John Tanner and his family

Page 298

John Tanner and His 288 Family he assisted his mother or brother in tenderly turning his father from side to side. And the young man, scolded a few years previously because he managed the farm badly, his hand tightly and to John as he was shown in a new young man, twenty-four, now as light whispered his thanks. John was grasped already proud of would live to do greater honor to the name his son, but Myron of his beloved father. Soon after his father's death Myron decided to seek his fortune in the gold fields of California. He knew Brigham was opposed to the Saints leaving Utah for the uncertainties of the gold mines, but he secured the approval of George A. Smith and the loan of a team and set out. Seth, brother, is not mentioned, but from other Myron's accompanied Myron." The boys sent mines; Myron George A. Smith $400 in gold it is known he sources at the team, and Myron a did quite well to pay for the substantial token of his esteem. In two and a half years $1,250 which he later invested in land and live­ accumulated stock in San Bernardino. It is not known how well Seth did. already in California and had spent some time gold fields, it would be interesting to know met. Myron's biography says nothing about such Myron Since Albert was at the Mormon Island if he and a meeting. In any case, in the course of a year or two, all of the John family were living in San Bernardino, except John Joshua Tanner and Nathan and their families who remained in south Cottonwood, Myron indicates that they acquired considerable holdings in Utah. livestock and land, and he mentions that they did It would be interesting to know more some trading." about the Tanner's activities Bernardino, but little information has been found. This was a period of comparative tranquility and little that was newsworthy in San Myron was not in San Bernardino in the fall of 1851 when built, but came in the fall of 1852. The Beswick chil­ had some sort of co­ dren Myron, Seth, Freeman, and Joseph Seth when withdrew and went to until 1856, operative arrangement San Diego to prospect for coal." occurred. the fort was - - In 1855 Myron and Seth came to Salt Lake with a band of horses for sale, where it was reported there was a good market. Horses were in large supply in California where they could be had for little But they required "breaking" before more than rounding them up. All the Tanner men were expert market. they were ready for the horsemen and made money by converting "wild" horses into tame ones. Most of the horses were of the riding variety.