My Genealogy Hound

JOHN A. TENNANT, a representative farmer and a progressive business man of the town of Ripley, is the youngest son and child of Moses A and Delinda (Tennant) Tennant, and was born in the town of Ripley, Chautauqua county, New York, May 30, 1839. The Tennant family is of English descent, and the paternal great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch came to New England, from which his son, Moses Tennant (grandfather), came to Springfield, Otsego county. He was a farmer, a federalist and a deacon of the Baptist church. He married Sarah Selden Jewett, by whom he had one son and four daughters. This son, Moses A. Tennant (father), was born December 25, 1801, and died November 7, 1876, in the town of Ripley in which he settled in 1833. He was a democrat, served twenty years as justice of the peace, and two terms as supervisor, and was a deacon of the Baptist church. He married Delinda Tennant, who was born April 18, 1802, and is still living. She is a son of John Tennant, Jr., who was a native of Connecticut, served in the war of 1812, and was one of six children born to John and Mary (Crandall) Tennant, natives of Connecticut, and afterwards settlers in Otsego county. Moses Tennant had ten children: Alvin J. and Delos G. (see their sketches); Moses S., born August 2, 1824, and died August 19, 1847; O. Eliza, August 5, 1827, and widow of H. W. Shaffer; Julia E., born January 25, 1829, and widow of David Shaffer; Wealthy A., born August 24, 1830, and married E. C. Wattles, of Buffalo; Rev. Albert M., of Westfield, born August 9, 1834; Ellen D., born October 26, 1826, who died in infancy; Fannie O., born February 28, 1828, widow of George Mason, and wife of Eugene Huff; and John A.

John A. Tennant received his education in the common schools of his town and the Ripley High School. Leaving school he was engaged for twelve years in teaching, a part of which time he was principal of the Ripley High school. From teaching he turned his attention to farming and dealing in musical instruments. He now owns two vineyards, one of twenty acres adjoining his property in the village of Ripley, and another of fifteen acres in the immediate neighborhood.

On October 20, 1862, he married Julia A., daughter of Henry Adams, who was born June 17, 1796, and married Louisa Pride, who was born September 5, 1805. Henry Adams was a son of Levi Adams, who was born February 14, 1754, in New England, from which he came to Otsego county where he followed carpentering, and where he married Hannah Pettingill, by whom he had six sons and four daughters. Louisa (Pride) Adams was a daughter of Eliphus and Ruth (Bean) Pride, who were natives of New England and reared a family of four sons and six daughters. John A. and Julia A. (Adams) Tennant have one child, Frederick Adams, who was born May 18, 1871, and is now attending Cornell University, where he is taking the full course in electrical engineering.

In politics Mr. Tennant was formerly a democrat, but is now a prohibitionist, and served his town for several terms both as justice of the peace and supervisor. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Quincy Lodge, No. 2, Royal Arcanum, and the Ripley Baptist church, of whose Sabbath-school he has been superintendent for several years.