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Show The Tanners and the San Bernardino Mission 173 One of the earliest buildings was an all-purpose structure where church services, schools, and other public functions were held. It was not much of a building to begin with, but it served the purpose. There has always been a cooperative feeling among the Mormons. They liked to be together in social affairs, in schools, and in religious worship. After the sawmills building boom of erected and in full production, there major proportions. Judge Benjamin Hayes, who kept court in San Bernardino as well as in other population centers, noted in his journal of October 19, 1854, that one hundred houses had been built in the last four months. Among these he noted particularly the "mansion" of Amasa M. Lyman and the new hotel of Bishop Crosby. were was a 16 Amasa M. interest it Lyman's residence the "largest and must have caused considerable imposing dwelling in the feet long by 50 feet wide. 125 colony." two-story structure, The first story was of adobe, but the rest was of lumber from the mills of Lyman and Rich. It was intended to house five of the apostle's eight wives, the others still living in Salt Lake. That this house was a constant topic of conversation goes without saying, but California of as It was most was a the 1850s did not bother to do anything more than talk. While there were a number of polygamists in San Bernardino, Lyman was the only one connected with the Tanner family. Sidney was married to his second wife at the time, but his first wife had died prior to this marriage. He would marry a third wife later in Beaver which would place him in the ranks of those with plural wives. The rest of the Tanner men in San Bernardino of marriageable age were on the shy side and required help to get up enough courage to find even one wife. Of special interest in this connection is a letter written by Freeman E. Tanner to George A. Smith, dated San Bernardino, April 29, 1855. He explained that "Myron and Seth had gone to the lake [Salt Lake City] with some horsis," and in addition to several other bits of news made a plea for George A. to "Please help those young brothers of mine to get them wives, as that it their business to the lake.?" Myron supplies us with more of this story: In 1855 I came through to Salt Lake where 1 became acquainted with Jane Mount who was living at the time with Henry Lawrence. Most of my boyhood days my life was separate and apart from girls in whose society I was both bashful and awkward. She was rather deli- |
