TENBROOK
Recently I was asked to research John H. Tenbrook. That was it – except for a LITTLE piece of info I will discuss later that led me to this article. John H. Tenbrook is not in Cold Springs Cemetery, BUT his grandparents and parents are! Located In Section K lot 9. Thus, this is what my research found. Sorry its so long! But please read it all.
William Tenbrook (1812 -1889), grandfather of John, was a prominent innkeeper of Niagara County. In 1848 he opened an inn in Pekin. Shortly after he came to Lockport to establish of hostelry named the Tenbrook House, located on the corner of Transit Road and Main Street. Later he ran a multitude of Houses and Taverns in the Lockport, Wilson and later Olcott areas as a landlord, making them not only popular but very profitable. In Olcott he was the proprietor of the Grove House (on Main Street) one of 8 hotels/inns in Olcott at that time. He and his son, William Jr., upcoming in the business, swapped hotels in Olcott in 1874. He was involved in many civic associations. William was married to Eliza (1817-1882).
Andrew Tenbrook (1838-1905) was written as a genial and progressive man. He was a staunch and sturdy man who work hard for the advancement of Niagara’s communities. Andrew Tenbrook was said to be the founder (along with his father) of Niagara County Pioneers’ Association (NCPA) and to his death was one of the workers to make this organization a true success. Every year he was active in bringing together a reunion/picnic of the pioneers from all over Niagara, Erie and Monroe counties. A small log cabin was built in the grove to house artifacts and area collections. This was said to be the first historical society in the county (according to Olcott history). Andrew was an active member of many civic association and the Masonic Order. He very much followed in his father’s footsteps. Andrew was married to Barbara Shanley Tenbrook (1838-1922) and had 10 children; one of them being JOHN – remember him from the beginning of this write-up. The unique thing about JOHN…
John H. Tenbrook (1872-1958) married to Jennie Coleman Tenbrook ( - 1934) “Buck” – as he was to become nicknamed, was well known as a historical enthusiast and baseball hobbyist; John was also a Lockport baseball star, with a batting average of .388, an exempt fireman and Masonic member. He worked with his father, grandfather and uncle in the hotels as well as on the farm lands. He holds the unique distinction of have 11 initials in his full name; JHOHCGOSJTT. Why and what do they mean? His moniker was legally registered to him by Andrew, John’s father, 4 year after his birth. Why they waited so long to give him a legal name, I do not know. The meaning is John Hodge Opera House (Mr. Hodge being a friend of the family), Centennial (the thought of the upcoming American Independence of 1876 was on the mind of most people), Gargling Oil (he had a special interest in this manufacturing), and Samuel J. Tilden (25th Governor of NY who would go on to run for President), Tenbrook. Buck and Jennie are buried in West Lake Road Cemetery, Olcott, NY.
Recently I was asked to research John H. Tenbrook. That was it – except for a LITTLE piece of info I will discuss later that led me to this article. John H. Tenbrook is not in Cold Springs Cemetery, BUT his grandparents and parents are! Located In Section K lot 9. Thus, this is what my research found. Sorry its so long! But please read it all.
William Tenbrook (1812 -1889), grandfather of John, was a prominent innkeeper of Niagara County. In 1848 he opened an inn in Pekin. Shortly after he came to Lockport to establish of hostelry named the Tenbrook House, located on the corner of Transit Road and Main Street. Later he ran a multitude of Houses and Taverns in the Lockport, Wilson and later Olcott areas as a landlord, making them not only popular but very profitable. In Olcott he was the proprietor of the Grove House (on Main Street) one of 8 hotels/inns in Olcott at that time. He and his son, William Jr., upcoming in the business, swapped hotels in Olcott in 1874. He was involved in many civic associations. William was married to Eliza (1817-1882).
Andrew Tenbrook (1838-1905) was written as a genial and progressive man. He was a staunch and sturdy man who work hard for the advancement of Niagara’s communities. Andrew Tenbrook was said to be the founder (along with his father) of Niagara County Pioneers’ Association (NCPA) and to his death was one of the workers to make this organization a true success. Every year he was active in bringing together a reunion/picnic of the pioneers from all over Niagara, Erie and Monroe counties. A small log cabin was built in the grove to house artifacts and area collections. This was said to be the first historical society in the county (according to Olcott history). Andrew was an active member of many civic association and the Masonic Order. He very much followed in his father’s footsteps. Andrew was married to Barbara Shanley Tenbrook (1838-1922) and had 10 children; one of them being JOHN – remember him from the beginning of this write-up. The unique thing about JOHN…
John H. Tenbrook (1872-1958) married to Jennie Coleman Tenbrook ( - 1934) “Buck” – as he was to become nicknamed, was well known as a historical enthusiast and baseball hobbyist; John was also a Lockport baseball star, with a batting average of .388, an exempt fireman and Masonic member. He worked with his father, grandfather and uncle in the hotels as well as on the farm lands. He holds the unique distinction of have 11 initials in his full name; JHOHCGOSJTT. Why and what do they mean? His moniker was legally registered to him by Andrew, John’s father, 4 year after his birth. Why they waited so long to give him a legal name, I do not know. The meaning is John Hodge Opera House (Mr. Hodge being a friend of the family), Centennial (the thought of the upcoming American Independence of 1876 was on the mind of most people), Gargling Oil (he had a special interest in this manufacturing), and Samuel J. Tilden (25th Governor of NY who would go on to run for President), Tenbrook. Buck and Jennie are buried in West Lake Road Cemetery, Olcott, NY.