December 28, 1909 CAPT. JACOB GENT DEAD. Gallant Soldier of Confederacy Succumbs to Old Age.
A death occurred on Sunday at Lebanon which will be regretted all through southwest Virginia. Captain Jacob Gent, well known all over the mother state as a lawyer and as a member of the legislature which played such an important part in the late Virginia constitutional convention, succumbed to the ravages of old age. The old man was aged about eighty years and as a soldier of the Confederacy won his captaincy and later on distinguished himself by his work on behalf of the new constitution. In addition to this he was loved by all the poor people of Russell county and it is said that there is not another lawyer in the county who has accepted so many cases from people from whom he knew that he would never get a cent.
Captain Gent had hundreds of friends and many of them followed his remains to the grave yesterday afternoon when the funeral was held at Lebanon. He was an uncle of Frank Routh, the traveling man, and also as a number of other realatives in the southest.
Captain Gent is survived by his widow. He received his commission as captain of the 16th Virginia cavalry and served throughout the war. After the war he returned to his home and was elected to the office of county clerk which position he held for twelve years. He then began the practice of law and for many years was a law partner of Major Henry of Tazewell. He served [...] legislature of his state and was held in high esteem.
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