Kent, Albert Graham

Born at Flushing, MI. Deaf at 3 from "congestion of the brain"; Michigan School for the deaf 1879 to graduation in 1887; 1 year in the college preparatory program at Gallaudet College, but changed his mind and returned to Grand Rapids in 1889, going into the upholstering business. After the 1894 depression killed the family upholstering business, became foreman of a mattress company, then in 1897 became a traveling furniture salesman, successful in selling to hearing customers via pen and paper writing.