Washington County ArArchives Biographies.....Tennant, Addison C. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 June 12, 2009, 5:07 pm Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922) ADDISON C. TENNANT. Addison C. Tennant, who is engaged in farming, his home being in the vicinity of Farmington, is a native son of Washington county, Arkansas, born January 14, 1846. The Tennant family is of English origin and was founded in America at an early day. The grandfather was a native of Virginia and went west at an early period, after which nothing was heard of him. His son, Thomas H. Tennant, was born in Virginia and he cast in his lot with the early settlers of Washington county, Arkansas. He was first married near Little Rock and there were eight children born of that union, but only one is living, Mrs. Adeline Pyeatt, who makes her home in the state of Washington. For his second wife Mr. Tennant chose Mrs. Stover, a widow, whose maiden name was Clarissa White. She was born in Murray county, Tennessee, and this marriage was celebrated in Washington county, Arkansas. The following children were born of the second marriage: Addison C., of this review; T. S., a farmer, living near Summers, Arkansas; Mrs. Alva Black of Merkel, Texas. The father was always a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and his political support was given to the democratic party. He was a successful farmer who took up land of the government in pioneer times and in the early period of the state's development and killed many deer and bears here. He was a man of notable strength and had a marvelous voice which carried seven miles. He lived to the notable age of one hundred and fifteen years. A. C. Tennant was educated in the country schools and was but a youth of fifteen years when the Civil war broke out which caused the closing of many schools and thus curtailed the educational advantages of Mr. Tennant and others in the neighborhood. The first school that he ever attended was held in one of the old-time log buildings with mud and stick chimney and slab seats. Following his father's death he inherited a part of the old homestead, which he afterward sold and later purchased his present farm, comprising one hundred and seventy acres of land. On this he has erected a beautiful frame residence, comfortable, commodious and tasteful in its arrangements. He devotes his attention to' the raising of corn, oats and other grains and also fruit, having an orchard of twenty acres. He produces some of the finest apples raised in this section of the state and his ability as a horticulturist is widely recognized. He has also made a specialty of raising mules and the various branches of his business are proving to him a gratifying source of success. On May 19, 1S72, Mr. Tennant was married to Miss Mary E. Gray, who was born in Washington county, Arkansas, a daughter of Sanford F. and Elizabeth Gray, both of whom were natives of Tennessee, where they were reared and married. They came to Washington county in early life and here Mr. Gray followed the occupation of farming throughout his remaining days. He and his wife had a family of ten children, but only three are living: Mrs. Anna Simpson, a resident of Washington county; Mason F., living in Dodge City, Texas; and Mrs. Tennant. Three sons of the family were killed or died during the Civil war and two of these were wounded at the battle of Prairie Grove, dying from the effects of injuries there sustained. Mr. and Mrs. Tennant have a family of eight children: Fannie, the wife of R. L. Garrison, who works in a planing mill at Spokane, Washington; Eva, at home; Edna, the wife of Walter Carl, a merchant of Prairie Grove; Lizzie, at home; James H., a carpenter of Fullerton, California; Thomas S., a resident of Oakland, Washington, where he is employed in ship building; Walter, at home; and Clara Schaffer, who died of influenza in 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Tennant are widely and favorably known in this section of the state. He is a democrat in politics and has served as constable and as a member of the school board. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to lodge and chapter and he has served as senior warden and as master in the lodge. He also served as king in the chapter and is recognized as a faithful follower of Masonic teachings. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Presbyterian church and are highly esteemed by all who know them. Additional Comments: Citation: Centennial History of Arkansas Volume II Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1922 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/washington/bios/tennant74bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/arfiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb