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Show m I Nathan Tanner 257 Nathan accompanied the Tanner family to Utah in 1848 in the Amasa M: Lyman Company. They reached the valley in October and took up land in the Cottonwood area." This was not the best land in the valley, but water was easy to get to the land and the location was far enough from the city to give plenty of room, which was all the Tanner men required to be content. John Tanner who had kept the family together died in 1850, a year and a half after reaching Utah. The next spring, 1851, about the San Bernardino Mission was formed and Sidney, together with Father Tanner's widow Elizabeth Beswick and family, followed Amasa M. Lyman to California. relationship of Nathan and Amasa M. Lyman, the author wonders why he alone, of the Tanner men, re mained in Utah. Sources give no clue to an answer. His location in south Cottonwood for some reason may have pleased him, or he may have been reluctant to leave the main body of Saints and go so far away. Later that fall he would be joined by John Joshua, who In view of the close had remained three extra years The farming operations Cottonwood on the Missouri River. of John Joshua and Nathan at their spectacular, were successful. And while not homesteads, hard, as they were in 1856 for example, there was homes. Tanner Mary Jane, wife of Myron, plenty to eat at the after her marriage. And homes to their describes her first visit in the flour no almost valley and hunger was although there was when times were staring people in the face, there was an abundance of vegetables and milk at the Tanners. It is quite inconceivable that these families would ever go hungry; they might not get wealthy in south Cottonwood, but they were likely to be secure." Nathan was a man of rare charm. Hildur Marie Janson, wife of Leonard Tanner, the youngest child of Myron, gave the author her impressions of a number of John Tanner's children. Speaking of Nathan she said: "He was a large man, straight as a ramrod, handsome and clean. I could have fallen in love with him." Quite a number of women did, five of whom he married." Much of Nathan's charm resulted from his enthusiasm and his complete dedication to a cause. Never a complainer, he was for things and not against them. He loved life, his family, and his church. |
