John W. Tennison was a fiddle player and liked to compete in fiddling contest. He was a carpenter by trade. His wife, Minerva Meler was remembered as tall and thin and a very good cook. She may have been all or part American Indian. Letha Foster reportedly told her grand-daughter, Julie Richards, that "Minnie would take a twig from a tree and chew up the end to fray it, then she would dip it in snuff and chew it. Cleo was a preemie, born at about three pounds. Malinda Norman, (her mother,) would open the oven door and put her in a box or crate or something, (open of course) and lay her there to keep her "incubated." Cleo found Christianity not too long before she passed away.

They came to California in 1926 in Henry's model T automobile. Letha was 14 years old. They would drive during the day and pitch a tent and camp at night. Some of the Tennison's were already in California so they stayed with them until they got settled. John W. and Minnie (Minerva Meler) also came along. John purchased a service station near Sacramento. He hated California and within a year, he and Minnie packed up and moved back to Oklahoma. John had a little puppy and told his family (something like) if his dog died he wouldn't leave his poor dead pup's bones buried in California.
He married Minerva Jane Meler May 02, 1886 in Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory (Oklahoma). She was born January 17, 1870 in Crawford Co., Arkansas, and died February 19, 1953 in Thomas Memorial Hospital, Thomas, Custer Co., Oklahoma. She was the daughter of William L. Meler and Minerva Best.
John experienced Alzheimers disease later in life. Minerva and her daughter were not able to care for him. They moved him to Fort Supply and this is where he passed away. Keep in mind that there were no nursing homes at this time.

Notes from Julie Richards and Earlene Smith