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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Hardeman County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Mrs. Sallie B. Kent, nee Polk, was born in Hardeman County, Tenn., in the year 1821 and is the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Dodd) Polk. Mrs. Kent came of an illustrious family, her father being an uncle of President J. K. Polk. William Polk was a native of North Carolina and in 1837 he moved to Walnut Bend, Arkansas, sixty miles below Memphis. In 1843 our subject married Dr. Joseph Kent, a son of ex-Gov. Kent of Maryland. Dr. Kent was a native of Prince George County, Md., born in 1805, and practiced his profession in the city infirmary of Baltimore for seven years. He was an Episcopalian in his religious belief, and his death occurred in 1862, in Arkansas. Seven children were born to their marriage, two now living: Joseph and Olivia Polk Kent. Mrs. Kent had the best of educational advantages in her girlhood, having been educated at Salem, N. C. Olivia married James Bass, a native of Middle Tennessee. Dr. and Mrs. Kent’s generosity was proverbial with in the pale of their acquaintance, being ever ready to bestow kindnesses on all worthy applicants. In 1863 Mrs. Kent left her home in Arkansas for the purpose of educating her children in the schools of St. Louis, Mo., and in 1864 her home valued at $35,000 was destroyed by fire, besides valuable books to the amount of $3,000. After the visitation of this dire calamity, a home was offered her by her sister, Mrs. Abner Taylor, who lives in Madison County. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were a great comfort to her in this great distress and too much cannot be said of their kindness. In 1870 Mrs. Kent moved to New Castle, Hardeman County, where she still lives, respected by all who know her, for excellent qualities.

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This family biography is one of 101 biographies included in the book,  The History of Hardeman County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Hardeman County was included within The History of Fayette and Hardeman Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Fayette and Hardeman Counties, Tennessee

View additional Hardeman County, Tennessee family biographies here: Hardeman County, Tennessee

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