Kent, Dorman B. E. (Dorman Bridgman Eaton), 1875-1951

Dorman Bridgman Eaton Kent descended from a prominent 19th century Calais, Vermont family. His ancestor, Remember Kent (1775-1855), settled in Calais in 1798. Dorman Bridgman (sometimes spelled Bridgeman) Eaton Kent, the son of Ruth Bennett and Murray Abdiel Kent (1847-1915), was born on November 1, 1875, in Kents Corner, Calais. He and his parents moved to Montpelier around 1890, where his father, Murray Kent, built the first house on Kent Street. A few years after graduating from Montpelier Seminary, Dorman Kent began a lifelong career at National Life Insurance Company in Montpelier. In 1904, he married Sarah "Agnes" Thompson and in 1905 their son, Bennett Thompson Kent, was born. In 1907, the family settled at 8 Kent Street in a house built by Dorman Kent's father, and, in 1909, Richard Howard Kent was born. On March 6, 1928, Agnes Kent died suddenly. By that time, Bennett Kent had graduated from Dartmouth College and was working in insurance in Michigan. Richard Kent lived at home with Dorman Kent. Richard Kent died in 1946 in a work-related accident at the age of 37. In November 1949, Dorman Kent fell down the granite steps at the National Life office, and was in the hospital for several months before being moved to a nursing home at the beginning of January 1950, where he remained until he fell and broke his hip in 1951. After several months in the hospital, and with a weakened heart, Dorman Kent died on July 23, 1951, during cataract surgery recommended by his physicians.

Dorman Kent was an ardent collector and organizer of data who lived and breathed his passion. At National Life, he worked as clerk in several departments over his tenure, was responsible for editing the firm's annual rate book, and writing the company's official history. Forced by company policy to retire in 1941, Kent remained as a consultant until his death, his association with National Life spanning 45 years. Dorman Kent joined the Vermont Historical Society in 1909, and served as librarian for 12 years, from 1911 to 1922. During his 40-odd years at the Society, he built the library's collection of New England genealogies and Vermont town histories. He wrote a regular column, "This Day in History," in the Montpelier Evening Argus, wrote papers, obituaries, and historical articles, had a regular radio broadcast on items of local interest, and was a popular speaker at community events. He was also a longtime member of The Club, a Montpelier men's literary group. During his 44 years in that organization, he held various offices, including president and official historian. Throughout his life, Dorman Kent kept detailed diaries, wrote lengthy accounts of his daily activities in letters, and meticulously recorded and arranged information on births, deaths and marriages of all the people he knew.

From the description of Dorman B. E. Kent papers, 1800-1951, 1886-1951. (Vermont Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 677095711