Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/605

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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century, and became captain of a company of infantry, serving with his regiment in Cuba. He is now engaged in the practice of law at Newport News, Virginia. Since March, 1908, he has been commonwealth's attorney of that city. He married, Novem- ber 20, 1902, Linda Bumgardner, daughter of J. Alexander and Sarah (MacGilvery) Bumgardner. of Bethel. Augusta county, A'irginia. Children: Sarah Spottswood. born December 15, 1903; Elizabeth Landon, born August 21. 1905; Charles Carter, Oc- tober 15. 1907; Linda McCorkle, born De- cember 27, 191 J.

Edvi^in Clarence Kent. Edwin Clarence Kent belongs to one of the pioneer families of \\'ythe county. Virginia, who occupied the same homestead for more than a cen- tury. His grandfather. Robert C. Kent, was born on this homestead, and there remained until his death, in middle age. His son, Charles William Kent, born starch i, 1826, on the homestead, was a planter and a sol- dier of the Civil war. He was a member of the Wythe Grays, which served throughout the war. Another son. Robert C. Kent, was lieutenant-governor of the state under Gov- ernor O'Ferrell. Of the eleven children of Robert C. Kent, only one is now living. Mrs. Ellen Caldwell, of Wytheville, Virginia. Charles William Kent lived for some time in Montgomery county, Virginia, and re- turned to Wythe county, where he died Au- gust 30, 1887. He married Mary C. White, born February 12. 1835. at Farmington. near Charlottesville, Virginia, daughter of Isaac W'hite and his wife, Mary (Christian) White, who lived to be ninety-four years of age. she being a member of the original Christian family of New Kent county. Vir- ginia. Charles W. Kent and wife were the parents of four children, all still living: George Archer, born December 31, 1862, now residing in Bristol. Virginia ; Emily Warren, born March 5. 1866, now resides in Pulaski county, Virginia, unmarried : Ed- win Clarence, of further mention ; Charles William, born August 23. 1871. resides at Ashville, North Carolina.

Edwin Clarence Kent was born January 13, 1868, in Montgomery county, Virginia, and was five years old when his parents re- turned to Wythe county, and five years later moved into the town of Wytheville, where the son was educated, attending

Judge Campbell's School. At seventeen years of age he started out in life as clerk in the general store at Wytheville, where he continued four years, following which he spent a like period in a grocery store in Richmond. In 1893 he settled at Peters- burg, where he became secretary and treas- urer of the Petersburg Furniture Company, in which position he continued four years. In 1897 he embarked in business on his own account, and is now president and treasurer of the Kent Furniture Company, doing a v.holesale and retail business at Petersburg. Air. Kent is now serving his second year as president of the Chamber of Commerce of that city, and is regarded as one of the most substantial and progressive business men of the town. \\'ith his family he is affiliated with St. Paul's (Protestant Episcopal) Church of Petersburg, but is not connected with any other societies. He married, in Richmond, October 18, 1897. Robina G. Finney, a native of Powhatan county, Vir- ginia, daughter of Colonel William Finney, who established the pony express across the plains in 1849. ^""^ died in 191 1, in Peters- burg. He gained his military rank by gal- lant service in the Confederate army during the Civil war. His wife. Constance (Wil- liams) Finney, survives him, and now re- sides in Powhatan county. She is a descend- ant of the Witherspoon family of South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Kent are the par- ents of two daughters : Alice, born August 15, 1898, and Constance W., January 23, 1900.

William Travers Lewis. This is one of the old and honored names in Virginia, one ot the oldest in English history, and as "Louis" was known in France as early as the eighth century. The Virginia family by intermarriage are closely united with the W^ashington family, a Lewis having married the only sister of President George Washington, and another became the hus- band of his adopted daughter, Eleanor Park Custis. They are also connected with many other of the historical families of Virginia, and by personal worth and achievement have honored the name of Lewis, and placed ii high on the roll of fame. .According to tradition, the descent of this family is traced from Kydnor Lewis, of Wales, who married Wentson, daughter of the Lord of Miskin. Twelve generations later came Sir Edmond