Nathan Cram Tenney was born to Meshach Tenney and Phoebe Cram. Nathan's parents divorced. Nathan lived with his mother and, later, his step-father, John Gates.

Nathan was a Mormon poygamist and married three times:

(1) Olive Strong March 18, 1841 in Berreman, Jo Davies County, Illinois.

Nathan and Olive had ten children together; only four of whom lived past childhood.

George Alma Tenney (1841 - 1848)
Ammon Meshach Tenney (1844 - 1925)
Nathan Cram Tenney, Jr. (1846 - Bef 1860)
Olive Eliza Tenney (1848 - 1916)
Nancy Ann Tenney (Abt 1850 - Bef 1852)
Phoebe Relief Tenney (Abt 1851 - Abt 1853)
John Lowell Tenney (1856 - 1936)
Abbey Celestia Tenney (Abt 1856 - Abt 1857)
Samuel Benjamin Tenney (1858 - 1949)
Marvelous Flood Tenney (1862 - 1865)

(2) Grace Tippett Jose March 18, 1859 in John D. Lee's home in southern Utah. This was a polygamous marriage, as Nathan was still married to Olive. Nathan and Grace divorced about 1869.

Nathan and Grace had one child together:

William Arthur Tenney (1862 - 1918)

(3) Nancy Beaufort Morris October 10, 1863 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This was a polygamous marriage, as Nathan was still married to both Olive and Grace. Nancy had been married twice before she married Nathan: John Lyle Riggs and Edward Marvin.

Nathan and Nancy had one child together:

Ernest Talbot Tenney (1865 - 1865)
------------------------
Nathan was living in St. Johns, Arizona at the time of his death. On June 24, 1882, there was a St. John's Day celebration in town. A fight broke out between some Mexican youths and some brothers named "Greer"; it stemmed from an ongoing feud they were having. The argument turned into a gunfight, and Nathan got caught in the crossfire. He was shot in the head and died instantly.