Person:John Zent (4)

About John Zent

John Weaver Zent, son of George Zent, was born 10 August 1825. His siblings were Mary P. Zent Klotz 1831–1912, Sophrna Zent, 1832–1833; Amy Zent, 1839–1840; Lodema Zent Faus, 1841–1926. John Zent married Helen Ordway and they had two children: Jennie May Zent and Nellie Gray Zent Garber. John Zent was born in Jefferson Township, and worked on a farm until 19 years of age; in the spring of 1844, he went to Wellington, Ohio, and engaged himself as a clerk in a store, and remained there about five years. On May 11, 1850, he started to California, taking the overland route, and, after a long and perilous journey, arrived in the land of precious metals. He and his company at once commenced mining, meeting with only ordinary success; the party opened some of the richest mines in the state, but, being impatient and lacking experience, they were abandoned too soon to tap the hidden treasures. He remained there about four years — working in mines three, and owned a hotel the fourth; during his stay, he was poisoned by contact with live-oak, and was dangerously ill about two months. He returned to Bellville in 1855, and, the next spring, made a trip through Iowa and Missouri. In 1856, he again went to Iowa, for the purpose of dealing in and herding cattle, but, the state of things not being satisfactory, he entered eighty acres of land and returned; in 1857, he and his brother David bought the warehouse and commenced to buy grain, and in connection, the next year, managed the depot business and express; he has made Bellville his ostensible home since, but, in connection with David Zent and H. Alexander, has bought and sold a large amount of Western land, operated a woolen factory east of Independence, and the stone quarry at Bellville, and manages the Bellville Exchange Bank. Mr. Zent was born Aug. 10, 1825; he died in 1891 and is buried at Bellville. [bio courtesy of Rhonda Bletner]

Notes

John and Helen are buried in Belleville Cemetery, Richland county, Ohio

John worked on a farm until 19 years of age; in the spring of 1844, he went to Wellington, Ohio, and engaged himself as a clerk in a store, and remained there about five years. On May 11, 1850, he started to California, taking the overland route, and after a long and perilous journey, arrived in the land of precious metals; he and his company at once commenced mining, meeting with ordinary success. After working in the mines, he returned to Bellville in 1855, and the next spring, made a trip through Iowa and Missouri; in 1856, he again went to Iowa, for the purpose of dealing in and herding cattle; in 1857, he and his brother David bought a warehouse and commenced to buy grain, and in connection, the next year, managed the depot business and express; he has Belleville his ostensible home since, but in conjunction with David Zent and H. Alexander, has bought and sold a large amount of Western Land, operated a woolen factory east of Independence, and the stone quarry at Belleville, and manages the4 Belleville Exchange Bank. (The History of Richland County, Ohio - Biographical sketch of Jefferson Township)

1880 Census: Household:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace

John W. ZENT Self M Male W 55 OH Grain Merchant --- OH

Helen M. ZENT Wife M Female W 39 OH K H ME ME

Charles D. ZENT Son S Male W 11 OH At Scho

Nellie G. ZENT Dau S Female W 6 OH OH OH

Source Information:

Census Place Bellville, Richland, Ohio

Family History Library Film 1255061

NA Film Number T9-1061

Page Number 78B

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Zent Family Bible, bible of George and Sarah (Weaver) Zent, now in possession of Charles Bowers of Norwalk, Ohio.
2. ↑ Dorothy Rose and Joyce Buckner. History of Wells County, Indiana. (1975).