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Show John Joshua Tanner 249 John Tanner + John Joshua Tanner t WILLIAM SMITH TANNER William Smith Tanner, son of John Joshua and Rebecca Tanner, has been selected by family members, as a representative of the John Johua Family. He was born March 28, 1839, at New Liberty, lllinois, shortly after the enforced exodus from Missouri. He was years old when his folks left Montrose, Iowa, for the West, and twelve when they reached the Valley. His father settled at south Cottonwood, between the Big and Little Cottonwood creeks, and William Smith lived there and helped on the farm until his marriage to Clarissa Jane Moore, January 19, 1868, when he moved to Payson. seven Like many of the Tanner men, he was especially interested in livestock and made a considerable part of his living breeding and selling horses. A son, Kenneth, who lives in Payson, says he doubts had bands all anyone knew how many horses his father owned, as he over the country. Smith, as he acquainted with the Indians of the area, and on one occasion purchased a three-year-old Indian girl who was about to be killed by her owners because they were un able to provide for her. The girl was brought up in the Smith Tanner home and married was a known, white was well man. active in the Black Hawk War and was commissioned a lieutenant. He entered into the business activities of Payson, and was foremost in establishing the Payson Savings Bank and the Cooperative of each. He served six years in the City Store, and was Smith Council, was and president though he was a man of few words, he was prominent in civic affairs. Among his church activities, he filled a mission to Great Britain. Since he was lacking in speaking ability, he determined to make good in other ways, and assisted in bringing to Utah large numbers of 'poor Saints who needed financial help. The migration of concern to him and he expend British Saints became a matter of great ed thousands of dollars in this work. William Smith and Clarissa Jane had fourteen children, all born in Payson. Clarissa Jane died November 14,1907; Smith died August 6, 1910. |
