and Power Act. Letter to Joseph J. Hill : San Francisco : LS, 1922 Sept. 19. California Digital Library
creatorOf Posner, Russell Maximilian. Collection relating primarily to politics in California, 1859-1932 (bulk 1923-1932). UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Kent, Roger, 1906-1980. Roger Kent papers, [ca. 1908-1977]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Goethals, George W. (George Washington), 1858-1928. George Washington Goethals microfilm collection, 1901-1915 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
referencedIn Walter L. Fisher papers, 1871-1963, (bulk 1909-1920) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Clark, George A., 1864-1918. Fur seal controversy papers, 1897-1918. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Barry, James H. (James Henry), 1855-1927. James H. Barry papers, 1889-1957 (bulk 1906-1927). UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Lissner, Meyer, b. 1871. Meyer Lissner papers, 1903-1923 (bulk 1910-1920). Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Bingham family papers Yale University Library
referencedIn Amos Pinchot Papers, 1856-1945, (bulk 1909-1942) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Gompers, Samuel, 1850-1924. Samuel Gompers microfilm collection, 1907-1932 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
creatorOf William Kent family papers, 1768-1961 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Haines, Lynn, 1876-1929. Lynn Haines papers, 1909-1931. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Immigration Restriction League (U.S.) records, 1893-1921 Houghton Library
referencedIn Anne T. Kent California Room Collection, c.1875-Present, 1885-Present Marin County Free Library
creatorOf Kent, William, 1864-1928,. William Kent letter : Kentfield, Calif., to Franklin MacVeagh, Washington, D.C., 1911 Aug. 25. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Walter L. Fisher papers, 1871-1963, (bulk 1909-1920) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Addams, Jane, 1860-1935. person
associatedWith All Souls' Church (Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith Anne T. Kent California Room corporateBody
associatedWith Arnold, George Stanleigh, 1881-1942. person
correspondedWith Badè, William Frederic, 1871-1936 person
associatedWith Baker, Ray Stannard, 1870-1946. person
correspondedWith Barry, James H. (James Henry), 1855-1927. person
associatedWith Bingham family. family
associatedWith Bingham family. family
associatedWith Bingham family. family
associatedWith Borah, William Edgar, 1865-1940. person
associatedWith Boyden, William C. person
associatedWith Boyden, William C. person
associatedWith Brandeis, Louis Dembitz, 1856-1941. person
associatedWith Burke, Edward Lathrop, 1864-1926. person
associatedWith Campaign Committee for California's Water and Power Act. corporateBody
associatedWith Camp, Walter, 1859-1925. person
associatedWith Clark, George A., 1864-1918. person
associatedWith Commonwealth Club of California. City Planning Section. corporateBody
associatedWith Denman, William, 1872-1959. person
associatedWith Dunne, Finley Peter, 1867-1936. person
associatedWith Eastman, Max, 1883-1969. person
associatedWith Farrington, Wallace Rider, 1871-1933. person
associatedWith Fisher, Walter L. (Walter Lowrie), 1862-1935. person
associatedWith Gilson, Garland. person
associatedWith Gilson, Garland. person
associatedWith Gilson, Garland. person
associatedWith Goethals, George W. (George Washington), 1858-1928. person
associatedWith Golconda Cattle Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Golconda Cattle Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Gompers, Samuel, 1850-1924. person
associatedWith Haines, Lynn, 1876-1929. person
associatedWith Hapgood, Norman, 1868-1937. person
associatedWith Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923. person
associatedWith Heney, Francis Joseph, 1859-1937. person
associatedWith Hichborn, Franklin, 1869-1963. person
associatedWith Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964. person
associatedWith House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938. person
associatedWith Howe, Frederic Clemson, 1867-1940. person
associatedWith Ickes, Harold L. (Harold LeClair), 1874-1952. person
correspondedWith Immigration Restriction League (U.S.). corporateBody
associatedWith Johnson, Hiram, 1866-1945. person
associatedWith Jones, Jenkin Lloyd, 1843-1918. person
associatedWith Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931. person
associatedWith Kent, Albert Emmet, 1830-1901. person
associatedWith Kent, Elizabeth Thacher, 1868-1952. person
associatedWith Kent, Roger, 1906- person
associatedWith Kent, Roger, 1906- person
associatedWith Kent, Sherman. person
associatedWith Kent, Sherman, 1903- person
associatedWith King, Judson, 1872- person
associatedWith King, Judson, 1872-1958. person
associatedWith La Follette, Robert M. (Robert Marion), 1855-1925. person
associatedWith Lane, Franklin Knight, 1864-1921. person
associatedWith Lathrop, Julia Clifford, 1858-1932. person
associatedWith Lenroot, Irvine Luther, 1869-1949. person
associatedWith Lincoln-Roosevelt Republican League. corporateBody
associatedWith Lincoln-Roosevelt Republican League. corporateBody
associatedWith Lissner, Meyer, 1871-1930 person
associatedWith Lissner, Meyer, b. 1871. person
associatedWith Lloyd, Henry Demarest, 1847-1903. person
associatedWith Losh, Volna person
correspondedWith MacVeagh, Franklin, 1837-1934 person
associatedWith Marin County Free Library corporateBody
associatedWith McAdoo, W. G. (William Gibbs), 1863-1941. person
associatedWith McClatchy, Charles Kenny, 1858-1936. person
associatedWith Mead, Elwood, 1858-1936. person
associatedWith Muir, John, 1838-1914. person
associatedWith National Popular Government League. corporateBody
associatedWith National Woman's Party. corporateBody
associatedWith Norris, George W. (George William), 1861-1944. person
associatedWith Older, Fremont, 1856-1935. person
associatedWith Phelan, James D. (James Duval), 1861-1930. person
associatedWith Phillips, John Sanburn, 1861-1949. person
associatedWith Pinchot, Amos, 1873-1944. person
associatedWith Pinchot, Amos Richards Eno, 1873- person
associatedWith Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946. person
associatedWith Posner, Russell Maximilian. person
associatedWith Post, Louis F. (Louis Freeland), 1849-1928. person
associatedWith Rogers, James Gamble. person
associatedWith Rogers, James Gamble, 1867-1947 person
associatedWith Rogers, John, 1866-1939. person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. person
associatedWith Rowell, Chester H. (Chester Harvey), 1867-1948. person
associatedWith Sherman, Roger, 1768-1856. person
associatedWith Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936. person
associatedWith Stimson, Henry L. (Henry Lewis), 1867-1950. person
associatedWith Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1858-1930. person
associatedWith Tarbell, Ida M. (Ida Minerva), 1857-1944. person
associatedWith Taussig, F. W. (Frank William), 1859-1940. person
associatedWith Taylor, Graham, 1851-1938. person
associatedWith Thacher School (Ojai, Calif.) corporateBody
associatedWith Thacher, Thomas Anthony, 1815-1886. person
associatedWith Thompson, Rolfe L. person
associatedWith Thompson, Rolfe L. person
associatedWith Thompson, Rolfe L. person
associatedWith United States. Congress. House of Representatives. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House of Representatives. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. National Park Service. corporateBody
associatedWith United States Tariff Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith U'Ren, Milton T. person
associatedWith U'Ren, Milton T. person
associatedWith U'Ren, Milton T. person
associatedWith Wald, Lillian D., 1867-1940. person
associatedWith Washburn, William Drew, 1863-1929. person
associatedWith West, George P. person
associatedWith White, Stewart Edward, 1873-1946. person
associatedWith Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924. person
associatedWith Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. corporateBody
associatedWith Yale College (1718-1887). Class of 1887. corporateBody
associatedWith Yale University corporateBody
associatedWith Yale University. Class of 1887. corporateBody
associatedWith Yale University. Faculty. corporateBody
associatedWith Yale University. Students. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Chicago (Ill.)
West (U.S.)
Marin County (Calif.)
California
California--Sacramento
California
San Francisco (Calif.)
United States
California
Hetch Hetchy Valley (Calif.)
Tahoe, Lake (Calif. and Nev.)
Marin County (Calif.)
Kentfield (Calif.)
Middle West.
Tahoe, Lake (Calif. and Nev.)
Marin County (Calif.)
West (U.S.)
Hetch Hetchy Valley (Calif.)
Tahoe, Lake (Calif. and Nev.)
Chicago (Ill.)
San Francisco (Calif.)
United States
United States
Chicago (Ill.)
West (U.S.)
Hetch Hetchy Valley (Calif.)
Middle West
Middle West
San Francisco (Calif.)
Subject
Banks and banking
Conservation of natural resources
Environmental protection
Families
Government ownership
Meat industry and trade
National banks (United States)
National parks and reserves
Peace
Progressivism (United States politics)
Public lands
Rangelands
Tariff
Water
Water
Women's rights
World War, 1939-1945
Yellow peril
Occupation
Legislators
Politicians
Activity

Person

Birth 1864-03-29

Death 1928-03-13

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dr2ssq

Ark ID: w6dr2ssq

SNAC ID: 30166795