John Tanner and his family

Page 147

136 John Tanner and His Family year. One more item in Louisa Maria's letter must be mentioned. It would be interesting to know what impulse prompted this. She notes that June lOis their twelfth wedding anniversary, and then comments how different things are: "Then our family numbered 2 now it numbers 18." Polygamous families had a way of increasing rapidly Amasa - was getting a numerous family. Brigham Young and the vanguard company which left Winter Quarters in 1847 to search out a place for settlement in the West consisted of 143 men, three women, and two. children. They left April 14, on in a little and reached Salt Lake three months. July 24, making the journey over About two months later than the vanguard company, or on 19, about 2,000 additional Saints with 575 wagons moved June west­ ward to join the Saints in the valley. There is a little evidence that John Tanner and his family considered joining this group. But the fire compelled them to change their plans and await the return of Brigham Young and his associates to learn plans for the arduous days ahead. of their findings, and to make In addition to raising crops to supply their needs for the thou­ sand-mile trip to Utah, the years of 1847 and the first half of 1848 were used in equiping the Saints for the strenuous trip to the valley. Gristmills, sawmills, blacksmith shops, and industries of all kinds were running double shifts to get everything in readiness. The Tanners, whose wagon boxes had been burned, had to build new ones and new wagon covers had to be secured. Wagon tires had to be reset and horses, mules, and oxen had to be shod. Careful planning is necessary when one has to look forward to at least eighteen months when nothing will be produced. It would be the fall of 1849 before they could hope to grow crops under the best of circumstances. Elizabeth Beswick, whose clothes had all been burned in the fire, found it necessary to do some spinning, weaving, and tailoring be­ fore she was properly clothed for the trip ahead. Even those who had had no fire were wearing out their clothes, and it was necessary for the resourceful Saints to replace them either through their own manu­ facturing or by purchase from the Missouri merchants. was When all was in better than when the stay on readiness, it was stated that their equipment Nauvoo two years earlier. During the Missouri River there had been no mobs to hasten they left