Kit Carson County, Colorado
Photographs

 COGenWeb Logo

Kit Carson County Pioneers:

George B. Bent, 6 South 45 West


In 1889 George B. Bent was appointed a notary public in Kit Carson County.

In 1893 George B. Bent was the assignee of 340 acres in 34 of 8S 48W, claims of John Paul Timbal and Louis Vascocu of Louisiana - probably veteran claims, with James L. Bradford as legal representative. Bradford was an attorney in New Orleans at that time. George B. Bent was Kit Carson County treasurer in 1890-1891. He also was the secretary of the Burlington Masonic Lodge in 1892.

May 31, 1899 Cripple Creek, Colorado - Wooden Wedding. – The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel McDonald gathered at their spacious residence last evening at 522 Eaton avenue, to celebrate their wooden wedding. ...among those present were Mr. and Mrs. George Bent...


One possibility is George B. Bent, who in 1902 was the superintendent of the Bonanza King on Summit avenue in Cripple Creek, Colorado, living at 122 N. Silver.
January 21, 1905 Alamogordo, New Mexico "George B. Bent of Cripple Creek, Colorado, has ocated his family here. Mr. Betn has leased the Wilson mine in the Tularosa canon and has tken charge of the work."

March 26, 1909 "James Martin Bent, seventy years old, a pioneer resident of Kansas, father of Alfred E. Bent, former auditor and treasurer of the state of Colorado, died at his home in Denver March 21 st of paralysis. Mr. Bent is survived by his widow and three sons and three daughters, George B. Bent of Cripple Creek, Alfred E. Bent of Denver, J. W. Bent of Lamar, Mrs. Philip C. Walton and Mrs. Alexander Massey of Kansas City and Mrs. J. C. Fritchlie of Salina, Kansas.
In 1880 Crawford County, Kansas, Jas M. Martin is 48, Bertha 37, Earnest 18, William 14, May V. 12, Lizzie B. 8, and Osephine 5.
James 1838-1909 is buried in Salina Kansas, # 138339428.
1910 Tularosa, New Mexico Mr. and Mrs. George B. Bent have returned to the mine from Alamogordo. Mr. Bent is seriously ill."

August 15, 1930 Nevada Mining News "George B. Bent of Skull Valley, Arizona, has purchased the Duplex Mine, near Searchlight, Nevada, from George R. Colton, son of the original locator, and is planning to build a 50-ton mill. A substantial cash payment is said to have been made on the purchase price of $200,000. The property is credited with a production of one and one-quarter million dollars, and the ore is of a complex nature, with gold values predominating."


1930 Nevada Mining News "It is expected that the Searchlight Gold Corporation, at Searchlight, Nevada, will soon proceed with the building and development program, outlined last summer, for its Duplex Mine, but which has been delayed on account of the death of George E. Bent. The ownership of the corporation now rests with the Bent estate (in the hands of Attorney Patterson at Prescott, Arizona), and Dr. Wilton McCarthy, of Searchlight. "

-----------------------------------------------

Alfred E. Bent, state treasurer of Colorado, was elected to this im- portant office in the autumn of 1906. He is a native of Port Elgin, New Brunswick, born August 12, 1862, a son of James M. and Elizabeth (Barnes) Bent, both natives of Xew Brunswick, in which province the ancestors settled in 1764, after the French Acadians were deported by the British. The original John Bent settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 1638, coming from England. In Xew Brunswick the family had many farmers among its members who were very successful agriculturists; and some also engaged in merchandising. James M. Bent was a merchant at Port Elgin, Xew Brunswick, and in 1874 the family removed to Girard, Kansas, where the father engaged in milling operations and also conducted a mercantile business later at Anthony and Salina, Kansas. In 1902 they again removed, tliis time locating in Colorado in the beautiful city of Denver, where the father led a retired life until his death, March 21, 1909.
Alfred E. Bent received his education at Girard, Kansas, where he had the advantages of the high school. From 1883 to 1886, he was employed as a clerk in a store at Kansas City, Missouri. In 1886 he went to Lamar, Colorado, engaging in the financial and loan business. From 1892 to 1904 he was identified with important irrigation operations and in 1904 ¦was elected, on the Republican ticket, aa state auditor for Colorado, and two years later, having filled the position with fidelity and capability, his party elected him to the more responsible position of state treasurer, which office he held until the expiration of his term, January 12, 1909. He is one of the strong and influential citizens of Colorado and has been interested in various business enterprises and has varied financial interests.
Like many of the enterprising and public spirited men of our day, Mr. Bent is a member of the Masonic order. Blue Lodge No. 90, A. F. and A. M., at Lamar; Orient Chapter, No. 32, Lamar, and the Colorado Consistory of Scottish Rite Masons, at Denver, as well as being an officer of El Jebel Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Denver. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Bent is a self-made man and one who has friends on every hand. During Ms residence in the Arkansas Valley, he was active in promoting irrigation projects and the construction and management of canals. He was among the first persons to introduce the sugar beet industry into his state, which industry is today among the best within the commonwealth.

He has been twice married, first in 1888, to Alice Maude Black, of Lamar, Colorado, daughter of Amos E. Black, a pioneer of the famous Arkansas Valley Colony, he having settled in Colorado in 1876, the year in which the territory entered the Union as a state. He was one of the prominent stock men of the state and influential in various ways. One son was born of this union — Donald E., who is now a student in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston. Mrs. Bent passed from earthly scenes in 1893 and in 1895 Mr. Bent married Edith Isabelle Olcott Stanley, of Deming, New Mexico. Since retiring from public life Mr. Bent has become actively engaged in developing two large irrigation and water power enterprises.

If anyone has information on the George Bent of Burlington, please let us know.

This page is maintained by Steve Stein.