Samuel Benjamin Tenney, Sr

Samuel Benjamin Tenney by Richard G. Schaus, as found on Family Search.org: Samuel B. Tenney was born in Cedar City, Utah in 1858, the son of Nathan Cram and Olive Strong Tenney. Samuel B. was born shortly after the Tenney family moved back to Utah from San Bernardino, California, Where Nathan Tenney had served as bishop of the Mormon Church for seven years. he bought the ranch for $77,500 for the church. The Mormons were forced to abandon this property because of the persecution they underwent at that time.

During Samuel's early youth, his parents moved to a number of different locations in southwestern Utah, in the Virgin River country. When he was 15 years old the family moved to Kanab where he met Lora Isabelle Brown. They were married three years later, at which time his father, and other Tenney families, were ordered by the church to settle in Arizona. They arrived in Ballenger in 1877. A year later that place was renamed Brigham City. It was on the west side of the Little Colorado, about 2 miles north of where Winslow is today.

The Tenney clan moved on down to "Tenney's Camp," which was later renamed Woodruff. Young Samuel was one of those sent back to Kanab for some 400 cattle that had been left behind. The Tenney cattle were branded Square and Compass, a diamond with extended legs, and a circle on the top point of the diamond. It is still a Tenney family brand today.

Samuel was gone 6 months on this trip back to Kanab. They crossed the Colorado at Lee's Ferry. In order to get the cattle to cross on their own the calves were herded onto rafts. then the man on the raft would bit a calf's ear to make it howl. The mother would start in the river to get to her calf, and the crossing was on its way. This herd was wintered 60 miles south of Lee's Ferry, at Tuba City, and in the spring was driven down to Tenney's Camp.

In 18778 Lorenzo Hatch was called by the church to preside over the Mormons in the Woodruff area so the Tenneys traded their place for Hatch's ranch at Cebolleta, New Mexico, ear where Ramah is today. About that time Samuel's father was called away on a church mission to Minnesota, and his son, Samuel took over the family operations and the care of his mother who wasn't well. They stayed at Cebolleta almost two years but Indian trouble forced them to move to St. John's in 1882. Shortly afterward the senior Tenney returned from his mission and was killed by a stray rifle bullet while he was trying to mediate trouble between two warring factions in St. Johns.

Later that year Samuel moved with his family to _(illegible)_ into cattle there in a community grazing venture which sometimes would gather up 5,000 head of cattle at roundup time. He was also instrumental int he planning of two irrigation dams at Bush Valley (prior to that called Frisco) and now called Alpine. Later he became president of the irrigation company. He also got into the horse business with J. David Lee, with who he became a lifetime friend.

In 1898 Samuel Tenney also was called on a mission and spent two years in Scotland. While he was gone the family moved to the Blue River, having sold the cattle and gone into the Angora goat business. This was a lucrative business and at one time mohair was selling for 60 cents a pound while steers were bringing $3.00 a head. The Tenney's goat business flourished on their Squaw Creek and Pine Flat ranches.

In 1904 Samuel Tenney moved to Cottonwood Wash on the Lamb ranch below Pima and a year later he was in on the formation of a company with Charles Watson, Lon Adams and George Bigler which operated some 35 miles west of Thatcher at Blackrock on Goodwin Wash in the Santa Teresas.

In 1907 Samuel Tenney's wife died and sometime later he got into a business venture which required he go to the midwest on selling trips. While on a business trip he met Mary Norflett, a widow with twin boys. Two years later he married her and they returned to Thatcher. He went in partners with Oscar Webster, who at times had 25,000 goats, out on shares. The Webster-Tenney goats ranged in he Aravaipa-Stanley Mountain area.

In 1918 Tenney sold his ranching interests and got into a mining venture at Sombrero Butte. In 1927 he got a small place at Gilbert where he died in 1949. Of his 12 children, those still iving are Mrs. Ruth (Dave) Lamoreaux, Gilbert; Ammon, Chandler; and Mrs. Emmabelle (Pete) Larson, Eager,

NOTE: I do not know the date when the above was written, since the document was not dated.

The following story was also found on Family Search.org. It's about Samuel's daughter Ida May Tenney.

Tenney Family Apple of Love - This story originates in the year of 1901 when my Grandmother Ruth Tenney Lamoreaux was only 6 years old. The Samuel Benjamin and (Lora Isabelle) Belle Brown Tenney Family was living in Luna, New Mexico. Grandpa Samuel Benjamin describes his 4th child, Ida Mae, as a cheerful person and a happy disposition. Ida Mae fell in love at the tender age of 16 with a charming cowboy who played the fiddle. His name was Todd Browning.

Ida was Ruth’s bed-fellow, and one cold morning, Ruth awoke to find Ida gone. She had slipped out during the night and gone with her handsome cowboy, Todd Browning, to become his wife. Samuel Benjamin organized a posse and sent riders to bring them home - he was angry and hurt that his young daughter would go and get married against his wishes. Many words were said in anger and feelings were hurt. Ida’s mother Lora Isabelle Brown Tenney called family members together so the two could wed before they started their life in Felice, New Mexico. Grandma Ruth felt the deep hurts and witnessed the tears of her ailing mother, Belle.

Eleven years later in 1912 in Colonia Diaz word reached the members of the colony that their lives were in danger. The rebels led by Poncho Villa were demanding that all the guns and ammunition held by the Mormons be delivered to them on the 28th of July, and that they flee Mexico. The women and children were being evacuated to El Paso, Texas. The Diaz people were advised to flee immediately across the border. They were only to take the basics and leave their doors unlocked and open. Discouraging word came from the men that looters had poked Ammon Meshach Tenney in the ribs with a gun and threatened his life while ransacking his home. The colonist had lost all of their homes and worldly goods—all they were left with was each other. But they were finally back in the United States of America. Ammon stayed in El Paso for a short while before journeying to Thatcher, Arizona, to visit his brother Samuel Benjamin Tenney and then to try and purchase some land in Pima Arizona.

The two Brothers, Ammon Meshach Tenney & Samuel Benjamin Tenney had been separated for nearly 30 years. Samuel Benjamin Tenney was so grateful that his brother’s family was safe under the Stars and Stripes, that he gave a banquet in their honor. Samuel sent out invitations to all the relatives and choice friends. Many attended & they received letters from family members who couldn’t come.

Ida Mae Tenney Browning was desirous of attending the banquet, but was unable to do so, however Ida sent a large box of Delicious Apples. The smell of all those delicious bright red apples filled the whole house. She had gone out into her orchard and picked the largest and the very best to send to her father. She love and missed her family and wanted to come be with them. Samuel Benjamin Tenney was so grateful for the uniting of his brothers family and the love of his daughter, Ida, that when the apples arrived his heart was touched and he was a forgiving man with a tender heart, that he wept with joy. After the banquet, he served the apples and Christened them the “Apple of Love”

Prior to this Samuel Benjamin Tenney and Ida Mae Tenney Browning were able to make “peace” although hurts still lingered, it seems to us that those “apples” were given and accepted as a final token of mended hearts and hurts. It was Samuel Benjamin Tenney’s desire that every member of his family and descendants serve the Apple of Love at Christmas time and at every reunion. And as they eat the apple, remember to have a desire in their hearts to promote more love, more understanding, and forgiveness for each other and for all mankind and especially for our immediate family.

Aunt Ida lived away on ranches with her cowboy Todd and they had three children. Grandma Ruth married David C. Lamoreaux they had four children. Of the descendants of S.B. Tenney the majority have carried out his wish of celebration, his daughter Ruth Tenney Lamoreaux’s family has continually celebrated the Apple of Love at Family Christmas Home Evenings and Reunions.

May we all remember the legacy we live is to Love and to Forgive.

Shelli Lamoreaux daughter of Alvin C Lamoreaux & Melba Riggs