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Show Preface active and well known in the early church, particularly in the role of philanthropist, he was never prominent in the highest councils of the church and con sequently received little notice in the church publications. This has made research concerning him difficult, and many of his activities are obscure. Most of what is known of him has come orally from his third wife, Elizabeth, and his children, as they were encouraged to relate their reminiscences, thirty, forty, and even fifty years after the events. Most of these items which have been preserved will be reproduced in this volume. Although scenes John Tanner was of the As the research proceeded the author astonished at some of the documents which Thatcher, great-granddaughter pleased and mildly to light. Patience had Sidney Tanner, preserved the of was came First Edition of the Book of Mormon, which John Tanner had pur chased from the Carter brothers, and which was instrumental in his conversion. 8 She also had a letter written by Sidney Tanner from Winter Quarters in 1847.9 Earl in his Pingree Tanner, Jr., of Magrath, Alberta, Canada, had possession considerable correspondence his grandfather Nathan Tanner, Jr., had carried century. on in the last two decades of the nineteenth Paul B. Tanner and Henry Bernard Tanner, both of Salt Lake furnished items valuable which had come into their possession City, and they had carefully preserved. Numerous interested family members have sent in items of importance, including pictures, which will appear in various places. It is a matter of regret that no known picture of John Tanner or either of his first two wives exist. in this volume. It would be nice to include them Most important of all in assisting the author in the composition of this volume is the work of Maurice Tanner, son of Shepherd LeRoy Tanner, and grandson of Sidney. In 1923, after long and persistent work, the John Tanner this work accomplished was published. Maurice says that "urging by the Rev. Fairbault, Minnesota, who had brought the Genealogy was because of the George C. Tanner of Tanner record up to John Tanner, our common ancestor.":" Anyone who has not had the experience of preparing a geneal ogy book such as the one prepared by Maurice Tanner in 1923, will not likely appreciate the frustrations it entails. ix The chief problem, |
