Minnie Kent was born at Streator, LaSalle County, Illinois, on May 23, 1874.  She was the daughter of Andrew Kent and Ruth Parnell, both originally from England.

Henry and Minnie were married at Colchester, McDonough County, on September 5, 1900. Witnesses were W. E. Terrill and Minnie's sister, Emily.  Minnie's name was written twice on the marriage license as Minnie M. Kent.  On the Board of Health document, her middle name, not clearly entered, looks like Dortora.  Marriage Documents

Minnie died on April 25, 1904, and was buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Colchester.

Henry and Minnie's daughter was:

 
In 1910 Henry was farming in Hire Township.  His younger sister, Alice, was keeping house for him. Ruth was in the care of her maternal grandmother, Ruth Kent, in Galesburg.

After 8 years as a widower, Henry married Eva White on May 22, 1912.  She was the daughter of William Marion White and Elnora Siepel.  Eva was born September 28, 1872 or '73 (her obituary reported 1872, the year inscribed on her tombstone is 1873), near Joetta in Hancock Township, Hancock County.  In family records and in her obituary she was named as Mary Eva; State of Illinois death records and her tombstone indicate Eva A.

The following year, Henry and Eva became parents of a daughter:

 
Henry and Eva were not fated to have a long life together.  They had but a few years before Eva died at their home in Colchester Township on November 9, 1921, leaving Henry widowed for the second time and another young girl motherless.

Henry died on March 11, 1943, near Colchester.  Eva and Henry were buried in the family plot with Minnie at Mount Auburn Cemetery.

Once again the Reaper of Death has come into our midst and taken a loved one from among us, causing a shade of sadness to settle like a pall of gloom over the community, filling many hearts with sadness, leaving a vacant place in the home, which can never be filled.

Mary Eva White was born near Joetta, Hancock county, Illinois, on Sept. 28, 1872, and peacefully passed away at her home in Colchester, Ill on Wednesday morning, Nov. 9, 1921, at
9 a. m. aged 49 years, 1 month and 11 days.  She was the eldest child of a family of six children, born to Marion and Ellen (Sieple) White.  The father and one brother, Charley, having preceded her to the great beyond several years ago.

She was united in marriage to Henry Martin, May 22, 1912.  To this union one daughter, Mary Ellen, was born, who at the tender age of 8 years is bereft of a fond mother's care.  There are left to mourn her passing away, the devoted husband, the dear little daughter, who was the pride and joy of her mother's heart, Ruth Martin, who she gave a mother's love too, an aged mother, Mrs. Marion White, one brother, Orville White, of near Joetta, and three sisters, Mrs. Ida Barr of Carthage, Mrs. Hattie Hocker of Joetta, and Mrs. Clara Smith of Burlington, Ia., and many other near relatives and friends whose hearts are saddened by her death.

While it was known that Mrs. Martin had been in poor health for several years, her death came so suddenly that it was a shock to her relatives and friends.  Some three years ago her health began to fail which gradually continued until a nervous breakdown occurred.  Various change of scenes with several months spent by her in the Springfield outdoor colony, the best of medical skill coupled with every known remedy and the counsel of several skilled physicians and all that loving hands could do was done, but without avail, and after much suffering which has been borne so patiently she without a moment's warning suddenly but gently fell asleep in Jesus.  Her work on earth was ended and the new home which she loved so well and where she enjoyed meeting her friends and loved ones, no longer needed her.  She has entered into that home above where a place was prepared for her and where loved ones gone on before were awaiting her coming.

She became a christian in early life, giving her heart to God and was converted under the ministry of Rev. H. M. Bloomer, paster in charge at Majorville in the year of 1900.  Deceased was a member of the M. E. Church of Colchester and was a true christian, and while her health permitted her, was a regular attendant at all church services.

Eva, as she was called by all, was raised in the vicinity of Joetta and was much beloved by all.  She was a kind and generous lady, always ready to help in all times of need and many a word gently spoken by her has strengthened a life that felt friendless and forelorn to meet the trials that must come to all in this life.  Her sweet winning disposition and her noble life and beautiful character should be the example of all.

Her aged mother has done much to help to cheer and brighten her last days, by being her constant companion.  May the sweet memory of this dear daughter, wife, mother and friend be the consulation that the years will brign to soften the bitter grief of this hour, to the dear ones left here to mourn her untimely death.

The writer of these lines penned in honor of her memory has known her from early childhood and feels a personal loss of a good friend in her death.

Funeral services were held Friday afternoon, Nov. 11, 1921, at the M. E. Church in Colchester, Rev. H. M. Bloomer, M. E. pastor of Macomb, officiating.  Interment in Colchester cemetery. The floral offerings were many and very beautiful.

Martin, Jesse, white, male, 56, married, farmer, born KY, both parents born VA
Paulina, white, female, 47, wife, married, keeps house, born KY, both parents born KY
William, white, male, 18, son, single, works on farm, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY
Joseph E, white, male, 15, son, single, helps on farm, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY
Lucy A, white, female, 13, daughter, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY
Henry K, white, male, 10, son, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY
Susan A, white, female, 7, daughter, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY

Kent, Andrew, white, male, 39, married, coal miner, born England, both parents born England
Ruth, white, female, 32, wife, married, house keeping, born England, both parents born England
Miney, white, female, 6, daughter, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born England
Emley, white, female, 4, daughter, born IL, both parents born England
Allon, white, male, 1, son, born IL, both parents born England

White, William M, white, male, 38, married, farmer, born IL, both parents born OH
Elinora, white, female, 28, wife, married, born IL, both parents born IL
Eva A, white, female, 6, daughter, single, born IL, both parents born IL
Ida E, white, female, 4, daughter, single, born IL, both parents born IL
Hattie F, white, female, 2 ?, daughter, single, born IL, both parents born IL

Martin, Jessee, head, white, male, Apr 1824, 76, married for 50 years, born KY, both parents born VA, retired farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, owned his home free of mortgage

Paulina, wife, white, female, Nov 1832, 67, married for 50 years; mother of 10 children, all living; born KY, both parents born KY, could read, write and speak English

Henry, son, white, male, Nov 1869 ? [looks like 79 with 6 written over the 7], 30, single, born IL, both parents born KY, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 55

Alice, daughter, white, female, Apr 1873, 27, single, born IL, both parents born KY, could read, write and speak English

Kent, Andrew, head, white, male, Sept 1840, 59, married for 27 years, born England, both parents born England, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1866, number of years in the U.S. - 34, naturalized, coal miner, months not employed - 2, could read, write and speak English, owned his home free of mortgage

Ruth, wife, white, female, July 1848, 51, married for 27 years; mother of 7 children, 5 living; born England, both parents born England, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1871, number of years in the U.S. - 29, could read, write and speak English

Minnie, daughter, white, female, May 1874, 26, single, born IL, both parents born England, saleswoman (dry goods), months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English

Emma, daughter, white, female, Feb 1876, 24, single, born IL, both parents born England, saleswoman (dry goods), months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English

Willie, son, white, male, Sept 1882, 17, single, born IL, both parents born England, at school for 9 months, could read, write and speak English

Arthur, son, white, male, Feb 1885, 15, single, born IL, both parents born England, at school for 9 months, could read, write and speak English

Riche, son, white, male, Mar 1888, 12, single, born IL, both parents born England, at school for 9 months, could read, write and speak English

White, William M, head, white, male, Feb 1842, 58, married for 30 years, born IL, father born OH, mother born PA, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, paying on a mortgage on his farm home, farm schedule 115

Elinora, wife, white, female, Feb 1848, 52, married for 30 years; mother of 8 children, 5 living; born VA, father born Germany, mother born VA, could read, write and speak English

Eva A, daughter, white, female, Sept 1873, 26, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born VA, could read, write and speak English

Clora [sic] A, daughter, white, female, July 1881, 18, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born VA, could read, write and speak English

Marion O, son, white, male, Dec 1883, 16, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born VA, attended school for 2 months, could read, write and speak English

Martin, H K, head, male, white, 40, widower, born IL, both parents born KY, spoke English, farmer, gen farm, working on own account, could read and write, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 55

Alice, sister, female, white, 27, single, born IL, both parents born KY, spoke English, could read and write

Martin, Henry, head, owned his home free of mortgage, male, white, 50, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born KY, spoke English, farmer, general farm, working on own account, farm schedule 75

Eva A, wife, female, white, 46, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Ruthy P, daughter, female, white, 16, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL

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Hoyt ??, Mary E, daughter, female, white, 6, single, born IL, both parents born IL

White, Helen, mother-in-law, female, white, 67, widow, could read and write, born IL, both parents born PA, spoke English

Martin, Henry K, head, owner, [no entry for home value], did not own a radio, lived on a farm, male, white, 60, [in the column for marital condition: M2 crossed out], age at first marriage - 29, could read and write, born IL, both parents born KY, farmer, gen farming, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no, farm schedule 1

Mary Ellen, daughter, female, white, 16, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Carson, Gaylen, head, renter, [no entry for monthly rental], did not own a radio, lived on a farm, male, white, 26, married, age at first marriage - 19, could read and write, born IL, father born OH, mother born IL, spoke English, farmer, gen farming, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no, farm schedule 6

Ruth, wife, female, white, 26, married, age at first marriage - 18, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Sherrod, son, male, white, son, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1929, born IL, both parents born IL

Mildred, daughter, female, white, 3 11/12, born IL, both parents born IL