The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-29
A Cincinnati House with a COntin'
uOus Career of Sixty-six Years.

A noteworthy point of difference be-
tween the commercial life of American
cities and European cities is the compare
tive short-lived character of the business
houses of the former when compared with
the latter. In London. Paris, or Berlin, it
is quite common to meet with concerns
that have been handed down from father to
son, from generation to generation; while
here in Cincinnati, house that has had
business career extending over quarter of
a century, is looked upon as something of
rarity. After making all due allowances
for the newness and growth, so to speak, OF
this country, we still think that the indica-
tions are not exactly as they should be- for
the very existence of an old established
house is one of the surest evidences that its
affairs have been guided by ability, pru-
dence, energy, honor and integrity, and it
is lust as true that it is nothing but the
want of such rare and valuable qualities,
that causes so many hundreds and thou
sands of concerns to have short lived ex-
istence.
In 1914, sixty-six years ago, Luke Kent
first opened his jewelry store in Cincinnati,
on the east side Of Main street, below Fifth,
where, and in its immediate neighbor-
hood, and at its present location, corner
of Sixth and Main, father, son and grand
son have continued the business through
all the intervening years until the present
writing.
In 1886 Mr.. Luke Kent, Jr., became a
member of the house, and the style of the
firm was Luke Kent & Son for over forty
years. Last August his son, Mr.. H. T. Kent
succeeded to the business, by whom it is at
present conducted. Thus for sixty-six years
the house has been prominently connected
with the growth and business life of
our city. Had we space it would be
| interesting reading to note the changes that
have been wrought in Cincinnati's history
during that time, when with its population
of 20, 900 or less it aspred, even then, to be
called the Queen City of the West"
Fresh and full of virgin life, the fright
smart trading town. looked as it nestled
snugly under those forest crowned hills,
which are now covered with the cot
tage, villa and palatial residences
of our active business men or wealthy citi-
zens retired from active life. No hundreds
of chimneys rising from manufactures
belched forth huge pillows Of smoke, no
bridges spanned the Ohio, railroads were
not, steamboats, and telegraphs had
no existence. In no other period of
the history OF the world has so many i'm
portant discoveries been made in science,
art and mechanics as are embraced in the
years since Luke Kent laid the foundation
of this house.
From small beginnings the business has
grown with the growth and progress OF the
city: has been uniformly successful, and
at the present time ranks among
the best in Cincinnati. Mr.. Herbert T.
Kent, the present proprietor. is one Of eur
highly esteemed young business men,
Justly proud of the business which has de.
scended to him and amply qualified tc
conduct it to continued prosperity. Hi.
worthy father, Mr.. Luke Kent, still re.
mains with him. 7 far
In jewelry, watches, clocks, silver and
silver-plated ware they carry q large stock
embracing everything usually found in a
first-class store of this kind. They import
their foreign goods direct, and keep full linel
Of American manufacture, among which
are Waltham, Springfield and Elgin watches
the Meriden Company's ware, &c. They
make speciality Of silver spoons Of theil
own manufacture, In which line they have
acquired reputation for superior ar
ticle. q,
About the 18th OF April they will remov,
from their present location, corner Sixth ant
Main, to No. So West Fifth street. opposit,
the Fountain, which will be fitted up ex
pressly for them. In the new store thel
will snow largely increased stock, eIn
bracing everything new and novel as vel
las full lines Of standard goods