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Pearl & Manna Kent | Andrew & Nancy Kent | Thadeus and Sarah Kent |

John & Melissa Weekley (Nancy's parents) | John & Mary Crain (Melissa's parents) | John & Susannah Crain |

THIS IS MY WORKING GENEALOGY BIOGRAPHIES, PLEASE DO NOT COPY AS FACT. Some photos are personal and should not be copied and republished; other images are okay. Documentation I collected as proof to support facts (i.e. dates, relationships, etc.) are available for your use. I share freely, but please do not abuse copyright or perpetuate any information without supporting facts that may or may not be in error. I try to mark in red my questions or documents I need to look for, so your assistance in making this a complete collection is always appreciated.

 

Pearl Cornelius Kent and Manna Pauline Windeknecht

Pearl Cornelius Kent was born April 17, 1892, in Chester, Randolph County, Illinois, to Andrew Davis Kent and Nancy C. Weekley.

 

Manna Pauline Windeknecht was born June 9, 1897, in Egypt Mills, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, to Frank P. Windeknect Sr. and Missouri May O'Guin.

 

In the June 2, 1900 census, Chester City, Chester Precinct, Randolph County, Illinois, District 0065, Pearl was 7 years old listed as "Perly C," born April 1892, attend school 4 months, and can read and speak English, but not write. His Dad, Andrew Kent (40), was born December 1859, had been married 20 years, born in Illinois, both parents born in Illinois, was a farmer, renting a farm with a schedule of "9," and could read, write, and speak English. His Mom, Nancy (38), was born July 1861, married 20 years, given birth to 10 children with 6 living, born in Illinois, both parents born in Illinois, and could read and speak English, but not write. Pearl's siblings are John B. (15) born January 1885, a farm laborer, attending school for 3 months, and could read, write, and speak English; Thad C (10) born October 1889, attended school 6 months, and could read, write, and speak English; Joseph G. (5) born September 1894; and Jack (1) born May 1899.

 

In the April 28, 1910 census, Commerce, Scott County, Missouri, District 0163, Pearl is 18 years old as a general farm laborer, can read and write, and has not attended school. He is living with his Dad, Andrew (51) who is widowed, who is a farm laborer, renting a house. Also in the home is is brother, Thadius (20) working as a farm laborer.

Why did they move to Commerce? Where are his siblings? When did Nancy die? She is widowed.

 

In the January 9, 1920 census, Commerce, Scott County, Missouri, District 0186, Pearl is living with his older sister, Effie (Kent) Lumm (39), her husband William, and their children. William is a carpenter and Furherman. Pearl is 28 years old and his occupation is farm laborer for wages. He can read and write. The census indicates that Pearl is born in Illinois, as well as both of his parents. In the 1910 census, his sister Effie and family were living in Enford, White County, , having been married 4 years. When did Pearl's Dad die? When did Effie move to Commerce and was it to be closer to an ailing Dad?

 

Pearl and Manna were married on July 26, 1920 (Cape Girardeau County marriage license). Pearl was 28 years old and Manna was 23 years old. According to the county marriage record, Pearl was from Commerce and Manna was from Neely's Land. They were married at Jackson by a Methodist "Minister of the Gospel" by Reverend W. A. Humphreys who was a Pastor at New McKendree United Methodist Church. They may not have attended the church, but utilized the services of the minister.

 

In the 1930 census, Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, Pearl (38) and Manna (32) are living on "Rand Street Continued" (probably Hill Street). Pearl owns his home which is valued at $700. He was age 28 when first married and she was 23 when first married. Pearl is a laborer at a light plant. The "employment" and "unemployment schedule" fields have been written in and then written over. The employment field is whether a person has actually worked and it has been transcribed as "no." Pearl is a veteran and it is entered "WW" for World War I. Manna and the children's occupation is marked as "none." The children in the home are Charles Ercie (9), Blanche (6), Pearl Jr. (5), Opal E. (3 4/12), and Frances J. (10/12). Pearl worked putting up utility poles in Cape Girardeau.

 

In the 1939 City Directory, Pearl is working as a "lab" for laborer. The "h es" is Hills Electric Shop at 109 Broadway. It appears their home is listed at an address of "Hill 2 n Johnson." Johnson Street does intersect with Hill Street and their house was north of the intersection.

 

In the April 13, 1940 census, Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, Pearl (47) and Manna (42) are living on Hill Street. Pearl's highest eductation is grade 4 and Manna's highest education is one year of high school. Neither are working for government pay, but Pearl is marked as "yes" for public emergency work and Manna is marked as "H" for home housework. Pearl had worked 40 hours the week of March 24-30, but had 104 days of unemployment in previous weeks. His occupation was "labor" in the field of "W.P.A." (Works Progress Administration). Pearl is marked as "GW" for "wager or salary worker in government work." Pearl worked 27 weeks in 1939 with an income of $450 ($16.66 per week) and no other source of income. Children in the home are Charles (19), Blanche (17), Pearl (15), Elaine (13), Jean (11), Leon (9), and Nancy (3). Charles, Blanche, and Pearl have an education of grade 8, Elaine (grade 6), Jean (grade 4), and and Leon (grade 3). Blanche is marked as "yes" in the field for "work for pay or profit in private or nonemergency Govt. work during the week of March 24-30." Blanche is marked as having worked 60 hours during week of March 24-30, 1940 as a house keeper in a private home. She worked 40 weeks in 1939 and made $100 ($2.50 a week). Charles has an occupation of labor in the "C.C.C." industry (New Deal Civilian Conservation Corps) as a government worker. He worked 52 weeks in 1939 earning $400 ($7.69 per week), but is not working in 1940. The Great Depression started in 1929 and lasted until the late 1930's and Pearl and Charle's employment reflects President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal recovery program.

 

During the depression, as indicated by the above 1940 census, Pearl worked for W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) constructing and maintaining Fountain Park on Cape Rock Drive in Cape Girardeau, which is today across from the water purification plant.

 

Pearl and Manna's home was destroyed in the 1949 tornado in Cape Girardeau.

 

In the 1954 city directory, Pearl and Manna are living at 1505 Hill. Their sons Earl L. and Jerry L. are pin setters at the K C Bowling Alley. Their son Charles E is married to Norma and working as a factory worker at the International Shoe Company, living at 826 N. Spanish.

 

Pearl died on June 4, 1954, at the age of 62 years, 1 month, and 17 days. According to Pearl's death certificate, he died of cardiac arrhythmia from a condition of arteriostenosis (narrowing of artery). He was a general laborer for Missouri Utilities. He had lived at 1500 Hill Street, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for 30 years (about 1924). He was buried on June 6, 1954, in Iona Cemetery near Trail of Tears State Park in Cape Girardeau County.

 

In the 1956 City Directory, Manna is a widow of Pearl living at Hill Street. Their sons Earl L. and Jerry L. are pin setters at the K C Bowling Alley. Their son Charles is working for a lab called Rodibaugh-Cargle and living at 826 N. Spanish.

 

In the 1958 City Directory, Manna is a widow of Pearl living at 1525 Hill Street. Their sons Earl L. and Jerry L. are pin setters at the K C Bowling Alley. Their son Charles is a diver for the Tatlar Meat Company and living at 826 N. Spanish Street.

 

 

In the 1960 City Directory, Manna is a widow living at 1525 Hill Street. Charles is a driver for Tatlar Meat Company and lives at 826 N. Spanish. Earl L. is a kitchen helper at Southeast Missouri State College and Jerry is a pin setter at KC Bowling Alley.

 

 

Copyright Cheryl Rutledge-Brennecke
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