ALONZO and ELI KENT -- 82nd INFANTRYBOTH SOLDIERS DIED BEFORE THEIR FATHERS - On October 10, 1861, twocousins, Alonzo Morris Kent and Eli Kent, enlisted in the 92ndInfantry in Potsdam. Both were living in Ellenburg at the time. At theend of the month, Alonzo was mustered in as a corporal and Eli becamethe waggoner for Captain Truman Merriman's Company B. Eli was soonconverted to the rank of private.The regiment drilled in Potsdam until March 1862 when they left forWashington by train to become part of the Army of the Potomac. Alonzosoon became ill and was sent to Philadelphia to be treated for heartdisease. He died there on June 11, 1862. Alonzo is buried in the MountMoriah Cemetery under the name he preferred to use -- Morris. In 1886,his father, Peter, was granted a pension based on his son's service andreceived it until 1894 when he died and was buried in the West HillCemetery in Ellenburg Center.Eli did not fulfil his 3-year commitment to the 92nd Infantry either.He deserted on June 27, 1862, in Washington. Eli came back to New York,and with his wife, Esther Hasseltine, and parents Abner Kent and ElmiraLewis, and some of their extended families, moved West to take advantageof the 1862 Homestead Act. In January 1864, Eli enlisted in the 32ndWI Infantry and was transferred to the 16th WI Infantry shortly beforethe regiment mustered out in July 1865 at Louisville, KY.Elmira died in 1866, and Eli died on November 24, 1872, and was buriedin the Allendale Township Cemetery in Allendale, MI, near his mother.Esther received her Widows Pension until 1926.
