Mrs. Sallie R. Kent, nee Polk, was born in Hardeman County, Tenn., in the year 1821 and is the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Dodd) Polk. Mrs. Kent came of an illustrious family, her father being an uncle of President J. K. Polk. William Polk was a native of North Carolina and in 1837, he moved to Walnut Bend, Arkansas, sixty miles below Memphis. In 1843, our subject married Dr. Joseph Kent, a son of ex-Gov. Kent of Maryland. Dr. Kent was a native of Prince George County, Md., born in 1805, and practiced his profession in the city infirmary of Baltimore for seven years. He was an Episcopalian in his religious belief, and his death occurred in 1862, in Arkansas. Seven children were born to their marriage, two now living: Joseph and Olivia Polk Kent. Mrs. Kent had the best of educational advantages in her girlhood, having been educated at Salem, N. C. Olivia married James Bass, a native of Middle Tennessee. Dr. and Mrs. Kent’s generosity was proverbial within the pale of their acquaintance, being ever ready to bestow kindnesses on all worthy applicants. In 1863, Mrs. Kent left her home in Arkansas for the purpose of educating her children in the schools of St. Louis, Mo., and in 1864 her home valued at $35,000 was destroyed by fire, besides valuable books to the amount of $3,000. After the visitation of this dire calamity, a home was offered her by her sister, Mrs. Abner Taylor, who lives in Madison County: Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were a great comfort to her in this great distress and too much cannot be said of their kindness. In 1870, Mrs. Kent moved to New Castle, Hardeman County, where she still lives, respected by all who know her, for excellent qualities.
Source: “The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886”