Willis H. Tennant, the writer of this sketch, was born on the home farm in the town of Chautauqua, N. Y.. April 20th,1854; was educated at the "Beech Hill Corners" school in the Mayville Union School and Painsville Commercial College. To attend school at Mayville he was obliged to travel on foot ten miles per day between the old farm and the Mayville school house, altogether upwards of 1750 miles, and over country roads which in the winter and spring time, can better be imagined than described.
He followed farming and teaching country school until he was 22 years of age. Soon thereafter, December 18th, 1876, he began reading law in Mayville, at the same time paying for his board, working about one of the village hotels. He was admitted to the Bar and licensed to practice before the courts of the New York State at Syracuse in January 1880 was licensed to practice before the U. S. District and Circuit Courts in 1881, and before the U. S. Supreme Court in 1906. In 1884, he married DeEmma Von Valkenburgh, a daughter of Henry Valkenburgh,and Ruth Kelsey-Valkenburgh, and resided in Mayville, N. Y. and practiced his profession there until December 1909; when he moved with his family to Buffalo and continued the practice in that City. They have three children; Henry F., born March 5th, 1886; Mary born December 10, 1889; and Ruth A born May 14th, 1892. While living in Mayville, N. Y., he was Supennsor of the town of Chautauqua, President of the Village, and of the Board of Education for a term of years. One of the great improvements of the State of New York which he advocated from its inception to its completion was the building of the Barge Canal system.
In 1905 and 1906, he held the office of Deputy Attorney General of the State of New York during the term of Attorney General Julius M. Mayer of New York.
He followed farming and teaching country school until he was 22 years of age. Soon thereafter, December 18th, 1876, he began reading law in Mayville, at the same time paying for his board, working about one of the village hotels. He was admitted to the Bar and licensed to practice before the courts of the New York State at Syracuse in January 1880 was licensed to practice before the U. S. District and Circuit Courts in 1881, and before the U. S. Supreme Court in 1906. In 1884, he married DeEmma Von Valkenburgh, a daughter of Henry Valkenburgh,and Ruth Kelsey-Valkenburgh, and resided in Mayville, N. Y. and practiced his profession there until December 1909; when he moved with his family to Buffalo and continued the practice in that City. They have three children; Henry F., born March 5th, 1886; Mary born December 10, 1889; and Ruth A born May 14th, 1892. While living in Mayville, N. Y., he was Supennsor of the town of Chautauqua, President of the Village, and of the Board of Education for a term of years. One of the great improvements of the State of New York which he advocated from its inception to its completion was the building of the Barge Canal system.
In 1905 and 1906, he held the office of Deputy Attorney General of the State of New York during the term of Attorney General Julius M. Mayer of New York.
Willis H. Tennant, the writer of this sketch, was born on the home farm in the town of Chautauqua, N. Y.. April 20th,1854; was educated at the "Beech Hill Corners" school in the Mayville Union School and Painsville Commercial College. To attend school at Mayville he was obliged to travel on foot ten miles per day between the old farm and the Mayville school house, altogether upwards of 1750 miles, and over country roads which in the winter and spring time, can better be imagined than described.
He followed farming and teaching country school until he was 22 years of age. Soon thereafter, December 18th, 1876, he began reading law in Mayville, at the same time paying for his board, working about one of the village hotels. He was admitted to the Bar and licensed to practice before the courts of the New York State at Syracuse in January 1880 was licensed to practice before the U. S. District and Circuit Courts in 1881, and before the U. S. Supreme Court in 1906. In 1884, he married DeEmma Von Valkenburgh, a daughter of Henry Valkenburgh,and Ruth Kelsey-Valkenburgh, and resided in Mayville, N. Y. and practiced his profession there until December 1909; when he moved with his family to Buffalo and continued the practice in that City. They have three children; Henry F., born March 5th, 1886; Mary born December 10, 1889; and Ruth A born May 14th, 1892. While living in Mayville, N. Y., he was Supennsor of the town of Chautauqua, President of the Village, and of the Board of Education for a term of years. One of the great improvements of the State of New York which he advocated from its inception to its completion was the building of the Barge Canal system.
In 1905 and 1906, he held the office of Deputy Attorney General of the State of New York during the term of Attorney General Julius M. Mayer of New York.
He followed farming and teaching country school until he was 22 years of age. Soon thereafter, December 18th, 1876, he began reading law in Mayville, at the same time paying for his board, working about one of the village hotels. He was admitted to the Bar and licensed to practice before the courts of the New York State at Syracuse in January 1880 was licensed to practice before the U. S. District and Circuit Courts in 1881, and before the U. S. Supreme Court in 1906. In 1884, he married DeEmma Von Valkenburgh, a daughter of Henry Valkenburgh,and Ruth Kelsey-Valkenburgh, and resided in Mayville, N. Y. and practiced his profession there until December 1909; when he moved with his family to Buffalo and continued the practice in that City. They have three children; Henry F., born March 5th, 1886; Mary born December 10, 1889; and Ruth A born May 14th, 1892. While living in Mayville, N. Y., he was Supennsor of the town of Chautauqua, President of the Village, and of the Board of Education for a term of years. One of the great improvements of the State of New York which he advocated from its inception to its completion was the building of the Barge Canal system.
In 1905 and 1906, he held the office of Deputy Attorney General of the State of New York during the term of Attorney General Julius M. Mayer of New York.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
