TENNISON BROTHERS

Joshua Tennison and His Descendants

(AKA "The Joshua Tree") www.tennisonsoftexas.com

(The phrase, "Tennisons of Texas" was coined in 1969 by Alfred Tennison, Jr., and used as a registered trademark by Tennison Brothers of Texarkana, Inc.)

This website is dedicated to the historical preservation of any and all information related to Joshua Tennison, his ancestors, his descendants, and his relatives, including the "Tennison Brothers," other "Tennisons of Texas," and any other Joshua-Tennison relatives, regardless of where they may live.

The above image is a detail from Joshua Tennison's gravestone at the Edwards Cemetery in Mount Pleasant, Texas. Refer to section below for more images of Joshua Tennison's grave site.

(Photograph by John Tennison, November 23, 2008)

Please email John Tennison (nonjohn@yahoo.com) family-related information and photos that you would like posted on this website.

Descendants of John Tennis Sr.

by Ann Tennis Fraser

The link above is to a PDF document which outlines a family tree starting with John Tennis, Sr., (born about 1628 in Holland, and died 1682-1683, St. Marys, Maryland). On page 4 of this John Tennis, Sr., family tree, descent of Joshua Tennison, and some of his descendants can be seen. (Thank you, Ann, for researching this connection.)

Joshua Tennison's Descent from Grandparents Justinian and Mary Tennison of St. Mary's County, Maryland

An Account by Ann Tennis Fraser (Thank you, Ann, for having researched the connection between the Maryland and Georgia Tennisons.)

Born about 1785 in St. Mary’s Maryland, James Tennison was the oldest son of Justinian ‘Jesse’ Tennison and his wife Mary. James had one younger sister, Mary, and three younger brothers, William, Joseph, and Isaac.

James’ father, Jesse Tennison, served in the Revolutionary War and died around 1792. His mother, Mary Tennison, re-married William Richardson, widower and ship’s captain. They lived in St. Mary’s. The youngest children William, Joseph, Isaac begin to use the last name Richardson. The oldest children James and Mary continued to use the last name Tennison.

In 1798 William Richardson is listed in the Tax List for St. Michael’s Hundred, St. Marys, MD. Jesse Tennison is not listed. (Source: Schuart, Wanda M., Federal Direct Tax of 1798, St. Mary’s Co., MD, pp. 169, 202, 211) In 1800 William Richardson is listed in the Census of St. Mary’s County MD, as follows: 30201-01101-0-10, showing he now has three young (Tennison) children in his household.

In March 1802 William Loker petitions the court to have James Tennison bound to him until he arrives to the age of 21 years old, to learn the occupation of a pilot. Petition granted. (Source: Blackwell, Claude G., “Proceedings of the Orphan’s Court of St. Mary’s County, Maryland, 1801-1809,” p. 90) Comments: 1) James must have been around seventeen at the time. 2) William Richardson’s first wife was the daughter of a William Loker.

William Richardson died on 16 September 1807 and his will, probated Mar 8, 1808, does not mention his wife, the former Mary Tennison, indicating that she was probably not living by this date. The will shows that Mary, William, Joseph and Isaac were born Tennison and were Wm. Richardson’s stepchildren, using the name Richardson. The will clearly shows James Tennison to be son of Jesse and Mary Tennison. Executors: Step-Daughter Mary Richardson and James Tennison. Witnesses: Robert Dunkinson, Jeremiah Underwood, Matthias Clarke. Nothing further is known of this family in MD.

Looking again at Georgia records we see that James Tennison of Georgia named his first son “Jesse”, b. 1811. The custom of the time was to name the first son after the paternal grandfather (James named his first son Jesse, Joshua named his first son James). James’ first daughter Mary would have been likewise named after her paternal grandmother). In keeping with custom, the third son, James, b. 1815, was named after the father which suggests that James and Lenny may have had a second male child born in 1813 who did not live to adulthood. Following custom, this 2^nd child would have been named after the maternal grandfather.

The Georgia records also no doubt contain clues as to why James located there. It is probable that he settled in Georgia because family had preceded him in order to get free land grants. These grants were cause for them to continue moving westward as free land became available.

Alfred Austin Tennison, Jr.: Great Great Grandson of Joshua Tennison

As of April 21, 2010, Alfred Austin Tennison, Jr. (born Oct. 4, 1937) is the oldest living direct male descendant of Joshua Tennison who bears the "Tennison" name. Genetically speaking, Alfred Tennison, Jr., is the oldest living male to have directly inherited Joshua Tennison's Y-Chromosome.

Let's have a TENNISON FAMILY REUNION!

Interested? Call John Tennison at 210-884-0990 or email him at nonjohn@yahoo.com.

Pictured above is James Booker Tennison & Josephine Tabb Tennison. James Booker Tennison was the son of Joshua Tennison.

(This photograph is located in the archives of the Mount Pleasant, TX, Public library.)

During the period no earlier than November 24, 1859 (as documented by 1859 Taylor County Superior Court Records) and no later than July 19, 1860 (as documented by the Titus, County Texas 1860 Census), Joshua Tennison (born January 8, 1817 in Georgia) migrated from Crawford County, Georgia, with his family, including his son, James Booker Tennison (born 1846) and daughter Mary E. Tennison (born circa 1851) to Titus County, Texas. It is not clear whether or not Joshua's wife, Sarah Tennison, made the trip to Texas or not. Specifically, I have not yet been able to locate a burial site for Sarah Tennison in Texas.

More Tennisons and Tennysons Live in Texas

Than Any of the Other United States

The map above shows the number of telephone listings in "white pages" for the surname of "Tennison." Most are in Texas, followed by California and Missouri. Data circa 2009

Although less likely to be directly descended from Joshua Tennison, the map above shows the number of telephone listings in "white pages" for the surname of "Tennyson." As with the "Tennison" spelling, most are in Texas, followed by California, then Georgia and Florida. Data circa 2009

The Tennison Family Crest

Original Census Forms Starting with the 1820 Census

1820 Georgia Census names a "John Tennison," Possibly Joshua Tennison's Relative

The only Tennison who I have found in the 1820 U.S. census for Georgia is "John Tennison." John Tennison is listed in the 1820 Census in the township of Waynesboro, Burke County, Georgia. John Tennison is the 14th name listed in the 1820 Census document above. Also, the first column to the right of the name "John Tennison" above has the number 2, suggesting that there were 2 male children under age 5 in the John Tennison household in 1820. Yet, there were clearly other Tennisons in Georgia prior to 1820, as James Tennison and Lenny Newsome (Joshua's presumed parents) were married in Warren, County Georgia on February 13, 1811. Since Joshua was born in 1817 in Georgia, it is reasonable to assume that Joshua's father might have been in Georgia at that time, yet I have not found a "James Tennison" in the 1820 Census for Georgia. So it is possible that James and Lenny were outside the state of Georgia at the time the 1820 census was taken.

The Courthouse in Crawford County, Georgia

(This photo was taken in 2008 by John Tennison, MD.)

Historical Markers at the Crawford County Courthouse

The cause of the Texas Revolution and the folklore associated with patriot Joanna E. Troutman (see above) probably influenced Joshua Tennison's decision to move to Texas.

(This photo was taken in 2008 by John Tennison, MD.)

1840 Census from Crawford County, Georgia

This 1840 Census above shows Jesse Tennison and J. D. Tennison, but not Joshua Tennison.

1850 Census Showing Joshua Tennison's Family in Georgia

As can be seen in lines 21-23 of the 1850 Census form above, Joshua is listed as being 32 years old, and is described as a "tenant." His other family members listed include his wife, Sarah, age 22, and his son, J. B., age 3. On line 29 of the form above, a "Linny Tennison," a 56 year-old female is listed. Linny is shown in the form above to have real estate valued at $5000.00. Linny is quite possibly the surviving widow of Joshua's presumed father, James Tennison. Given her listed age of 56, Linny would have been born in 1793 or 1794. Linny is listed as having been born in Georgia. The "Linny" on this form is probably Joshua's mother and is probably the "Lenny Newsome" who married James Tennison on February 13, 1811, in Warren County Georgia. If Lenny was Joshua's mother, and if the 1900 census is correct in indicating that Joshua's father was born in England, it would appear that James Tennison migrated to the United States from England, where James met Lenny and had what appear to be at least 4 children: J.D., Jesse, Joshua, and Mary.

1860 Census Showing Joshua's Family in Titus County, Texas

Joshua Tennison's household listing starts on line 38 above and continues onto the next page below. The 1860 Census form above indicates that Joshua was 42 years old. Joshua's profession is listed as "Farming." His land is valued at $10,000.00. He is listed as being from "Georgia." On line 39, a 31-year-old "day laborer" by the first name of "Marcus" is listed as living in Joshua Tennison's household.

Joshua's two children, James Booker and Mary E. Tennison, are listed on lines 1 and 2 respectively of the 1860 Census form above. Joshua's wife, Sarah, is not listed on this 1860 census form. I am not sure what had happened to Sarah at this time. Sarah might have died, but if so, I don't know where she is buried. However, given an adultery charge against Joshua in April 1859, in the Taylor County, Georgia, Superior Court Records, Sarah might have been still alive in 1860, but separated from Joshua. Although the charge was dismissed by the court, Joshua Tennison was accused of having committed adultery in the Taylor County, Georgia, Superior Court Records which read: "The State vs. Mary Ann Whittington & Joshua Tennison Adultery Case dismissed" on page 401, in the minutes of the October term of this court.

Jesse Tennison & Lucinda Tennison are Also Listed in the 1860 Census for Titus County, Texas

Jesse and Lucinda ("Lucy" here) are listed on lines 22 and 23 respectively of this 1860 Census for Titus County, Texas. Jesse was probably the sibling of Joshua. Jesse married Lucinda Castleberry in Crawford County, Georgia, on September 29, 1846. Joshua had married Sarah V. Davis on September 23, 1845. Although Joshua had 2 children, I am not aware of Jesse and Lucinda having had any children.

1870 Census for Titus County, Texas

There is a "Mary" who is listed as living with Joshua Tennison at this time on the 1870 Census form above. Mary's occupation is listed as "Keeping House." Given her listed age of "38" and "Alabama" as her place of birth, this "Mary" does not appear to be either Joshua's sister (who married in Georgia on March 7, 1839) or his daughter (born circa 1851), both of whom were named "Mary" but were born in Georgia. Thus, the "Mary" living with Joshua on the 1870 Census form above could possibly have been the "Mary Ann Whittington" with whom Joshua was charged with committing adultery in the October, 1859 term of the Superior Court in Taylor County, Georgia. Moreover, I am not aware of any of Joshua's known children having had this "Mary" as their mother. I still don't know what happened to Joshua's wife, Sarah, whom he married on September 23, 1845.

1880 Census for Titus County, Texas

I don't yet have an 1890 Census Form Scan.

1900 Census Indicates that Joshua's Father was Born in England

Line 31 of the 1900 Census above lists Joshua Tennison's father as having been born in England, and lists Joshua's mother as having been born in Georgia.

Where Joshua Tennison Lived in Georgia Before Coming to Texas

According to Edward Benns of Taylor County, Georgia, records indicate that Joshua purchased lots 14 and 15 of the "Agency Reserve" section of land above. The "Agency Reserve" previously served as a Creek Indian Reservation that had been established by George Washington. As can be seen above, the Agency Reserve was on the western bank of the Flint River. Joshua's lot 14 had frontage on the Flint River. When Joshua purchased lots 14 and 15, the Agency Reserve properties were still part of Crawford County. However, the land west of the Flint River later became part of Taylor County. In fact, before the Flint River became the current border between Taylor and Crawford Counties, Crawford County's western border had extended as far west as the Patsiliga Creek, which can be seen above running through the word "Panhandle." The location of Joshua's property explains how he could be listed as living in Crawford County in the 1850 Census, and yet later, showing up in records for Taylor County, where he served as the Worshipful Master of the Fickling Lodge in 1853.

Joshua's Property is Highlighted Below

The Colonel Benjamin Hawkins Bridge Over the Flint River

(This photo was taken in 2008 by John Tennison, MD.)

The Colonel Benjamin Hawkins Bridge crosses the Flint River Between Crawford County and Taylor County, Georgia. The photograph above is looking westward across the bridge from Crawford into Taylor County. Joshua Tennison's property was up the Flint River from this bridge crossing (roughly northward), which is to the right when viewing this photograph.

Looking Up the Flint River from the Colonel Benjamin Hawkins Bridge

(This photo was taken in 2008 by John Tennison, MD.)

Joshua Tennison's property was up the Flint River (roughly northward) on what would be the left or west shore of the Flint River.

Historical Marker at the Western End (in Crawford County) of the Colonel Benjamin Hawkins Bridge

(This photo was taken in 2008 by John Tennison, MD.)

Reasoning from Census Data That Could Prove Useful in Tracing Joshua Tennison's Ancestors

The earliest mention so far that I have found of Tennisons in Georgia who appear to be Joshua's direct ancestors is the marriage of James Tennison to Lenny Newsome on February 13, 1811, in Warren County, Georgia. James and Lenny appear to have been Joshua's parents, and in 1850, Lenny appears to be the surviving widow of James as documented (and misspelled "Linny Tennison") in the 1850 Crawford County Georgia, Census. In the 1850 Crawford County census, Lenny (misspelled "Linny") is listed as being 56 years old, indicated that she was 17 or 18 years old at the time she married James Tennison.

Prior to 1850, only the names of "Heads of Families" were listed on the Census. However, the gender and age range of all people living in each household were listed.

No "Joshua Tennison" shows up on the 1840 U. S. Census. This fact is consistent with the fact that Joshua had no known children at that time, and therefore, could have easily not yet been a "Head of Family," whose name would have been listed in the 1840 census.

Since Joshua would have turned 23 years old in 1840, it is entirely possible that he was still living with his parents', presumably James and Lenny Tennison.

The only "Heads of Families" with the last name of Tennison to show up in the 1840 Georgia Census are JD, Jesse, and John. JD, Jesse, and Joshua are probably all the children of James and Lenny Tennison. Mary Tennison appears to have been a 4th child of James and Lenny Tennison.

As was the case in the 1820 Census, the 1840 Census lists "John Tennison" in Burke County, Georgia, which suggests that this "John Tennison" is the same one who was listed for Waynesboro, Burke County Georgia in the 1820 Census.

Three males are listed for the 1840 John Tennison Household in Burke County-- one aged between 15 and 20, one aged between 20 and 30, and one aged between 30 and 40. The only female listed in the 1840 John Tennison Household is aged between 20 and 30.

The Crawford County Census of 1840 lists a "Jessee Tennison" and a "J. D. Tennison" as heads of two separate households respectively. However, the 1840 household of Jessee Tennison in Crawford County only lists one male, aged between 20 and 30, which would presumably be Jessee himself, rather than possibly being Joshua, who would have turned 23 in 1840. Moreover, the 1840 household of J. D. Tennison in Crawford County only lists 2 males, one aged less than 5 years, and the other aged between 20 and 30 years, suggesting that the older male was J. D. Tennison, and therefore could not have been Joshua.

The 1830 Census shows only one Joshua Tennison as head of household anywhere in the United States. This household was located in Washington, D.C. This Joshua Tennison cannot be our Joshua Tennison, as only two males are listed for this Joshua Tennison Household, one aged between 20 and 30, and another aged between 50 and 60. Since our Joshua Tennison would have turned 13 in 1830, he could not have been either of the males, or the Joshua who was head of this household.

The only Tennison who is listed in the 1820 census for Georgia is John Tennison, in Waynesboro, Burke County, Georgia. Although the columns are not labeled on the census form, it appears to show what might be 6 people in the John Tennison household -- 3 males and 3 females. Two of the males appear to be aged under 5 years old. Therefore one of these young males could have been Joshua. Assuming the 5th column of the 1820 Census designates the same age range as the 5th column of the 1830 Census, the oldest 3rd male listed appears to be aged between 20 and 30 years old, and presumably would have been John Tennison.

The females listed in the 1820 Census for the John Tennison Household appear to have one fewer columns than the males (5 as opposed to 6) , suggesting that the age ranges specified by the females were not as specific as those specified for males. Nonetheless, 3 females are listed -- one in the first column, one in the 3rd, and one in the 4th column. Presumably the one in the 4th column was the wife of John Tennison.

It would appear that in 1850, Linny Tennison was the surviving widow of James Tennison, and that Linny Tennison might have moved from Warren County to Crawford County, to join her children who might have moved there before her.

If Joshua's claim in the 1900 census is correct that his father was born in England, and if James Tennison was Joshua's father, then James Tennison would have left England no later than 1811, at which time James married Lenny Newsome on February 13, 1811.

Minutes from the Taylor County 1859 Superior Court Records

The complete transcription of these records can be found at: http://ftp.rootsweb.ancestry.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/taylor/court/gdd90courtmin.txt
Bracketed notations are those made by John T. Tennison, MD, for clarification.

Written: 1859
SUPERIOR COURT 1859

Page 365 -- APRIL TERM 1859
List of Grand Jurors chosen and sworn
1. Henry H. Mangham, Foreman
2. Henry N. Duke
3. Gideon Newsome
4. John B. England
5. Wiley B. Shepherd
6. Gideon M. Davis
7. Thomas H. Brown
8. Willis Hobbs
9. John Sturdivant
10. Yelverton H. Caldwell
11. George A. Heath
12. William Anderson
13. Enoch Garrett
14. George Potter
15. William H. Caldwell
16. Charlie H. Cobb
17. Bennett Stewart
18. William M. Stuckey
19. Robert P. Hays
20. John H. Grace
21. William H. Greer

Page 370: [This intent to murder appears to be in the April Term because Henry H. Mangham was listed as the "Foreman" of the Grand Jurors for the April Term of 1859.]
The State vs Joshua Tennison True Bill Assault with intent to murder
H.H. Mangham, Foreman

Page 375:
J.D. Tennison vs Wm H. Montfort
Ordered that certiorari be dismissed and that the judgment of the court be affirmed and the fi fa proceed against the def't James D. Tennison for this proceeding.

[There appears to be no description of a terms of months May through September, 1859, so perhaps the court had 2 terms, a spring term and a fall term.]

Page 396: OCTOBER TERM 1859
Oct 5. The Honorable Edward H. Worrell presiding.

Page 398:
John Sturdivant vs James Tennison Judgement for plt'f $60

Page 398:
Griffeth and Tennison vs John A. Cameron Judgement for plt'f $51

Page 401:
The State vs Mary Ann Whittington & Joshua Tennison Adultery
Case dismissed

Page 403:
George T. Rogers & Son vs Joshua Tenison Deft & James Tennison claim
Motion of counsel that claimant be allowed to withdraw his claim

Page 404:
NOVEMBER TERM 1859
The Honorable Edward H. Worrell presiding
List of Grand Jurors
Mark A. Blanford appointe pro tem Sol General
A.J. Colbert excused from serving on Grand Jury. Thomas J. Riley in his place.

Page 408:
Griffeth and Tennison vs James E. Roper Judgement for plt'f $70

Page 408:
The State vs Joshua Tennison Assault with intent to murder
Case cannot be proven.

The State vs Joshua Tennison Assault and Battery.
Indictment has been lost or destroyed, copy of indictment is ordered to be recorded.

Page 409:
The State vs Joshua Tennison. Jury finds defendant guilty Nov 24, 1859 W.H.
Fickling, Foreman [probably William H. Fickling]

[This guilty verdict on page 409 on November 24, 1859, strongly implies that Joshua Tennison was still in Georgia as of November 24, 1859, as Joshua was found guilty of "assault and battery" by a jury on November 24, 1859. (William H. Fickling served as the "foreman" of the jurors who found Joshua guilty.) Regardless, Joshua's family is clearly documented as being in Titus County Texas by July 9, 1860, as documented by the 1860 Census.]

Evolution of Georgia Counties Correlated with Events in the Lives of Tennisons in Georgia

Georgia Counties in 1793

In the 1793, the earliest possible birth year for Lenny Newsome, Warren County Georgia was formed. Warren County is the location where James Tennison and Lenny Newsome were married in 1811. Some accounts mistakenly described an 1811 marriage in Upson County, yet Upson County did not exist at this time, as it was part of the Native American "Creek Lands" in the map above. Indeed, as can be seen in the map above, the vast majority of Georgia was still Native American lands at this time. Warren County is abbreviated "Wrn" in the 1793 map above.

Georgia Counties in 1811

James Tennison and Lenny Newsome were married on February 13, 1811 in Warren County. Crawford County and Taylor County did not yet exist, as the land that would later become these two counties was still part of Creek lands.

Georgia Counties in 1822

Crawford County ("Cra" in the map above) was formed from Houston County. Crawford County would become the documented home of Joshua's presumed relatives by no later than the 1840 Census. By 1850, Joshua's family would be documented in the 1850 Census as living in Crawford County, along with his two presumed brothers, James D. Tennison and Jesse Tennison, as well as Joshua's presumed widowed mother, Lenny Tennison. Cherokee and Creek Native Americans continued to be displaced from their lands.

Georgia Counties in 1824

Upson County ("Up" in the map above) was formed from Crawford and Pike Counties

Georgia Counties in 1852

Taylor County was derived form Marion, Talbot, and Macon Counties in 1852.

Georgia Counties in 1858

Books County ("Bro") in the map above on the southern border of Georgia, was the death place of James D. Tennison, the presumed older brother of Joshua Tennison. Cherokee and Creek Native Americans have been completed displaced from their prior lands.

The Earliest Years After Joshua Moved His Family to Texas

After moving to Texas, Joshua first settled his family in the Gray Rock community in western Titus County (spelled Grey Rock on the 1860 census). This western portion of Titus County was later split off to form Franklin County. After leaving Gray Rock (now spelled Grayrock on maps), Joshua Tennison's family settled closer to Mount Pleasant, Titus County, Texas. Disruptions in Gray Rock during the Civil War and the railroad's bypassing Gray Rock resulted in Gray Rock becoming a ghost town. Today, a Grayrock cemetery remains, but no Tennisons appear to be buried there.

Joshua's son, James Booker Tennison (pictured above), served in the Confederate army during the U.S. Civil War. In 1891, James Booker's eldest son, James Morgan Tennison, and Henry Booker "Jack" Tennison (the original "Tennison Brothers" of sheet metal fame), began to manufacture sheet metal products in a humble metal shed attached to the back of their hardware store in Mount Pleasant, Texas. This enterprise was the beginning of sheet metal manufacturing by the two Tennison brothers. Although they continued to maintain warehouses in Houston and Dallas, the Tennison Brothers later moved the headquarters of their business to Texarkana, Arkansas. The original Tennison Brothers sheet-metal manufacturing business continues to operate, with branches in Memphis, TN, and in Wichita, KS. Tennison Memorial Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant, TX, is so named to memorialize James Booker Tennison and Josephine Tabb Tennison. Tennison Road (in Mount Pleasant, TX) leads from Mount Pleasant to the Joshua Tennison Farm, purchased by Joshua Tennison after moving his family from Georgia to the Mount Pleasant, Texas area. Henry Booker Tennison commissioned architect Joseph Finger to build the Tennison Hotel at 110 Bagby Street in downtown Houston, TX. The Tennison Hotel opened for business in 1922, and was among the closest of all hotels to Houston's Grand Central Station. Musician Tody Castillo's song, "Tennison Hotel," is named after the structure. Although not a direct descendant of the Poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson (note different spelling), Alfred Austin Tennison, Sr., was named after two of England's poet laureates: Alfred Lord Tennyson and Alfred Austin. The "Tennitex: Tennisons of Texas" registered trademark (filed for by Alfred Austin Tennison, Jr. on September 8, 1969) was an intentional hybrid of the names "Tennison" and "Texas."

Oldest Surviving Descendants of Joshua Tennison: "The 5th Generation"

As of April 21, 2010, Alfred Austin Tennison, Jr. is the oldest living direct male descendant of Joshua Tennison who bears the "Tennison" name. As of 2008, Cora Tennison is the oldest living direct female descendant of Joshua Tennison who bears the "Tennison" name. Other surviving members of this 5th generation include Robert Grey Eargle, and Pauline Eargle. Recently deceased is 2-time Grammy winner, John Eargle. See family tree below for more details about these and other Tennisons.

The Family of Alfred, Jr., and Nancy Tennison

April, 2009, in Texarkana, Arkansas

Left to Right: John Tennison, Mary Tennison, Alfred Tennison, Jr., Nancy Tennison, Joseph Tennison, Trip (Alfred III) Tennison.

This picture was taken at the cemetery on the day of the funeral for Charles Tilmon, the brother of Nancy Tennison.

(from the collection of Trip Tennison - Thanks, Trip.)

The Family of Alfred, Jr., and Nancy Tennison

November 22, 2008 - Photo Taken in Benton, Arkansas

Pictured above from left to right is: Mary E. Tennison, Alfred A. Tennison, Jr., Nancy M. Tennison, John T. Tennison, Joseph G. Tennison, Hannah Tennison (daughter of Joseph and Brenda Tennison), and Brenda Tennison (wife to Joseph and mother of Hannah). As of November, 2008, Alfred Austin Tennison, Jr. remains the oldest living direct male descendant of Joshua Tennison who bears the "Tennison" name. Alfred A. "Trip" Tennison is alive and well, but not pictured above.

October 8, 2005 Photo Taken in Texarkana, Arkansas

(Photo taken at 2007 County Avenue in Texarkana Arkansas on October 8, 2005.)

Pictured above is the 6-member family of Alfred Austin Tennison, Jr. As of November, 2008, Alfred Austin Tennison, Jr. is the oldest living direct male descendant of Joshua Tennison who bears the "Tennison" name. He is at the far right of the picture above. Sequentially from his right is his wife, Nancy Marilyn Tennison, and then (in birth order), Alfred Austin (AKA "Trip") Tennison III, Mary Tennison, John Tilmon Tennison, and Joseph Gleason Tennison.

James Edward Tennison with Grandchildren at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Pictured above are (from left to right) James Edward Tennison with his grandsons Devin Ziesenis, Cody Gagne, and Justin Gagne

Joshua Tennison was a Founding Officer of the Fickling Masonic Lodge in Taylor, County, Georgia.

Joshua Tennison was one of the founding officers of the Fickling Masonic Lodge #129 in 1850, at which time he served as Senior Warden of the lodge. In 1853, Joshua Tennison served as worshipful master of this same Fickling Masonic Lodge #129. In 1854, the document below lists Joshua Tennison as a Past Master (P.M.) of the Fickling Masonic Lodge, #129, of the town of Butler in Taylor County, Georgia, because of his having served as Worshipful Master the prior year. Joshua's position of leadership within his Masonic Lodge indicates that Joshua was a man in whom other men of the Taylor and Crawford County community had confidence.

Above is the current-day home of the Fickling Lodge as of 2008. It is located in Butler, the county seat of Taylor County, Georgia. When Joshua Tennison served as Worshipful Master in 1853, the Fickling Lodge was probably closer to Fickling's Mill, which is also closer to the property that Joshua owned on the Flint River.

The Plaque Below in the Fickling Lodge Documents that Joshua Tennison Served as Worshipful Master in 1853.

A Masonic Lodge Record of Joshua Tennison's Presence in Georgia

(The document above was scanned from page 126 of the book, "Grand Lodge of Georgia 1854," by Mountain Press www.mountainpress.com)

The First Tennison Brothers Factory in Mount Pleasant, Texas

This corrugated sheet metal factory building was attached to the back of the hardware store established in 1891 in Mount Pleasant, Texas, by James Morgan Tennison. It was here that sheet metal buckets became the first manufactured and distributed by the Tennison Brothers. Henry Booker Tennison was the first traveling salesman for the Tennison Brothers. This image is from Page 2 of the "Tennison Brothers Catalog #5."

(Image courtesy of the Alfred Austin "Trip" Tennison, III Collection)

Paperweight: The Young Tennison Brothers

James Morgan Tennison and Henry Booker "Jack" Tennison were the original "Tennison Brothers" of Texas.

(Paperweight image courtesy of the Joseph Gleason Tennison Collection)

The Tennison Brothers Clock Logo

The Tennison Brothers Clock Logo design was created after the Tennison Brothers established their factory in Texarkana. This image is taken from the cover of the1909 pamphlet published by Tennison Brothers, and titled, "History and Current Events."

(Image courtesy of the Alfred Austin "Trip" Tennison, III Collection)

Sunday, August 2, 1914 Article in Four States Press and Texarkana Courier:

"From Small Beginning Business Grows to Mammoth Proportion"

The image above is a photo of a photo of this 1914 newspaper article. If anyone has this original newspaper clipping, please contact John Tennison, M.D., at phone 210-884-0990.

The Tennison Manufacturing Company Building in Houston

This building was in downtown Houston at 1901 Franklin Street directly beside Highway 59 and near the current Minute Maid Stadium. It has been demolished to create a parking lot.

James Morgan Tennison:

Founder of the Tennison hardware store in 1891

"I don't mind somebody telling me what to do, so long as I don't have to do it." -- James Morgan Tennison

James Morgan Tennison was one of the two original "Tennison Brothers." He is responsible for having initiated the manufacture of sheet metal products in his Mount Pleasant, Texas, Hardware store. His younger brother, H. B. Tennison, later joined him at the hardware store, at which point, the Tennison Brothers company was formed. (See the more youthful picture of J. M. Tennison in the paperweight above.)

(Image courtesy of the John Tilmon Tennison Collection)

Article on James Morgan Tennison from Page 260 of the 1939 Book,

"History of Texarkana and Bowie and Miller Counties" by Barbara Overton Chandler and J. Ed Howe

(from the John Tennison collection)

The Tennison Brothers Texarkana Factory in the Early 20th Century

Railroad tracks can be seen in the foreground and were the major avenue by which materials were transported to and from the Tennison Brothers Building by steam locomotives. In the mid-1950s, diesel engines replaced the steam locomotives. The Tennison Brothers building is located at Broad and Hickory Streets in Texarkana, Arkansas. A youthful photo of James Morgan Tennison can be seen in the upper right of this image. This image is from Page 3 of the "Tennison Brothers Catalog #5."

(Image courtesy of the Alfred Austin "Trip" Tennison, III Collection)

Tennison Brothers "Giant" Brand Oil Can Manufactured in Texarkana

This Giant (a registered trademark) oil can was manufactured in the Tennison Brothers Texarkana factory. Note that this association of the word "Giant" with oil occurred before the James Dean film, Giant, which deals with the oil boom in Texas. (from the collection of John Tennison)

Detail of Tennison Brothers "Giant" Brand Oil Can

(from the collection of John Tennison)

Henry Booker "Jack" Tennison: Early 20th-Century Houston Industrialist

(from the Virginia and Robert Gray Collection. Virginia Gray is the granddaughter of Bertha Firestone, the sister of Virginia Mae Tennison, H. B. Tennison's wife.)

H. B. was one of the two original "Tennison Brothers." Compare this photo of H. B. to the younger image of H. B. Tennison on the Tennison Brothers Paperweight above. Although he had joined J. M. Tennison to form the Tennison Brothers company, in the early 20th Century, H. B. Tennison split off from Tennison Brothers company to form the Tennison Manufacturing Company in Houston Texas. (See the article on H. B. below from the 1923 New Encyclopedia of Texas.)

(Photo from the "Men of Texas" section in the New Encyclopedia of Texas, published 1923)

Factory Building Name Plate from H. B. Tennison Manufacturing Company

(from the Virginia and Robert Gray Collection. Virginia Gray is the granddaughter of Bertha Firestone, the sister of Virginia Mae Tennison, H. B. Tennison's wife.)

Henry Booker "Jack" Tennison Article from the New Encyclopedia of Texas

Refer to yellow highlighted area only.

(from Page 630 in the "Men of Texas" section of the New encyclopedia of Texas, Published 1923)

Houston Chronicle Article at the Time of H. B. "Jack" Tennison's Death

This article was published on February 17, 1936. The article states that H. B. was 60 years old at the time of this article (1936), yet the article mistakenly states his year of birth as 1880. Instead, H. B. "Jack" Tennison's date of birth was July 3, 1875. Thus, had he been alive for his birthday on July 3, 1936, he would have turned 61.

The Tennison Memorial United Methodist Church

In 1915, the Methodist East Church of Mount Pleasant burned down. A new sanctuary was completed in 1924 with an indebtedness of about $25,000.00. In honor of the memory of his parents, Henry Booker "Jack" Tennison paid off the debt. At that time, the church was renamed the "Tennison Memorial United Methodist Church."

Tennison Road in Mount Pleasant, Texas

Tennison Road at the star above lies on the southern border of Mount Pleasant, Texas. The road leads from Mount Pleasant to the Tennison farm, purchased by Joshua Tennison after moving to Texas.

Alfred Tennison, Sr., at Reunion of Texarkana's First Boy Scout Troop

Alfred Tennison, Sr., (son of James Morgan Tennison) can be seen standing in the far right of the photo above with crossed arms and his signature cigar in mouth. Wilbur Smith, dear friend to Alfred Tennison, Sr., and also a member of Texarkana's Boy Scout Troop One, was born on the same day and year as Alfred Tennison, Sr., and also married a woman named Edith. For this reason, Wilbur's nickname for Alfred was "Twin." Smith made important contributions to archiving and preserving the history of Texarkana. This gathering was in the McCartney Hotel in Texarkana, Texas. The McCartney Hotel was designed by Joseph Finger, the same architect who designed the Tennison Hotel in Houston, Texas.

Alfred Tennison, Jr.'s "Tennitex: Tennisons of Texas" Trademark

The "Tennitex: Tennisons of Texas" trademark above was created by Alfred Austin Tennison, Jr., for Tennison Brothers of Texarkana, Inc. The trademark was first used in commerce on August 28, 1969. Alfred Austin Tennison, Jr. filed for its trademark status on September 8, 1969.

(Image from the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office)

"Tennison Metal Works" - Article from 2006

"If you haven't seen this wonderful building, drive east on E. Broad Street and you will find it in the shadow of the viaduct. It's a real beauty!" concludes historian Beverly Rowe.

(reproduced with permission from Beverly Rowe from her 2006 book, "Twice Upon A Time, In Texarkana, Copyright 2006, page 101-102. This book contains articles that Rowe has published in the Texarkana Gazette.)

The original street address of the Tennison Brothers factory building in Texarkana was 921 East Broad Street. However, in the late 1980s, the city renumbered the street addresses, resulting in the Tennison Brothers factory building's new address of 821 East Broad Street. According to Alfred Tennison, Jr., Tennison Brothers stopped soliciting business on December 31, 1986. However, the corporation was not formally dissolved until a few years later after the remaining inventory, machinery, and building itself had been sold.

In corroboration of Beverly Rowe's account, Alfred Tennison, Jr., said there were a number of shotgun houses occupied by African Americans along Broad Street before the Tennison Brothers Factory at 921 E. Broad Street was built at that site.

The Tennison Brothers of Texarkana Factory in the Late 20th Century

(Image courtesy of the Alfred Austin "Trip" Tennison, III Collection. Photograph taken in the 1980s.)

The Tennison Brothers Factory Building in Texarkana on October 20, 2008

This photograph was taken standing on top of the Arkansas Viaduct while looking over Broad Street on October 20, 2008.

This photograph was taken standing on top of the Arkansas Viaduct while looking westward down Broad Street on October 20, 2008.

This Photograph was taken looking across the railroad tracks at the Tennison Brothers Building while standing on the Arkansas Viaduct.

This Photograph was taken at the top of the concrete steps that connect the top of the Arkansas Viaduct to East Broad Street Below.

This photograph was taken from the median of East Broad Street while underneath the Arkansas Viaduct.

Ariel Satellite Photo of the Tennison Brothers Factory in Texarkana

The Tennison Brothers Factory can be seen in the upper right-hand corner of this photograph. The building is identifiable by the diagonally-running elevated roof that bisects the factory. This elevated roof was constructed to allow steam locomotives (and later diesel locomotives) to bring rail-based materials in and out of the factory.

(Image from John Tennison collection.)

Flywheels in the Tennison Brothers Manufacturing Plant in Texarkana

(Image courtesy of the Alfred Austin "Trip" Tennison, III Collection. Photograph taken in the 1980s.)

Closer View of Flywheels in the Tennison Brothers Manufacturing Plant in Texarkana

(Image courtesy of the Alfred Austin "Trip" Tennison, III Collection. Photograph taken in the 1980s.)

Train Tracks in the Tennison Brothers Manufacturing Plant in Texarkana

(Image courtesy of the Alfred Austin "Trip" Tennison, III Collection. Photograph taken in the 1980s.)

Panoramic View of the Tennison Brothers Manufacturing Plant in Texarkana

(Image courtesy of the Alfred Austin "Trip" Tennison, III Collection. Photograph taken in the 1980s.)

Culvert Pipes in Racks

(Image courtesy of the Alfred Austin "Trip" Tennison, III Collection. Photograph taken in the 1980s.)

White Truck Driven by Alfred Tennison, Jr. During Sales Trips Throughout the Western United States

(Image courtesy of the Alfred Austin "Trip" Tennison, III Collection. Photograph taken in the 1980s.)

The Tennison Hotel at 110 Bagby Street in Houston, Texas

The photograph above was taken by Bob Bailey and is currently in the archives of the University of Texas.

(from the Virginia and Robert Gray Collection. Virginia Gray is the granddaughter of Bertha Firestone, the sister of Virginia Mae Tennison, H. B. Tennison's wife.)

H. B. Tennison commissioned Houston Architect, Joseph Finger, to build the 110-Room Tennison Hotel. The hotel opened for business in 1922. Notice the green "Tennison" flag flying below the American flag at the top of the hotel. The rail-based streetcar seen above ran directly by the hotel. Southern Pacific's Grand Central Station was directly across the street, where Houston's main U. S. Post Office now stands.

(The postcard above was published in the 1920s.)

The Hotel as of March 19, 2005

(Photo taken by John Tilmon Tennison on March 19, 2005)

A Detail from the Tennison Hotel

(Photo taken by John Tilmon Tennison on March 19, 2005)

View Down Bagby Street & Houston Skyline from the Tennison Hotel

(Photo taken by John Tilmon Tennison on March 19, 2005)

The Tennison Hotel (lower left) & Houston Skyline from Other Side of Freeway

(Photo taken by John Tilmon Tennison on March 19, 2005)

One of Two Billboards on the Tennison Hotel

(Photo taken by John Tilmon Tennison on March 19, 2005)

Timeline of Tennison Brothers Business Ventures

Tennison Brothers, Inc. Memphis Factory Building in 2008

The original Tennison Brothers, Inc. continues in business, with its headquarters in Memphis, TN, and with a branch in Wichita, KS.

The H. B. Tennison Home at 427 Lovett Blvd.

The caption at the upper left-hand corner of the architectural sketch above indicates that, like the Tennison Hotel, the H. B. Tennison home at 427 Lovett Blvd. was designed by celebrated Houston architect, Joseph Finger. H. B. Tennison's funeral services were held at this residence at the time of his death at age 60 in 1936.

(from the Virginia and Robert Gray Collection. Virginia Gray is the granddaughter of Bertha Firestone, the sister of Virginia Mae Tennison, H. B. Tennison's wife.)

Current-day Photo of 427 Lovett Blvd.

The H. B. Tennison home is in the heart of Houston's Montrose District. It is currently occupied by L'Alliance Française de Houston, Inc.

(Photo taken by John Tilmon Tennison on March 19, 2005)

Obituary From Gospel Messenger Sheds Light on Death of James D. Tennison, the Presumed Older Brother of Joshua Tennison

Elder John Richard Respess was a Minister and the publisher of The Gospel Messenger in Butler, Georgia form 1879 to January 1896.

The October 1883 Gospel Messenger Contained the Following Obituary Notice:

Elder James D. Tennison dies at his home in Brooks County, Ga. Born April 5, 1815, died June 6, 1883. He joined the Primitive Baptist Church in Crawford County Georgia and was baptized by Elder John Bassett. Jan. 8, 1838 he married Zinno Horton in Crawford County, Ga. and they had 10 children, 2 sons and 3 daughters survive him. Pelham Georgia. Elder William Hollingsworth.

Any surviving descendents of this James D. Tennison could prove extremely helpful in confirming whether or not James D. Tennison was Joshua's brother, and in determining whether or not the elder James Tennison and Lenny Tennison were the parents of James D. Tennison and Joshua Tennison.

Reference: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ga/topic/news/Gospelmessenger.htm

Joshua Tennison Family Tree (11 Generations)

(Family Tree last updated 5-15-2011. If you have information or corrections to make it more complete or accurate, please contact John Tennison, M.D. at 210-884-0990. Although all information listed in the family tree above is publicly-available information, some family members have nonetheless requested that their personal information or that of their minor children not be listed. In such cases where such requests have occurred, the anonymous words "Male" or "Female" have been used, followed by a number so that each anonymous name will be a unique placeholder within the structure of the family tree. If your name appears in the family tree below and you would prefer that it not be displayed, please call John Tennison at 210-884-0990 or email him at nonjohn@yahoo.com )

Joshua's Grandparents

Joshua Tennison's grandparents appear to have been Justinian "Jesse" Tennison and Mary Tennison, both of whom lived in St. Mary's, Maryland. Justinian "Jesse" Tennison served in the American Revolutionary War, and died around 1792. The oldest child of Justinian and Mary Tennison was James Tennison, who was born about 1875 in St. Mary's Maryland. James Tennison had one younger sister, Mary, and three younger brothers: William, Joseph, and Isaac.

Joshua's Parents

Joshua Tennison's parents were probably James and Lenny Tennison. Lenny's maiden name was Lenny Newsome. James Tennison appears to have been born about 1875 in St. Mary's Maryland. James and Lenny were married on February 13, 1811, in Warren County, Georgia. Lenny Tennison is listed as being the sole member of her household at age 56 in the 1850 Census for Crawford, County, Georgia. Lenny had presumably become a widow as of the 1850 Census. (Joshua appears to have had at least three siblings: James D. Tennison, Mary, and Jesse.)

1st Generation (Relative to Joshua Tennison)

Jesse Tennison (born 1811) (married Lucinda Castleberry on September 29, 1846, in Crawford County, Georgia) Lucinda later shows up as "Lucy" in the 1860 Census of Titus County, Texas. That is, Jesse, like Joshua, also moved to Titus, County, Texas from Crawford, County, Georgia and is listed in the 1860 Census for Titus County.

James D. Tennison (born April 15, 1815, died June 6, 1883 in Brooks County, Georgia) (James married Simmasinno (AKA "Zinno") Horton, January 8, 1838, in Crawford County, Georgia.)

Mary J. Tennison (married Joseph Branham on March 7, 1839)

Joshua Tennison (born January 8, 1817, Georgia (possibly in Warren County, where his presumed parents were married); He died at 88 years old in Mount Pleasant, Texas, August 25, 1905) (Joshua married Sarah V. Davis on Sept. 23, 1845. Sarah does not show up on the 1860 census, so if anyone knows what happened to her, I would love to hear from them at 210-884-0990.)

2nd Generation

Children of James D. Tennison: The Gospel Messenger obituary from 1883 says that James had 10 children, of which 2 sons and 3 daughters survived him at the time of James's death on June 6, 1883.

Children of Joshua Tennison: James Booker Tennison (born August 19, 1846, Georgia, died August 5, 1916, Mount Pleasant, Texas) (Married Josephine Matilda Tabb, born September 22, 1847, Yalobusha County, Mississippi, died July 29, 1935, Mount Pleasant, Texas); Mary E. Tennison, born circa 1851, Georgia (Married Alfred Lewellen)

Children of Jesse Tennison: I don't know of any children by Jesse.

Children of Mary J. Tennison: unknown at this time.

3rd Generation

Children of James Booker Tennison: James Morgan Tennison (born March 30, 1869, Mount Pleasant, Texas, died March 20, 1934, Texarkana, Arkansas-Texas) (James Morgan Tennison married Pauline Scurlock, who was born March 31, 1875, & died October 3, 1943); Osa Adner Tennison (born 1871, Mount Pleasant, Texas, died September 24, 1876, Mount Pleasant, Texas); Henry Booker "Jack" Tennison (born July 3, 1875, Mount Pleasant, Texas, died February 16, 1936, Houston, Texas) (Married Virginia Mae Firestone); Rosa Belle Tennison (born December 4, 1877, Mount Pleasant, Texas, died April 5, 1966, Mount Pleasant, Texas); Georgia Tennison (birth and death dates unknown)

4th Generation

Children of James Morgan Tennison: Mary Tennison, James Daniel Tennison, Sr., Maurine Tennison (married Mr. (Markus?) Schwarz), Alfred Austin Tennison, Sr. (married Harriet Edith Dorsey), Josephine Tennison

Children of Osa Adner: none, as she died during her childhood

Children of Henry Booker Tennison: no known children

Children of Rosa Belle Tennison: They exist, but information is being collected

Georgia Tennison: no known children

5th Generation

Children of Mary Tennison: She was married, but had no children.

Children of James Daniel Tennison, Sr.: He had four children with his first wife, Jimmie Tennison (maiden name unknown at this time). They are: James Daniel Tennison, Jr. (married Martha Elizabeth Anderson.) [Martha Elizabeth Anderson was a descendant of John Adams (2nd U.S. President) and John Quincy Adams (6th U.S. President). Her parents were Edward Gaines Anderson & Nina Adams Anderson.], Jack Craig Tennison, Henry Booker Tennison (the 2nd "H. B. Tennison"), Alys Jo Tennison (married name Daniel). (James Daniel Tennison, Sr., divorced Jimmie, his first wife, and then married Irma Barnes. The new couple moved from Texarkana to Memphis.) James Daniel Tennison, Sr., and Irma Tennison (maiden name Barnes) had one child: Carol Tennison.

Children of Maurine Tennison (married Tom Keeler): Cora Tennison & James M. Tennison (Both Cora and James changed their last name from Schwarz back to Tennison when their parents divorced.)

Children of Alfred Austin Tennison, Sr.: Billy (William?) Tennison (Billy, who was the son of Alfred Tennison Sr.'s first wife (Lillian Bishop). Billy died in childhood from bleeding complications after a tonsilectomy.), Alfred Austin Tennison, Jr. (son of Alfred Tennison, Sr.'s second wife, Harriet Edith Dorsey) (born October 4, 1937) (Married Nancy Marilyn Tilmon) (born February 20, 1939)

Children of Josephine Tennison: Robert Grey Eargle, Pauline Eargle, & John Eargle (died in 2007)

6th Generation

Children of James Daniel ("J.D.") Tennison, Jr. & Martha Elizabeth Tennison: Marcia Ann Tennison (married name: McGarrity) , William Gaines Tennison (married Linda Kay Kinzie on 7-15-61) , James Edward ("Ed") Tennison (married Deanna Carol Roehrman)

Children of Craig Tennison: William ("Bill") Tennison, others?

Children of Henry Booker ("H. B.") Tennison: None. (Before taking his own life while in college, he wrote a suicide note claiming to be Texarkana's "Phantom Killer," a serial killer who made national headlines after striking in 1946. Authorities did not believe the claims of Booker's suicide note to be true. The movie, "The Town That Dreaded Sundown," is based on the 1946 Texarkana killings.) Note: This "Henry Booker Tennison" who committed suicide was not the same person as the older Henry Booker "Jack" Tennison who married Virginia Firestone and who lived in Houston, Texas.

Children of Alys Jo Tennison Daniel: Robert Daniel, Pamela Daniel (born September 25, 1942) (became Pamela Daniel Rodgers), Angie, Cynthia Daniel (became Cynthia Daniel Hinkle), & Jim

Children of Carol Tennison: unknown at this time.

Children of Cora Tennison: Tennison Temple Keeler

Children of James M. Tennison (son of Maurine Tennison): None

Children of Alfred Austin Tennison, Jr. & Nancy Marilyn Tennison: Alfred Austin ("Trip") Tennison, III (born March 28, 1962) (married Tonya Newell), Female1 (married Male1), John Tilmon Tennison, M.D. (A.K.A. Nonjohn) (born September 16, 1968) (married Andrea Kirsten Iken, M.D.), Joseph Gleason Tennison (born February 24, 1971) (married Brenda Hodges)

Children of Robert Grey Eargle: Cyndi Eargle, Robert Eargle, Jr., John Eargle

Children of Pauline Eargle: Eric Dahlgren, Carl Dahlgren, Anne-Marie Dahlgren

Children of John Eargle: None

7th Generation

Children of Marcia Ann McGarrity: Heather Elizabeth (died at age 10), Kimberly Ann (married name Noonan)

Children of William Gaines Tennison & Linda Tennison: James Andrew Tennison & Jed Gaines Tennison

Children of James Edward ("Ed") Tennison & Deanna Carol Tennison: Michela Dee Caruso, Christine Lynn Brisco, & Jennifer Dawn Gagne

Children of William ("Bill") Tennison: Data is being gathered.

Children of Pamela Daniel Rodgers: Jason Rodgers (born December 31, 1964), Gail Rodgers (born December 16, 1985) (became Gail Young) (married Danny Young (born April 10, 1963)), Lei Lani Rodgers (born February 8, 1974)

Children of Cynthia Daniel Hinkle: Steven Loyd Dyal & Joey Edward Dyal

Children of Alfred Austin ("Trip") Tennison, III and Tonya Tennison: Trevor Tennison, Derek Tennison

Children of Female1: Elecia Nicole Baker (father is Male1), Crystal Baker (father is Male1), Female2 (married Male3)(father is Male1), Paul Baker III (father is Male1), Female3 (father is Male2)

Children of John Tilmon Tennison and Andrea Iken Tennison: Jack Truman Tennison, James Tyler Tennison, & Joseph Thomas Tennison

Children of Joseph Gleason Tennison and Brenda Tennison: Hannah Tennison

8th Generation

Children of Kimberly Ann Noonan: Keaton, Lauren, C.J., & Jovie

Children of James Andrew Tennison: William Andrew Tennison, James Dalton Tennison, & Daniel Edwin Jones

Children of Jed Gaines Tennison: J. T. Tennison, Caleb Stafford Tennison, & Kinzie Ann Tennison

Children of Michela Dee Caruso: Shauna Nicole Caruso & Brandon Edward Caruso

Children of Christine Lynn Brisco: Nathan Andrew Brisco, Hannah Elizabeth Brisco, & Abigail Grace Brisco

Children of Jennifer Dawn Gagne: Cody James Gagne, Justin Roland Gagne, & Devin Dean Ziesenis

Children of Gail Young: Brittny Young (born December 12, 1985) [became Brittny Wooten] (married Brandon Wooten (born October 30, 1982)) and Carly Young (born May 6, 2002)

Children of Lei Lani Rodgers: Jonathon Leon Rodgers (born September 20, 1993) and Mathew Alan Rodgers (born April 22, 2006)

Children of Steven Loyd Dyal: Richard Clifton & Steven Loyd, Jr.

Children of Joey Edward Dyal: Tyler Joshua, Angela May, Nicolas Edward, Nathan Daniel, & Nolan David

Children of Elecia Nicole Baker: Ariel Bowers, Isis Bowers, & Gabriel Skip Goddard

Children of Female2: Male4 and Female4

9th Generation

Children of Brittny Wooten (previously Brittny Young): Rachel Wooten (born May 27, 2003) [step daughter with husband Brandon Wooten]

(If you have information or corrections to make this website more complete or accurate, please contact John Tennison, M.D. at 210-884-0990.)

Tennison Cemetery Sites

Gravestone Of Joshua Tennison At Edwards Cemetery in Mount Pleasant, Texas

(Joshua Tennison gravestone photos by John Tennison, November 23, 2008.)

The gravestone reads:

Joshua Tennison

Born

In Georgia

Jan. 8, 1817

DIED

Aug. 25, 1905

Gravestone Of Joshua Tennison Detail

Notice the eroded letters at the top of Joshua Tennison's gravestone. It is not clear to me what they say. However, to my eyes, it looks like an "A" and an "S," with this "S" being at the lower end of the bird dropping on the top of the gravestone. The word(s) printed at the top of the gravestone could have been "Past Master," since Joshua had been the Worshipful Master of his Masonic Lodge in Georgia. In fact, it looks like there might have been and "E" and "R" in the end of the same line that contains what looks like an "A" and an "S." If so, the "E" and the "R" could have been the last two letters of the word, "Master." If anyone has any ideas about deciphering these eroded letters, please call John Tennison at 210-884-0990.

Gravestone Of Joshua Tennison Detail

The surname "TENNISON" is printed in all-capital letters at the base of Joshua Tennison's gravestone.

Gravestone Of Joshua Tennison Detail

Above is a detail of the upper-most portion of the Joshua gravestone where the unreadable letters are located. It is not clear to me what they say. However, to my eyes, it looks like there is an "A" and an "S," with this "S" being at the lower end of the bird dropping on the top of the gravestone. The word(s) printed at the top of the gravestone could have been "Past Master," since Joshua had been the Worshipful Master of his Masonic Lodge in Georgia. In fact, it looks like there might have been and "E" and "R" in the end of the same line that contains what looks like an "A" and an "S." If so, the "E" and the "R" could have been the last two letters of the word, "Master." If anyone has any ideas about deciphering these eroded letters, please call John Tennison at 210-884-0990.

Gravestones of James Booker Tennison, Josephine Tabb Tennison, and Georgia Tennison at Masonic Cemetery in Mount Pleasant, Texas

(Photo by John Tennison, November 23, 2008.)

James Booker Tennison Gravestone Detail

(Photo by John Tennison, November 23, 2008.)

Josephine Tabb Tennison Gravestone Detail

(Photo by John Tennison, November 23, 2008.)

Georgia Ella Tennison Gravestone Detail

(Photo by John Tennison, November 23, 2008.)

James Booker Tennison and his father, Joshua Tennison, were both Masons.

Map Showing Location of Edwards Cemetery & Masonic Cemetery in Mount Pleasant, Texas

Joshua Tennison is buried in Area 12 among at the Edwards Cemetery in Mount Pleasant, Texas. His gravestone is among the Lewellen gravestones at Edwards Cemetery, apparently due to the fact that, during his old age, Joshua had been living with his daughter's family - that of Mary E. and Alfred Lewellen. Edwards Cemetery can be seen in the middle of the bottom edge of the map above. James Booker Tennison and Josephine Tabb Tennison are buried at the Masonic Cemetery in Mount Pleasant, Texas. The Masonic Cemetery can be seen in the center of the top half of the map above.

Union Hill Cemetery

Osa Adner Tennison (born 1871, Mount Pleasant, Texas, died September 24, 1876, Mount Pleasant, Texas) is buried in the Union Hill Cemetery, which is east of downtown Mt. Pleasant not far from where the western end of Tennison Road meets road 2348. Union Hill Cemetery can be seen in the upper right hand portion of the map above. Tennison Road is the unlabelled road that runs roughly east-west in the middle of the map above.

Map Showing Location of Hillcrest Cemetery at Texarkana, Texas

Hillcrest Cemetery can be seen in the middle of the lower edge of the image above.

Map Detail of Hillcrest Cemetery

There is a Tennison plot and a Dorsey-Tennison plot at the Hillcrest Cemetery. James Morgan Tennison is buried in the Tennison plot at Hillcrest Cemetery. Alfred Austin Tennison, Sr., and his wife, Harriet Edith Dorsey Tennison, are buried in the Dorsey-Tennison plot at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Complete List of Tennisons Buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Texarkana, Texas

Alfred Austin Tennison, Sr.            born    10/5/1902     died    6/11/1994

Edith Dorsey Tennison              born    9/5/1907 died    12/7/1987

H. B. Tennison            born    2/12/1930     died    11/5/1948

James Morgan Tennison              born    6/30/1869     died    6/20/1934

Mrs. Jimmie Craig Tennison             born    8/23/1898     died    1/22/1974     (US Army, WWI)

Mary Louise Tennison              born    8/28/1892     died    6/3/1963

Maurine Tennison             born    10/29/1899     died    8/27/1989

Pauline Scurlock Tennison (wife of James Morgan Tennison)            born    3/31/1875     died    10/3/1943

The Tennison Memorial in Forest Park Cemetery, Houston, Texas:

"Character Survives; Goodness Lives; Love is Immortal."

The caption on the memorial reads, "Character Survives; Goodness Lives; Love is Immortal." (Photo by John Tennison on December 26, 2006)

Back of Tennison Memorial at Dusk

The Tennison Memorial is located in Section K of Houston's Forest Park Cemetery. (Photo by John Tennison on December 26, 2006)

Mary E. Firestone was the mother of Virginia M. Tennison, the wife of Henry Booker "Jack" Tennison. (Photos by John Tennison, December 26, 2006)

Map Showing Location of Forest Park Cemetery in Houston, Texas

Henry Booker "Jack" Tennison is buried at the Forest Park Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Beloved Pets of the Tennisons

"Tex" (registered pedigree Airedale) -- (favorite boyhood dog of Alfred Tennison, Jr.) Tex was acquired when Alfred Tennison, Jr. was 11 years old. (Tex's father was an Airedale named, "Alexis of Texas." Tex was named by Alfred Tennison, Sr.)

"Smiley" -- favorite dog of the four children of Alfred Tennison, Jr. and Nancy Tennison. Smiley died in the 1980s. Smiley's mother, named "Francis," was also a member of the Tennison household.

"Parker" (German Shepherd/Terrier mix) & "Ginger" (mostly Black Labrador) -- dogs of John Tilmon Tennison and Andrea Iken Tennison, 2005

"Gator" -- (Pit Bull Terrier) (died in 2005) -- belonged to Paul Baker III (son of Mary Tennison)

"Sage" (German Sheppard) & "Blackie" (mostly Black Labrador), (both died in late 2005) -- dogs of Alfred Tennison, Jr., and Nancy Tennison, 2005

"Nip" and "Tuck" -- dogs of Alfred Tennison, Jr., and Nancy Tennison, 2006-2010

(If you are a descendant of Joshua Tennison and have pets that you would like included in this list, please contact John Tennison, M.D. at phone: 210-884-0990.)

For any inquiries regarding this web page, please contact me at the following email or telephone number. Also, if anyone knows of any existing photographs of Joshua Tennison, please let me know. Also, if you are a descendent of Joshua Tennison, I would love to display your family photos on this website. Also, if you are a descendant of Joshua Tennison, please contact me so that I may include you in the family tree that I am constructing (A.K.A. "The Joshua Tree"). You may email me at tennison@texaspsychiatry.net or phone me at 210-884-0990 -- John Tennison, M.D., Tennison historian, and Great Great Great Grandson of Joshua Tennison.

Thanks to Ann Tennis Fraser and Terri Crook for their valuable assistance in researching Tennison family history.