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Show 100 John Tanner and His Family circumstances are considered you can have some idea of that winter There was not so much difference between banishment and extermination as might be thought. 5 trip. During most of that winter [1838-39] Joseph Smith was held a prisoner by the Missouri mob on one pretext or another. It was not until April 22, 1839, that he reached Quincy and was able to confer with the Saints. In the meantime there was much confusion and uncertainty. Some expected they would return to Kirtland, Ohio, where their Temple was located and where a number of the Saints still owned property. John's daughter Matilda Randall and the Randall -family were there on the farm formerly owned by John Tanner. There were some who even felt that the church was on the eve of disinte gration, or at least would be scattered and no longer a community. 6 While many appeared in a state of shock and wondered what to John Tanner and his family moved quietly to New do, Liberty, miles southeast of Quincy where they learned a modest eighteen farm could be rented on fair terms. They had no idea how long they would be at this location, but nothing was to be gained by time and it was possible they could produce a crop that season. As it turned out they were there only one year, but the harvest they were able to gather was much needed by the family and their neighbors. marking During their of another born. On gave birth December kind, brief stay in the area, the family harvested a crop number of the John Tanner grandchildren were as a March 28, 1839, Rebecca, wife of John Joshua Tanner to a son, William Smith Tanner, at New Liberty. On 18, 1839, Rachel, wife of Nathan Tanner, gave birth to a daughter, Helen Elcy, also at New Liberty. On January 12, 1840, Louisa Maria Lyman, wife of Amasa M. Lyman, gave birth to a son, Francis Marion Lyman, at Good Hope, lllinois. And on May 14, 1840, Louisa, wife of Sidney Tanner, gave birth to a daughter, Elsie Elizabeth Tanner, at New Liberty. There would be years in the future when a larger baby crop would be harvested, as it takes a lot of babies to equal John's total of 183 grandchildren, but considering the brief stay in Quincy and the general unfavorable situation of the families, they seemed to be doing quite well. While John tions were going building his family at New Liberty, negotia for land farther up-river at a place called Com- was on |
