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Show 40 John Tanner and His Family Nathan informs fied us that the Tanner wealth came from diversi- farming: we carried on farming extensively; stock-raising, and dairying different farms; and lumbering in all its branches, as he owned sawmills and planing mills, and owned some 2,200 acres of land with houses and barns to accomodate a number of families, and orchards in abundance. He also kept a hotel of some considerable note. All these various branches of business made work for his 6 family and all he could hire. Here on So much has been said of the wealth of John Tanner at Bolton that it is easy to get the wrong idea about this prosperous family. The large number of acres, 2,200, acording to Nathan, did not imply much cleared land, most of it was in timber. The acres planted would have been in small clearings of a few acres here and there. They com and fodder would have produced the things the family needed for horses, mules, cattle, and sheep; wool for the women to work into yarn and cloth; milk for home use and for butter and cheese; hogs and lambs for meat; and chickens for eggs and fryers. It is doubtful that at this date, there was a cash crop such as wheat, beef, or pork of any importance. The land produced family essentials and minor items such as eggs and butter to be used as barter for the things the 7 family did not produce. - It is often a cause of wonder and some talk how a man like John was able to come to a place like Wardboro and Bolton Landing and after a few years begin to prosper above his neighbors. Nathan spoke of a "delightful home" and Elizabeth, the young wife of twenty-two whom John married when he was forty-seven, character Tanner ized his situation by saying: "He had a comfortable home and considered a wealthy man in that part of the country.:" was Nathan gives a clue for John's success: "We were a hard work and hard handed family" None of our means was willed to us, but earned by hard work and economy.?" It may not be known what Nathan meant by a "hard handed family" but it is certain all mem bers of the family were taught to work and each had his task. John ing Tanner's family knew how to been a good manager. Warren work, and in addition he County historian, William H. must have Brown, says: The here a this country in the year 1800 involved hard people who came living anywhere in work and in some cases were not looking great hardship. for an easy life. However a Making family could |
