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Show What Price Mormonism! 153 Nathan Tanner is more explicit concerning the part played by John Tanner and the family with relation to Zion's Camp. He says, "The Zion's Camp required men and means. John Joshua and my self took old Brother Putnam and his wife and seven children, to gether with Amasa M. Lyman and others to Kirtland. By the way, we also took Brother Kimble [Kimball] and family from Genessee, N. Y. Buffalo, where they took water [went by boat]." to Continuing, Nathan relates, "We were organized in Zion's Camp Portage, Ohio, fifty miles west of Kirtland. Here we furnished three teams, save one horse put in by H. G. Sherwood. We put in nearly half the money that paid the expenses of Zion's Camp." If at New Nathan's statement can be taken at face value, Father Tanner was beginning to pay a high price for his church membership. Whether he knew at this stage the dangers his sons would face from war and disease in the army is uncertain, but he had a lot at stake in that army. Details of the activities of John Joshua and Nathan in Zion's Camp are related in another chapter." The decision to leave Bolton and move to Kirtland was one which cost the Tanner family all their worldly goods. It is difficult there are so many dif to learn what his net worth was in Bolton - ferent figures given by family members as well speaks of two large farms and 2,200 acres Werner M. R. as others. of valuable timber land. Nathan mentions 2,200 acres of land with stock, dairies, barns, orchards, sawmills, and a hotel of some considerable note. Elizabeth, a good housewife of her day, makes it easier by saying he was con sidered a wealthy man in that part of the country." Elizabeth was the but she let John worry about his homemaker and a good one wealth. However, at the time of the move she does say, "As soon as he could sell his farm and arrange his business he determined to take his family and move to Kirtland." - - Elizabeth reports that when the move to Kirtland was made, enough of the neighbors came along to make up a party of forty-five souls." The financial condition of the non-Tanners is not revealed. Elizabeth says John had several good teams, a stock of merchandise, _ Nathan hints that this hard money was most of us would not feel like hauling around and considerable money. $10,000 in a or more, a sum wagon. Elizabeth relates that a store was opened with the goods he brought, the stock being added to from time to time." Other chapters have related how the rest of John's wealth was given to the church in |
