Mary (Gray) and Alexander "Alex" Tennant - Mother of Hanna
Image and notes from Bob Leathers
Mary (Gray) Tennant - Mother of Hanna
MARY (GRAY) TENNANT AT HER HOMESTEAD NORTH RANCH. (PICTURE FROM WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION)
ISABELLE "BELLE' (TENNANT) McNees and Mary (Gray) Tennant on the ranch north of Hanna (MCNEES / POSSEY COLLECTION)
Life Story
1851 March: Alexander "Alex" "Sandy" Tennant was born in Pekin, Allegany County, Maryland to Alexander and Janet Tennant in Maryland.
1851 November 4: Mary Gray was born in Ayrshire, Scotland to James and Chrisina (Irons) Gray.
1860 July 25: Alexander, age 8, was living in the 4th district of Allegany County Maryland with his father Alex, age 41, a miner and his mother Janet, age 31. and two sisters Jennette, age 3, and Isabella, age1. (1860 U.S. Census)
1860: Alexander Tennant was living in Maryland when Confederate forces invaded Maryland during the American Civil War.
1861: Alexander Tennant was living in the North as the United States was torn apart by the American Civil War.
1870 July 14: Alexander, age 18, a miner was living with his mother Janet, age 44, keeping house and Jannett, age 13, at home, Isabella, age 11, at home, Robert, age 8, John age 6 and Jane, age 3. (1870 U.S. Census) The census lists Alexander and all the children as born in Scotland. This appears to be an obvious mistake on the census records. (BL)
1871: Mary Gray immigrated from Scotland to Barton, Maryland with her sister Agnes. (Possey)
1872 December 17: Alex Tennant, age 21 married Mary Gray, age 20, in Allegany County Maryland by J.D. Fitzgerald Cumberland, MD. (Allegany County Marriages Book C July 1865-1873)
Note: Pekin, Maryland is an unincorporated community in Allegany County, Maryland. It is a very small town located between Lonaconing and Westernport. It is located on the Lower Georges Creek Road S.W. (Google Mapp) (BL)
1872 March 16: Alexander and Mary moved to Kansas to farm. The farmhouse was made of mud with a dirt floor. Life was not easy. (Possey)
1881 October: Alexander and Mary moved to Carbon, Carbon County, Wyoming. Alexander tried to work in the coal mines, but he suffered from Brights Disease and had asthma. The coal dust caused breathing problems and they were forced to leave coal mining in Carbon after six months and returned to their farm in Kansas. (Posey)
1885 March 1: Alexander Tennant, age 33, a farmer and his wife Mary, age 32, were living in Glenwood, Phillips County, Kansas. Other family member living with them were Alexander age 11, Christina age 9, James age 7, Robert age 5, Jessie age 3 and Isabelle, age 3 months. (Kansas State Census Collection 1855-1925)
1889: Workers spent their time in Hanna developing the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine and No. 2 mine and building the town. Living conditions in Hanna during the winter of 1889 were difficult. The workers lived in tents and were exposed to the winter weather with little protection from Wyoming's cold and windy conditions.
1890 July 10: Wyoming was admitted to the union. President Benjamin Harrison signed the Wyoming statehood bill, making Wyoming the 44th state in the union. The new town of Hanna celebrated.
1900: The two-story Finn Hall was moved from Carbon to Hanna. The Finnish miners moved the hall by hand seven miles from Carbon to the Hanna. The hall was originally placed near the first school.
1891: Mary (Gray) Tennant arrived in Hanna with her family from Kansas about 1890 when the town was just beginning. Mary opened a boarding house in Hanna on the north side of the railroad tracks. Before arriving in Hanna, Mary had experience as a midwife. She found her experience delivering babies and tending to the sick invaluable in Hanna. It was reported Mary delivered over 403 babies in Hanna. Along with her talents of delivering babies, tending to the sick and the needy, she was a kindhearted and helpful to others. (BL)
1891 - 1910: Mary ran a boarding house in Hanna. She was a very active mid-wife during her years in Hanna. (BL)
1900: Alex Tennant, age 49, born in Maryland, head of house, married to Mary Tennant was living in Hanna, Wyoming. He was a coal miner by occupation, he could read and write and speak English. His wife Mary, born in 1851, age 48, married 28 years, had 10 children with 7 still living, born in Scotland, immigration year 1871, 29 years in America, could read, write and speak English. Alex and Mary had 7 children listed: Alex Tennant, a son, born August 1873 in Maryland, age 26, married, a coal miner by occupation; James Tennant, a son, born May 1877 in Maryland, age 23, single, laborer in mine; Robert, a son, born 1880 in Kansas, age 20. single, a laborer in mine; Belle, a daughter, born 1884 in Kansas, age 15, single; John, a son, born April 1890, in Kansas age 10, Arthur, a son, born December 1892 in Wyoming, age 7. Living with them was Charles Lewis, a boarder, born February 1872, age 28, single, born in Maryland, a coal miner. (1910 US Census)
1904: Alexander "Alex" Tennant died in Hanna of Brights disease at age 53 and was buried in the Hanna Cemetery in plot 215. (BL)
1908 March 28: The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine in Hanna exploded twice in the same day killing 59 men.
1908 March 28: Mary Tennant's oldest son Alexander Jr. and her son-in-law William Pascoe were killed in the 1908 Hanna mine No. 1 explosion. Alex Jr.'s body was found in the mine and removed for burial in the Hanna cemetery. William's body was never found and remained in the mine. (BL)
1908 July 27: Noah Young, Wyoming State Mine Inspector reported to Governor B.B. Brooks the details of the March 28, 1908 explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company's Number 1 mine in Hanna.
1910: Mary Tennant, a widow, age 38, the landlady of the Hanna Boarding House was living in house #146 in Hanna. Her children living with here at the time were; John, age 19 working in the coal mine and working on the Tennant ranch and Arthur, age 17 working in the coal mine. Also living with Mary was her daughter Christina (Tennant) Pascoe, age 34 a widow and her two children; Anna R., age 17 and Aleck, age 2. (Christina's husband William was killed in the 1908 coal mine explosion in Hanna. His body was not recovered from the mine.) (1910 US Census)
1911: The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 4 mine in Hanna was under development. The mine would start production of coal in 1912.
1911: The United Mine Workers of America organized a Hospital Commission in Hanna. The Commission obtained the old school, which had been turned into a boarding house, and created the Hanna hospital to take care of the Hanna miners and their families.
1913 April: Mary Tennant's daughter Christina (Tennant) Pascoe, age 37 - married to William Pascoe who died in the 1908 mine explosion - passed away in Hanna. Alexander James Pascoe was then left with no parents alive, so Mary Tennant took Alex to live with her. (BL)
1914 April 20: The Ludlow Massacre of Colorado coal miners occurred. It was an attack by the Colorado National Guard and the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company owned by John D. Rockefeller on a tent colony of 1,200 striking coal miners and their families at Ludlow Colorado. It had a profound affected on the Hanna miners.
1917 Nov. 17: Mary Tennant was granted a homestead north of Hanna near Leo under the Homestead Act of June 22, 1910. Mary gave up the boarding house and moved full time from Hanna to her homestead.
Mary was granted: the north half of the northeast quarter, the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter, and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section thirty-four in Township twenty-five north of range eight-three west of the Sixth Principal Meridian, Wyoming, containing one hundred sixty acres. (Record of Patents, Cheyenne 04741)
Mary was granted: the north half of the northeast quarter, the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter, and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section thirty-four in Township twenty-five north of range eight-three west of the Sixth Principal Meridian, Wyoming, containing one hundred sixty acres. (Record of Patents, Cheyenne 04741)
1920: Mary Tennant, head of house, widowed, age 60, farm manager, home farm, was living in the Leo, Carbon, Wyoming area. Living with her was James Tennant, son, home farm, age 42, single, born in Maryland; Arthur Tennant, son, home farm, age 27, single, born in Wyoming; Alexander Pascoe, adopted son, age 12, single, born in Wyoming. (1920 US Census)
1930: Mary Tennant was living near Leo, Carbon, Wyoming, age 78, widowed, a homemaker, immigration year 1871, a naturalized citizen. Living with her was James Tennant, head of house, rancher, age 52, single, born in Maryland; Arthur Tennent, brother, rancher, age 37 single, born in Wyoming; Evan Tennant, a nephew, laborer, age 19, single, born in Wyoming; Alexander Pasco, a nephew, laborer, age 15, single, born in Wyoming.
1934: Gigantic dust storms sweep across where the Tennant farm was once located in Kansas. (BL)
1930 - 1941: When Mary Tennant could no longer take care of herself at the ranch, she moved to Rawlins to live with Belle McNeese, her daughter.
1941 September 6: Mary (Gray) Tennant died at the age of 89 in Rawlins, Wyoming and buried in the Hanna Cemetery in plot 215 with her husband Alexander Tennant.
Rawlins Republican, September 9, 1941:
During their long residence in that community, Mrs. Tennant in her kindly, efficient manner, became nurse and mid-wife when doctors and medicinal aid were still rarities. Because of this generous helpfulness, she became known to all as “Mother of Hanna.” (Rawlins Republican, September 9, 1941)
Mary Tennant by Isabelle Posey
When Social Security was enacted, many of the 403 babies came to Mary for verification of their birth, in order to receive a Social Security Card. Even in her eighties, she had a wonderful memory. She could recall what time of day each was born, who was present and the weather of that particular day. These were her last kind deeds. Mary passed away on September 6, 1941, two months before her ninetieth birthday.
She left each of us who knew her, a better person for having known her.
Mary's philosophy was:
I have to live with myself, and so
want to be fit for myself to know,
I want to be able as the days go by,
Always to look myself straight in the eye:
I don't want to stand with the setting sun,
And hate myself for the things I have done.
Mary met the challenge to be a woman, and what a wonderful one she was; gentle, kind, understanding, encouraging, warm, strong, faithful, unselfish, loving, and very interesting.
THE "MOTHER OF HANNA" IS DEAD
Rawlins Republican, September 9, 1941
Mrs. Mary Tennant, 89, Succumbs in Rawlins
Mrs. Mary Gray Tennant, who has lived in Carbon County since 1881, with the exception of eight years, died quietly at 7:30 o’clock Saturday night at the home of her daughter in Rawlins, where she had lived for many years.
Mrs. Tennant would have been 90 had she lived until Nov. 4. Born Mary Gray in 1851 at Bernie Brae, Ardire, Lancashire, Scotland, to James Gray and Christina Evans Gray, she was one of 13 children. At an early age she began working in the mill factories of Scotland and when 19 she came to the United States, landing at Barton, Md., in 1891. A year later, on December 17, 1892, she was married to Alexander Tennant and they made their home in Maryland until March 16, 1879, when they migrated West to Kansas. In 1881 they moved to Old Carbon but went back to Kansas the next year. It was eight years before they returned to Wyoming, this time establishing their home at Hanna. During their long residence in that community, Mrs. Tennant in her kindly, efficient manner, became nurse and mid-wife when doctors and medicinal aid were still rarities. Because of this generous helpfulness, she became known to all as “Mother of Hanna.”
After her husband died just before World War I, Mrs. Tennant remained at Hanna for a number of years, and finally came to Rawlins to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. John McNees, at 311 West Center Street.
Mrs. Tennant was the last of the 13 children in her family to pass away. Her father died 57 years ago [1884] and her mother was claimed in death the day that Edward VII was crowned King of England [August 9, 1902].
Funeral services were conducted yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Hanna Methodist Church, the Rev. H. K. Fulton of Rawlins officiating. In charge of arrangements was the H. Rasmusson Funeral Parlor.
Among the bereaved are two sons, James. G. Tennant, who has a ranch north of Hanna, John Tennant of Superior; a daughter, Isabel McNees, of Rawlins, and 18 grandchildren. (Rawlins Republican September 9, 1941)
Mrs. Mary Tennant
The funeral of Mrs. Mary Tennant was held at the Methodist Church on September 8th. Rev. H.K. Fulton of Rawlins Presbyterian Church, conducted the service, assisted by the Methodist choir. Mrs. Tennant was a beloved pioneer of Carbon County. She was born in Lancashire, Scotland, in November 1851 and came to Maryland when 19 years old. She was married to Alexander Tennant in 1872, moved to Kansas in 1879, came to Carbon, Wyoming, in 1881, remaining there a while and then returned to Kansas, where they lived for eight years. They came to Wyoming again and to Hanna, where Mrs. Tennant endeared herself to all who knew her. She was very active and always cheerful. She moved from Hanna to a ranch north of town, where she lived for several years until her recent illness made it necessary for her to move to the home of her daughter, Mrs. McNeese, of Rawlins; it was there that she passed away on September 6th. She leaves to mourn her passing three sons, James and Arthur Tennant, who have a ranch north of Hanna, and John Tennant, of Superior, Wyoming and one daughter, Mrs. McNeese, of Rawlins, besides several grandchildren, and a host of friends. (UPCCEM, October 1941)
Children of Mary (Gray) and Alexander Tennant had ten children together:
- Alexander Tennant (1873 - 1908)
- Christina Tennant (1875 - 1913)
- James Gray Tennant (1877 - 1955)
- Robert Tennant (1879 - 1934)
- Jannette Tennant (1882 - 1894)
- Isabelle Miller Tennant (1884 - 1968)
- Agnes Tennant (1886 - 1892)
- John Tennant (1890 - 1943)
- Arthur Tennant (1892 - 1963)
- Baby Tennant (1893 - 1893)
Documents
Local history report on Mary Tennant by Isabelle Posey, Riverton, Wyoming, May 22, 1970
The original report is located at the Hanna Basin Museum
The original report is located at the Hanna Basin Museum
Tennant, Mary E.
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: "1851 - 1941"
Plot: 215
Born: Nov. 4, 1851
Died: Sept. 6, 1941
Age: 89 y's, 10 m's, 2 d's
Note: The funeral of Mrs. Mary Tennant was held at the Methodist Church on September 8th. Rev. H.K. Fulton of Rawlins Presbyterian Church, conducted the service, assisted by the Methodist choir. Mrs. Tennant was a beloved pioneer of Carbon County. She was born in Lancashire, Scotland, in November, 1851, and came to Maryland when 19 years old. She was married to Alexander Tennant in 1872, moved to Kansas in 1879, and came to Carbon, Wyoming, in 1881, remaining there a while and then returned to Kansas, where they lived for eight years. They came to Wyoming again and to Hanna, where Mrs. Tennant endeared herself to all who knew her. She was very active and always cheerful. She moved from Hanna to a ranch north of town, where she lived for several years until her recent illness made it necessary for her to move to the home of her daughter, Mrs. McNees, of Rawlins; it was there that she passed away on September 6th. She leaves to mourn her passing three sons, James and Arthur Tennant, who have a ranch north of Hanna, and John Tennant, of Superior, Wyoming and one daughter, Mrs. McNees, of Rawlins, besides several grandchildren, and a host of friends. (UPCCEM, October 1941)
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: "1851 - 1941"
Plot: 215
Born: Nov. 4, 1851
Died: Sept. 6, 1941
Age: 89 y's, 10 m's, 2 d's
Note: The funeral of Mrs. Mary Tennant was held at the Methodist Church on September 8th. Rev. H.K. Fulton of Rawlins Presbyterian Church, conducted the service, assisted by the Methodist choir. Mrs. Tennant was a beloved pioneer of Carbon County. She was born in Lancashire, Scotland, in November, 1851, and came to Maryland when 19 years old. She was married to Alexander Tennant in 1872, moved to Kansas in 1879, and came to Carbon, Wyoming, in 1881, remaining there a while and then returned to Kansas, where they lived for eight years. They came to Wyoming again and to Hanna, where Mrs. Tennant endeared herself to all who knew her. She was very active and always cheerful. She moved from Hanna to a ranch north of town, where she lived for several years until her recent illness made it necessary for her to move to the home of her daughter, Mrs. McNees, of Rawlins; it was there that she passed away on September 6th. She leaves to mourn her passing three sons, James and Arthur Tennant, who have a ranch north of Hanna, and John Tennant, of Superior, Wyoming and one daughter, Mrs. McNees, of Rawlins, besides several grandchildren, and a host of friends. (UPCCEM, October 1941)
(Image by Bob Leathers)
Tennant, Alexander
Headstone: (Jan. 22, 1904; 52 yrs. 9 mo. 22 ds.)
Plot: 215
Born: Mar. 30, 1851
Died: Jan. 22, 1904
Age: 52 y's, 9 m's, 22 d's
Headstone: (Jan. 22, 1904; 52 yrs. 9 mo. 22 ds.)
Plot: 215
Born: Mar. 30, 1851
Died: Jan. 22, 1904
Age: 52 y's, 9 m's, 22 d's
2021
(Image by Bob Leathers)