"The BIOGRAPHICAL History of Clark County, Wisconsin"

Compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, Chicago and Winona, H. C. Cooper Jr., & Co. in 1918, page 510 - 511.

Joseph Tennes, who is successfully farming 179 acres of land in Section 5, Unity Township, was born in the city of Grand Rapids, Mich., Sept., 12, 1866, son of Michael and Catherine (Shaffer) Tennes. The parents, who were natives of Germany, were married in Grand Rapids, where, or in which vicinity, Michael spent the rest of his life, his occupation being for the most part that of a well digger. He and his wife have six children, of whom Joseph is the fourth in order of birth. Joseph was reared in the country, in Alpine Township, Kenty County, Michl, where he attended district school, and also acquired a good practical knowledge of farming. At the age of 19 he went to Isabella County, in the same state, where he was engaged in farming with his uncle, Joseph Schaffer. Then, at the age of 23, he returned to Grand Rapids, where he learned the trade of machinist in Peck's Machine Shop, working at that trade subsequently for three years. His next move was to Glencoe, Ill, where he drove a team for two years and seven months. There he was married in 1897, to Rose Harry, a native of Two Rivers, Wis., and daughter of Peter Harry.

For three years thereafter he continued to reside in Glencoe, where his family circle was enlarged by the birth of a son, Sylvester. Then, in 1900, he and his family came to Unity Township, Clark County, locating on his present farm of 179 acres, which he rented for three years. At the end of that time he gave it up temporarily and entered into the flour and feed business at Unity, continuing in it for three years. Then he returned to the farm, working by the month for his father-in-law, Mr. Harry, who was its owner. About four years ago, in 1912, he bought the place, on which he has made a number of improvements, having repaired the house, erected a barn 40 by 84 feet, with cement floor and steel fixtures, and built a silo of 120-ton capacity, which is of the variety known as a Natco clay tile silo. Mr. Tennes is a member of the Equity Society of Osborn, Unity Township, also of Beaver Lodge, No. 160, of Unity. His house, since the improvements, is now a fine residence of eight rooms. He is enterprising and progressive, an advocate of good roads and of everything calculated to advance the interests of the community in which he lives.

In addition to the son, Sylvester, already mentioned, he and his wife have been the parents of four other children-Irene, Melvin, Bernard and a twin sister of Bernard, who died in infancy.