Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/641

 COLUMBIA A X D MONTOUR COUNTIES nnry, at Williamsport, in 1855, an institution from which he graduated the highest honors in 1858. A l the completion of his studies at Dickinson the young man took up the serious study o f arms, entering the West 1‘oint M ilitary Academ y, where he received the training which later materially aided his advancement as a soldier on the liclds o f war. A fte r he had finished his course at the W est Point M ilitary Academ y, Wellington H. Ent placed himself under the tutorship o f Rob* ert F. Clark, Esq., an eminent attorney of prerebellion days, and prepared to embrace the l ^ a l profession. H e was admitted to the bar o f Columbia county in i860. In Ju n e, 18 6 1, the ardent young patriot rallied to the colors o f his country and entered the United States arm y as the first lieutenant o f a volunteer company, later receiving his commission as captain o f Company A o f his regiment, a unit of the 6th I ’cnnsylvania Reserves. T he valor and service of Captain Ent soon won the at­ tention o f his superior officers, and steady pro­ motion marked his arm y career through the course o f Ihe great conflict. A fte r the battle o f Antietam he w as promoted to the m ajorship o f his rtgiment, and after (icttysburg he w as advanced to the rank o f lieutenant colonel. H is brcs-ct followed later. The pro­ motions accorded to the brave young officer indicitc the brilliancy o f his militarv record. When the w ar drew to a close Cofonel F.nt returned to civil life. H is townsmen showed thcir appreciation o f his m ilitary services by electing him prothonotar)- and clerk of the courts of Columbia county. He died during his term o f office, and left a memory that is revered in the annals of the county, where he is classed with those other brilliant heroes o f this section which the w ar developed— Colonel Ricketts, o f Ricketts’ Battery, and Capt. C. B. Brockw ay. H is widow. Mrs. M ary Knt, still survives, and is a highly es­ teemed and prominent resident of Blooms­ burg. William M. Ent. the father o f Charles B. E n t, inherited the sturdy tendencies o f his illustrious father. Peter B. Knt. He acquired a thorough knowledge o f Ihe trade o f tin­ smith, which he followed at Light Street, the place o f his birth, until he w as cut down by the hand o f death at a comparatively young age. H is life w as even and uneventful, but like his brothers he answered his country’s call, enlisting in the State militia, .fte r be­ ing mustered out he returned to the peaceful jHirsuits o f his occupation. H e passetl aw ay III i8fi8. in his thirty-third year. Like his father, William M. Knt w as a stalwart Demo­

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crat, and he was a member of the Light Street Presbyterian Church. H is w ife, who was M iss Uemetia B. Sm ith, o f Light Street, and to whom he was married in t 80o, still sur­ vives, and is passing through the autumn o f her life a greatly beloved woman. Sh e lives at the old homestead in Light Street. F ou r children were born to William and Bcm ctta U. E n t: M innie, who passed aw ay in 1880, at the age o f twenty ye ars; O iarles B .; H e r­ bert, who died in his youth; and William M. T he latter is engaged in business at the pres­ ent time in Light Street, conducting a hard­ ware store and following his trade o f tin­ smith. Charles H. Ent was bom at Light Street on Oct. 19, 1864. H e was but four years o f age when his father, William .. Ent, passed away, and thus his early boyhood w as passed with­ out paternal guidance and carc. ThroKm upon his own resources, the lad had to sacrifice his schooling for more immediate and nuterial re­ turns. F o r some time he lived at the home o f his grandfather, Peter B. Ent. while he earned a boyish wage by doing f.arm work. A t the age o f thirteen he went to Berwick, where he secured employment in the shops of the Jackson d: Woodin C ar and M anufactur­ ing Company, a concern which w as later ab­ sorbed by the .American C ar & Foundry Com­ pany. l i e worked at the car plant lo r two years, resigning his position at the age o f fif­ teen years to take up an apprenticeship with Y ou n g & Ent, o f Berw ick, tinsmiths, jju rin g an association o f several years with this firm he mastered the trade o f tinsmithing. and left their employ for the purpose o f establishing a business o f his own. which he set up at I.ight Street. Upon reaching manhood Charles B. Ent became interested in State and local politics, and in time won a reputation a s a consistent and hard working Democrat. He served a s a district committeeman, and in the course o f time w as appointed to the secretary­ ship of the county organization, an office which he hcltl for two years. H is part)' at three different times elected him a delegate to State conventions, at .Altoona. E rie and H arrisburg, and he was sent to Denver as a delegate in 1908, lo represent his district at the Democratic nomination for president, which w as accorded to W illiam J . Bryan. In i 8«j 3 M r. Ent was elected to the office o f county recorder anti register, and his record o f efficiency and o f courtesy to the public, w as siK'h that reclection to the same office, three years later, w as a matter o f course. H is .six years o f service were marked by e x ­ treme loyalty to duty and by personal ability.