The
Valley of Heart's Delight
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Tennant' Station- This point on the route of the Southern
Pacific
Railroad , is a hotel and blacksmith's shop. The first of these
was originally known as the Twenty-one-mile House, and was built by
Wiliam Host in 1852. It was then a two-story building twenty by
twenty-five feet. In November of that year the property was
purchased by William Tennant, but the house was unfortunately destroyed
by fire in 1853. Mr. Tennant, however, at once commenced its
reconstruction, as it stands at present, two stories in height,
twenty-two by thirty-six feet, with two wings, eighteen by twenty feet,
and sixteen by eighteen feet respectively. Here Mr. Tennant
conducts the post-office, which was establihsed April 5, 1871.
In 1876 this same enterprising gentleman erected a blacksmith's shop,
which, though at first intended for private work is now used by the
neighborhood generally.
transcirbed by cdf
History of Santa Clara County, California
San Francisco: Alley, Bowen & Co., 1881, 878 pgs.
William Tennant Bio-—The-subject of this sketch, whose
portrait
appears in our work, was born in London, England, June 15, 1830, and is
descended from good old Scotch stock. He is the eldest son of William
and Dorinda Tennant, the former of whom came to California in 1849—his
family coming out with our subject. Having received his early education
in the world's metropolis, he afterward learned the trade of a
piano-forte maker, which he followed until 1851, when he sailed in the
ship Prince Charlie, by way of Cape Horn, for California, arriving in
San Francisco in the latter part of that year. He almost immediately
commenced tuning pianos in that city, being the only one of that
occupation in the State. Early in 1852, he was called to Alviso to tune
the piano of Governor Burnett, and afterwards performed the like duty
at the Santa Clara and San Jose colleges, and returned to the city, but
being enchanted with the valley, he returned in a short time, rented
the ground on which the Twenty-one-mile House stands, and commenced
keeping that station, in the Spring of 1852, where he has since
resided. He now farms twelve hundred acres of the finest land in the
county. Mr. Tennant is reckoned among the most successful
agriculturalists in Santa Clara county, while it is said of him that he
has never been known to fail in any undertaking. He was for some years
one of the Directors of the Bank of Gilroy, and is now a stockholder in
the Bank of San Jose, and also in the Home Mutual Insurance Company, as
he is also a Director of the Santa Clara and San Mateo Agricultural
Society, while it is a matter of fact that he has ever been willing to
put forth a helping hand to his less fortunate fellows. During a trip
to Europe, in 1873, his house was sacked by the noted desperado,
Tiburcio Vasquez and his band, who carried off booty, in the shape of
jewelry and articles of vertu, to the value of eight hundred dollars.
Mr. Tennant was appointed Postmaster at Tennants, April 5, 1871, and
still holds the position. He married at San Jose, April 22, 1866,
Margaret McAllister, and has four living children, viz.: Mary Ann R,
Isabella M., Emily C., and Sarah E.
History of Santa Clara
County, California
San Francisco: Alley, Bowen & Co., 1881, 878 pgs.
WILLIAM TENNANT-
AGRICULTURIST, TENNANTS, 21 Mile House,
Santa Clara County
Born in London, England, June 15,
1830, and is descended from good old Scotch stock. He is the eldest son
of William and Dorinda Tennant, theformer of whom came to California in
1849 - his family coming out with our subject. Having received his
early education in the world's metropolis, he afterward learned the
trade of a piano-forte maker, which he followed until 1851, when he
sailed in the ship Prince Charlie, by way of Cape Horn, for
California, arriving in San Francisco in the latter part of that year.
He almost immediately commenced tuning pianos in the city being the
only one of that occupation in the State. Early in 1852, he was called
to Alviso to tune the piano of Governor Burnett, and afterwards
performed the like duty at the Santa Clara and San Jose colleges, and
returned to the city, but being enchanted with the valley, he returned
in a short time, rented the
ground on which the twenty-one mile
House stands; and commenced keeping that station in the Spring of 1852,
where he has since resided. He now farms twelve hundred acres of the
finest land in the county. Mr. Tennent is
reckoned among the most
successful agriculturist in Santa Clara county, while it is said of him
that he has never been known to fail in any undertaking. He was for
some years one of the Directors of the Bank of Gilroy, and is now a
stock holder in the Bank of San Jose and also in the Home Mutual
Insurance Company, as he is also a Director of the Santa Clara and San
Mateo Agricultural Society, while it is a matter of fact that he has
ever been willing to put forth a helping hand to his less fortunate
fellows. During a trip to Europe, in 1873, his house sacked by the
noted desperado, Tiburcio Vasquez and his band, who carried off booty,
in the shape of jewelry and articles of vertu to the value of eight
hundred dollars. Mr. Tennant was appointed Postmaster at Tennants,
April 5, 1871, and still holds the position. He married at San Jose,
April 22, 1866, Margaret McAlister, and has four living children, viz;
Mary Anna R., Isabella M., Emily C., and Sarah E.
The Pioneer, published San Jose, Saturday, February 18,
1882
transcribed by jchavnar
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The Valley of Heart's Delight