Adams County Wisconsin Genealogy

Contributed by David Rogers

Alpheus' wife, Charlotte7 Starkweather, (Reuben6, Asa5, Nathan4, Richard3, John2, Robert1), was born 08 September, 1815, in Chatham, Columbia Co., NY, the daughter of Deacon Reuben and Esther [Moore] Starkweather. Reuben & family are listed in the town of Chenango, Broome Co., NY in the census of 1820. Alpheus & Charlotte were married on 25 February, 1837, at Binghamton, Broome Co., NY. They had two daughters in the 1840 census. Alpheus, farmer, & his growing family lived in Broome Co., until just after 1840, when they moved a few miles south to the town of Liberty, Susquehanna Co., Pa., where he farmed. In late 1854, Alpheus, and his family moved back to the town of Chenango where, for about a year he was a miller. Their stay in this location was brief - Rev. George Tenney, son of Alpheus & Charlotte, reported in The Tenney Family, "at the age of eight he removed with his parents to Wisconsin, living a quiet country life until he entered school for special preparation for the ministry.". George Tenney was born 27 August, 1847, thus the trip took place the fall or spring of 1855-1856.

Their new home in Adams Co., was close to Dell Prairie Corner. Nearby was the family of George & Julia [Jackson] Knox, who had homesteaded in that community in 1851. The members of these two families became close friends especially Sarah Jane, the Knoxes oldest daughter and Emily Electa Tenney. As the Knox family history records - "..Father [George Knox] made a change with Mr. [Thomas] Rich for less land [which was] located at the [Dell Prairie] corners where were church and schools and already quite a company of young folks... Settlers were rapidly coming in, among them Mr. Tenny with a jolly home full of boys and girls...The close friendship between Emily Tenny and Sarah J. [Knox] continued as they were associated in Night schools and Sunday School and both servants of the King..."

In September, 1864, Lafayette Knox, the oldest son of George & Julia Ann, married Emily Electa Tenney. On 22 August, 1864 he had enlisted in the 42nd Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers and was mustered into the army on 7 September, 1864. When he was mustered out of the service on 20 June, 1865 he returned to his wife & a daughter, born May 31, 1865, probably at the home of her grandparents, Alpheus & Charlotte Tenney. His daughter was named Emily Elizabeth; she was my grandmother. Emily Knox first attended school as a child in Dell Prairie, later was a student in Kilbourn City where her father worked as a clerk for six years in the dry goods store of Loomis, Gallett & Breese. She then moved with her parents in March, 1879, to what became Grand Rapids, Mn., where her father ran a store. Sadly, Emily Electa [Tenney] Knox died at age 39, in 1881. There is no record of her illness other than her obituary - "At Kilbourn City, Wis., April 4, 1881, Mrs. Emily Tenny Knox, aged 39 years and 8 months. Mrs. Knox was born in Liberty [Township], Penn. For 25 years her life, with slight exceptions has been spent in Wis. She became a member of the Methodist church on Dell Prairie, while quite young. Her life has ever been that of a consistent Christian. During her lingering, painful illness her patience and resignation have been a lesson to all who came in contact with her. She leaves a husband and a daughter to mourn the loss of their best earthly friend.." Considering the location of her death it is probable that Emily [Tenney] Knox died at her father's home near Kilbourn City.

Sometime before 1870 Alpheus Tenney and his family moved from Dell Prairie Corners to the town of Newport, Columbia County. His property was a 40 acre farm, a couple of miles due west of Kilbourn City. There they lived until after his wife's death in 1881. Alpheus Tenney moved to Clayton, Mn with his daughter, Mrs Charles Dockham and her family and died there on 28 Oct., 1900.

In Wisconsin Dells near the center of the Spring Grove Cemetery, in a hollow and sheltered by a 20 foot evergreen is a single pure white 6 foot marble shaft marking the resting places of Emily Knox, Jennie Heacox, and Charlotte Tenney. Three sides of the white shaft are engraved. The inscriptions are simple and direct.
"JENNIE T., wife of G. A. HEACOX, daughter of A. & C. M. TENNEY, DIED July 20, 1879, AGED 26 years.
EMILY, wife of L. F. KNOX, daughter of A. & C. M. TENNEY, DIED April 4, 1881, AGED 39 years.
CHARLOTTE M., wife of A. TENNEY, DIED, Sept 16, 1881, AGED 66 years."

Rev. George C. Tenney on page 289, of The Tenney Family - Descendants of Thomas Tenney of Rowley, Massachusetts, 1638 - 1904, by M. J. Tenney, 1904, summed up the lives of Alpheus & his wife with these words - "These parents were intelligent, useful, unassuming, and universally beloved."

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