Richmond planet., 1895-03-30

WILLIAM TENANT was born a slave,
in Bowling Green, Caroline Co, Va,
Nov. IA. 1854. and lived in the county
until 1881. when he was carried to
West Tennessee. and lived with his
owners until about 1865. He then
went to live with his step uncle in Hey
ward Co. Tenn, until '67, at $1,000 a
year. At the end of the year he was
$4OO IN debt to him. He paid this
amount and left him
de worked with a white man at $16
per month, for four months, but he
paid him nothing.
He then worked at different places
and accumulated 500 in money.
He went to Brownsville, while en-
route to Memphis and lost 81 90 OF his
treasure. he then had $500 left, and
he paid s.. 90 for ticket to Memphis,
arriving there with so cents in his pock
ct and knowing no one.
He met an old Irishman. named
James Casey.
He asked him where he came from
and upon his telling him, he told him
he would take him to his house in the
morning
He took care of him for about three
weeks and upon his expressing desire
so to do gave him $500 for him to
return to Brownsville.
After getting the money he changed
his mind and thought he would 90 in
another direction, SO he walked the dis
tance so his money would be saved
and be reached Humboldt, Tenn.
Three days after..reaching there, he
was taken sick and had to return to
Brownsville.
He was sick at his sisters near that
place for about six months.
Upon recovering, he had an aunt liv-
ing in the county and he stayed there.
One night his cousin and himself
were lying in the bed at her house and
he was at the widow. when Ku Klux
rode up TO the window and said "Bov.
get up and open that doori He said
TO his cousin Austin "This man saws
open the door there" He did so.
The Ku Klux rushed in--one looked
up the chimney and another looked un-
/ der the bed.
His aunt's husband, Monroe Palmer.
was under the bed. They told him to
come out. He did so, and they carried
him out. He did not show any fear al
though they were masked.
They carried him under big oak
i
| limb. The prisoner seemed to have
| given up all hepes, being resigned to
the hanging apparently, when all at
once he jumped right from under them
and went over ten rail fence. and es-
capped They fired at him seven times
but missed him.
They made Tenant and his cousin
get up and put on their clothes, go in
front OF them and open the first gate.
when this was done they said "Trot
to the next gate" They did so. When
they got to the front gate, they said,
Now, you boys go back and go to
bed. +"
Young Tenant did not get scared
until it was all over.
After many years, Tenants aunt's
husband who had been thus treated,
Ieturned.
Having secured some money, young
Tenant went to Paris, Tenn.
He moved some dirt and secured
| $500, this being his amount of capital.
He worked in a blacksmith shop, with
an lrishman as striker.
The Irishman got angry and struck
at him. He knocked him down, ran
out and laughed at him, so ne lost
that job.
He had made up his mind to raise
500 to go into the grocery business,
when about the end of the year @. A
| Bugg, barber, took him as an appren-
tlce in his shop. He made $l2O black
ing shoes during that year. This was
the first money he made.
/ de learned the BARRIERS trade in -
months, and worked with his boss
three months afterwards, clearing
! $4,000.
He returned to Virginia to see his
/ srt1T
| New York, Portsmouth, Va, Knoxville,
Tenn; and returned to Paris, Tenn,
where he worked IL months at the bar
ber's trade, during which time he
saved $4,000 for the purpose of going
to school.
He left July Q, I'd, expecting to have
a little time off before going to school.
He visited Paducah, KY, Columbus.
KY, st. Louis, Mo. Humboldt, Tenn.
attended the State Fair at Nashville
Memphis, and then Grenada, Miss.
then to Mckenzie, Tenn. remaining
there about five years, and accumula-
ting enough to build one house, $94O,
and bringing $500 when he came to
Richmond, April 10, 70.
By this time he had spent all Of his
money but $500 which was not
enough for his schooling. He had
some instruction in Corinth, Miss, and
Richmond.
He conducted a tonsorial establish
ment for 8 years and 8 months. He
engaged in the retail grocery business
for three years and nine months.
lie soldsout to Mr.. George S. Boone
since which time he has lived in COM
Parative retirement, engaging in specu-
lation from time to time
he purchased his present attractive
j o. .tr-l.
At present Mr.. Tenant owns 13
! houses
Mr.. Tenants marriage was not at
all pleasant and he was finally di-
vorced. One son, Albert, resides at
Topeka, Kan.