Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/813

This page needs to be proofread.

KENSETT KENT 793 KENSETT, John Frederick, an American artist, born in Cheshire, Conn., March 22, 1818, died in New York, Dec. 16, 1872. He studied en- graving under his uncle Alfred Daggett of New York, and for several years executed vignettes for bank notes, occasionally attempting painting as a recreation. In 1840 he visited England, and in the spring of 1845 exhibited in the royal academy, London, his first picture, a distant view of Windsor castle, the purchase of which by a prize holder of the London art union en- couraged him to persevere in his new profes- sion. Ho subsequently passed two winters in Rome, sending home occasionally pictures of Italian scenery, several of which became the property of the American art union. His "View on the Anio" and "Shrine," exhibited at the academy of design in Now York in 1848, first brought him prominently before the pub- lic, and established his reputation. After an absence of about seven years he returned to America, and settled in New York. He pro- duced many representations of American sce- nery under various aspects, those in which rocks, trees, or water are prominent features being among his most characteristic and suc- cessful works. The mountainous regions of New England and New York, the rivers and lakes of the middle states, and the sea- shore furnished him with frequent subjects. Among his most popular works are his "View of Mt. Washington from North Conway" (1849), "Franconia Mountains" (1853), "Oc- tober Day in the White Mountains" (1855), " Hudson River from Fort Putnam " (1856), "Falls of the Bashpish," "Sunset on the Coast" (1858), "Eagle Cliff, Manchester, Mass." (1859), " Sunset in the Adirondacks " (1860), and subsequently numerous views on the Genesee and Hudson rivers and Lake George, and several taken in the vicinity of Newport, R. I. In 1859 he was appointed a member of the national art commission having the direction of the ornamentation of the capi- tol at Washington, and the superintendence of the works of art deposited there. In 1848 he was elected an associate and in 1849 a member of the national academy of design. KENT. I. A central county of Rhode Island, bounded E. by Narragansett bay, and W. by Connecticut; area, 186 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 18,595. It has a diversified surface and a good soil, and is drained by Flat, Pawtuxet, Moosup, and Wood rivers. The Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill, and the Stonington and Providence railroads pass through it. The chief productions in 1870 were 5,152 bushels of rye, 31,707 of Indian corn, 4,955 of oats, 94,035 of potatoes, 103,227 Ibs. of butter, and 10,234 tons of hay. There were on farms 1,081 horses, 2,380 milch cows, 1,882 other cattle, 1,509 sheep, and 2,001 swine ; 9 manu- factories of clothing, 23 of cotton goods, 9 of drugs and chemicals, 2 of iron castings, 4 of cotton and woollen machinery, 5 of tin, cop- per, and sheet-iron ware, 4 of woollen goods, 4 print works, 2 bleaching and dyeing estab- lishments, 17 saw mills, and 5 flour mills. Capital, East Greenwich. II. A central county of Delaware, bounded E. by Delaware bay, and W. by Maryland ; area, 640 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 29,804, of whom 7,164 were colored. It has an undulating surface and a fertile'soil, and is drained by Choptank and Marshy Hope rivers. It is traversed by the Delaware, the Delaware and Maryland, the Smyrna branch, and the Junction and Breakwater railroads. The chief productions in 1870 were 321,954 bushels of wheat, 885,178 of Indian corn, 145,238 of oats, 81,788 of Irish and 25,418 of sweet potatoes, 15,195 Ibs. of wool, 221,212 of butter, and 7,239 tons of hay. There were 5,232 horses, 1,436 mules and asses, 6,222 milch cows, 1,274 working oxen, 5,235 other cattle, 5,316 sheep, and 11,421 swine ; 6 manu- factories of agricultural implements, 4 of bas- kets, 6 of bricks, 21 of carriages, 3 of canned and preserved fruits, 6 of iron castings, 1 of sash, doors, and blinds, 5 of tin, copper, and sheet-iron ware, 3 tanneries, 2 currying estab- lishments, 13 saw mills, and 6 flour mills. Capital, Dover, which is also the capital of the state. III. A N. E. county of Maryland, bounded E. by Delaware and W. by Chesa- peake bay, and drained by Sassafras and Ches- ter rivers; area, 240 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 17,102, of whom 7,732 were colored. The sur- face is slightly diversified, and the soil moder- ately fertile. The Kent County railroad passes through it. The chief productions in 1870 were 473,601 bushels of wheat, 723,824 of Indian corn, 143,653 of oats, 44,003 of pota- toes, 26,550 Ibs. of wool, 155,974 of butter, and 4,380 tons of hay. There were 4,535 horses, 3,518 milch cows, 5,218 other cattle, 6,154 sheep, and 12,866 swine; 2 manufac- tories of packing boxes, 5 of carriages, 3 flour mills, and 1 saw mill. Capital, Chester-town. IV. A W. county of the S. peninsula of Michi- gan, drained by Grand, Rouge, and Thornapple rivers ; area, 900 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 50,403. The surface is moderately uneven, and the soil, which is very fertile, consists of deep vege- table loam on a substratum of clay. It is well timbered, and contains limestone, gypsum, and salt. It is traversed by six railroads. The chief productions in 1870 were 704,089 bushels of wheat, 405,281 of Indian corn, 343,556 of oats, 480,999 of potatoes, 251,721 Ibs. of wool, 25,944 of hops, 86,336 of maple sugar, 862,309 of butter, and 47,983 tons of hay. There were 8,386 horses, 9,095 milch cows, 2,009 working oxen, 8,586 other cattle, 63,360 sheep, and 13,- 199 swine. There were 45 saw mills, 18 flour mills, 7 iron founderies, and many other man- ufacturing establishments, chiefly in Grand Rapids, the capital. KENT. I. A S. W. county of Ontario, Can- ada, bounded S. E. and S. by Lake Erie, W. by Lake St. Clair, and N. W. by Big Bear creek; area, 951 sq. m.; pop. in 1871, 40,634, of whom 12,531 were of English, 8,893 of