San Francisco County
Biographies
Thomas E. Kent, the
present proprietor of the San Francisco Shirt Manufactory, is a native of
England, born in 1860, and has resided in San Francisco since he was sixteen
years of age. He found employment with
the Standard Shirt Manufacturing Company and worked for them eight years. He began as a shirt stamper,
and left that company to take charge of the factory which he afterward
purchased. It was started in 1883 by Mr.
P. B. Marsh. He continued the business
for year, and then Mr. Kent took a half interest in the same and the year
following purchased the other half, becoming the sole owner. Under his able management the business has
constantly increased, and he has added other machinery. The sewing-machines are run by steam, and the
factory furnishes employment to about fifty industrious women and girls. The goods are manufactured for the wholesale
trade, and anything is made from a cheap shirt to the finest laundried dress shirt—as fine as any made in the
country. Mr. Kent takes large contracts
from the wholesale houses of the city, and is mostly with marked success. His help are skilled, contented and satisfied
with their work. In this way an industry
is being built up which is destined to reach large proportions. His factory is at 597 Mission street.
Mr. Kent is the
son of Edwin Kent, a native of England and of English ancestry. His father has been a merchant all his
life. He came to California in 1875 and
now resides at Oakland.
Transcribed by Donna L. Becker
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1, pages
704-705, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2005 Donna L. Becker.