My Genealogy Hound

DELOS G. TENNANT, a prosperous farmer of the town of Ripley, and a descendant of an old and highly respected New England family, is a son of Moses A. and Delinda (Tennant) Tennant, and was born in the town of Springfield, Otsego county, New York, July 2, 1823. His paternal great-grandfather Tennant came from England to New England. His son, Moses Tennant (paternal grandfather), was a native of New England, and came from Connecticut to the town of Springfield, Otsego county, where he followed farming until his death. He was a federalist in politics, and a deacon of the Baptist church, and married Sarah Selden Jewett, by whom he had one son and four daughters. The son, Moses A. Tennant (father), was born in the town of Springfield, Otsego county, December 23, 1801, and died in Ripley, November 7, 1876. In 1833 he settled two miles south of Quincy, and afterwards removed to near the village of Ripley, where he followed farming until his death. He was a democrat in politics, had served several terms as justice of the peace and supervisor of his town from 1846 to 1853. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, had been for twenty years before his death a deacon of the Baptist church, and was a useful and public-spirited citizen. Moses A. Tennant married Delinda Tennant, who was born April 18, 1802, and still survives him. They were the parents of five sons and five daughters: Alvin J. (see his sketch); Delos G., Moses S., born August 2, 1824, and died August 19, 1847; Olive Eliza, born August 5, 1827, and married Henry W. Shaffer, who is now deceased; Julia E., married David Shaffer, who died a few years ago; Wealthy A., born August 24, 1830, and wife of Erbin C. Wattles, of Buffalo, New York; Rev. Albert M., of Westfield, who was born August 9, 1834; Ellen D., born October 26, 1826, and died in infancy; Fannie O., born February 28, 1838, who married George Mason and after his death became the wife of Eugene Huff, now a resident of Fredonia; and John A. (see his sketch). Mrs. Delinda Tennant, now in her ninetieth year, is a granddaughter of John and Mary (Crandall) Tennant, natives of Connecticut, who removed to Springfield, Otsego county, where they reared a family of two sons and four daughters. One of these sons, John Tennant, Jr., was the father of Mrs. Delinda Tennant, and came from Connecticut with his father to Springfield. He was a Free Mason, served in the war of 1812, during which he was wounded in the thigh, and married Betsey Loomis.

Delos G. Tennant grew to manhood on his father’s farm. As one of the older children of the family he had to assist in clearing out the Ripley farm, and could only be spared to attend school during a part of the short winter terms. After his marriage he engaged in farming, which has been his main business ever since. He has also at one time been engaged in butchering. His farm lies two miles from the village of Ripley. Mr. Tennant is a democrat, was highway commissioner for some time, and served six years as assessor.

On March 1, 1843, he married Eliza Sawin, a member of the Presbyterian church, and is one of five children born to Ethan and Eleanor (Anise) Sawin. Ethan Sawin, a democrat in politics and a farmer and mechanic by occupation and trade, was drafted in the war of 1812, came in 1832 from his native State of Connecticut to the town of Ripley, where he died in July, 1886, aged seventy-four years. He served a number of years as commissioner of highways and supervisor of his town, and married for his second wife Sallie Osterman. To Delos G. and Eliza (Sawin) Tennant have been born three children: Carrie E., who married Ahira Crandall, and died, leaving one child, Asa J.; Mary L., who died in infancy; and Moses D.

Moses D. Tennant was born December 3, 1849, received a good education and attended the Buffalo school from which he was graduated. He was admitted to the bar, and is now engaged in the practice of his profession at Westfield. While at school he took a course of surveying, and sometimes attends to work in that line. He is a republican, has served as notary public and justice of the peace, and has always been active in political matters. He married Helen, daughter of Austin Smith, of Westfield, and they have one child, Arthur S.