John Tanner and his family

Page 87

76 John Tanner and His Family a bank, the Saints organized a Stock Industrial called the Kirtland Safety Society, Anti-Bank-ing Com-­ "10 In a short time the institution was in financial trouble and pany. with many upon the urging of the prophet, John Tanner, along others, was induced to buy up the bank paper which soon became to get the charter for Company worthless. Biographical Encyclopedia .relates the circumstances as follows: With his characteristic energy, Father Tanner put forth his best ef­ forts to assist the Prophet in sustaining the Kirtland bank, and for that purpose bought and held much of its paper; but there was a Judas behind the counter and in spite of the best efforts of the Pro­ phet, sustained by Father Tanner and others, the bank went down, and Father Tanner, like many others, was completely crippled financially." Nathan, who had married Rachel Winter Smith in Bolton in June of 1836, gives an interesting story of the financial distress in Kirtland: We arrived in Kirtland on Sunday Morning, just in time to hear the morning service. Joseph spoke. He had purchased a farm that lay in the bounds of the city, and had gone on Sunday to pay for it. The party refused paper money as it was not legal tender, 12 so Joseph had to raise the specie in three days or lose the purchase. He called on the brethren to see if the specie (gold or silver) could be raised. My brother-in-law did not belong to the church but knowing that I knew he had the money, he asked me what I would do if I was in his place. I told him I should take it and lay it down, but I did not wish to advise him. He decided he would give it if I would go with him. So I went, and he pulled out his sack of specie, mostly silver I think about $3,000 shouldered it up, and carried it through the isle the whole length of the Temple, and rolled it off his shoulder on the table. Then I introduced him to Joseph. The Lord would an­ swer Joseph's call. I doubt whether Mr. Perry ever got all his money back; but he was blessed, and raised a large family of lovely children, and left them plenty when he died. 13 - - Since the church was unable to repay any of John Tanner's loans and since he had invested his last dollar in Kirtland Safety Society paper money which proved worthless, he was left without