Amos Kent

Link: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121579233/amos-kent

went to Louisiana in 1828 landing in New Orleans, he worked his way to Baton Rouge traveling on foot. Gradually he was able to establish a mercantile business which was dissolved in the depression of 1836. He then located on a farm in St. Helena Parish. In 1852 Mr. Kent moved to Greensburg to fill an appointment from Franklin Pierce as Registrar of the Land Office. In 1855, on completion of the New Orleans, Jackson, and Great Northern Railroad through northeastern St. Helena Parish, he moved to that location and operated a sawmill in the virgin yellow pine forest. He built first a small house and later a stately home. Oak Hill, near Cool Creek.

He was overage for service during the Civil War, but all his sons who were old enough, joined the Confederate Army. Once when news came that the Yankee soldiers were out foraging, Mr. Kent had the colored servants prepare a box in which was placed the silver table ware. Late that night he took the silver from the box and hid it under the horse-block which the ladies used when climbing into their side-saddles. He placed bricks in the box to give the right weight. Next morning he had the servants put the box in his buggy and on his way to the mill, he threw the box into Cool Creek.

That section became part of Tangipahoa Parish which was formed in 1869. The railroad became the Illinois Central. In 1888 Mr. Kent assisted some northern promoters in laying out a town on the cut-over pine land. This town was named Kentwood, in his honor.

When his children married, Amos Kent presented each with a handsome Family Bible as "The most valuable gift I can bestow."