Dr. George L. Tenney
Nov. 13, 1872-Sept. 11, 1950
Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 11, 1950; page 2, column 6, microfilm, Niles District Library
Dr. George L. Tenney, 77, nationally known educator, voice teacher and choir director, died at 6:30 a.m. today at Pawating hospital where he had been a patient for two weeks. Death was attributed to a cerebral hemorrhage.
In Niles, he was director of the choir at the First Presbyterian church. He also gave voice lessons to scores of Niles, Buchanan, and Laporte, Ind. Students and participated in many local music programs. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church, the Niles Rotary club and Alpha Tau Omega national fraternity.
Tenney was born on Nov. 13, 1872 in West Milton, O., the son of Irving and Jennie Tenney. He married the late Adelaide Miller on June 3, 1896, Denver, Colo. She died on Aug. 22, 1949.
Graduate of Ohio Wesleyan
After graduating from Wesleyan college in Ohio he taught school and then went on to hold professorships at several institutions of high learning. In 1933 he directed a choir of 6,000 voices at the Century of Progress exposition in Chicago. He was listed in the 15th edition of “Who’s Who”.
Among the teaching positions which Tenney has held were: professor of Latin and Greet at Lewis Institute, Chicago; dean of the College of Music at Florida Southern college, Lakeland, Fla., professor of English at Notre Dame from 1941 to 1943; and professor (illegible text) Midwestern Conservatory of Music, Chicago. He also operated a summer music camp at his ranch in Grover, Colo.
Came to Niles in 1943.
Tenney came to Niles in 1943, and resided on the Rangeline road, rural route three. He directed the choir at the Presbyterian church in Buchanan before being named choir director at the First Presbyterian church here.
Surviving are: two daughters, Mrs. Kathryn Boydston, of rural route three, Niles, and Mrs. Adalaide Williams, of Oak Park, Ill., a son, Walter E. Tenney, of New York City; a brother, Dr. W. H. Tenney of Toledo, O.; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Friends may call at the Swem funeral home in Buchanan until noon Wednesday and at the First Presbyterian church here between 1 and 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Funeral services will be held at the church at 2 p.m. with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.