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Show John Tanner and 390 His.Family time, and if I don't thrash the ground with you, They said they brought their arms to fight with, and I told them that they needed them. You will pardon me for my rough expressions, as I did not know I had anything to live for. My prophet and patriarch had been led off and sentenced to be shot, my father's head had been split to the skull, my wife and child, I did not know if they were alive or dead, and no protection and come at me two at a then God Damn me." for life or property in the least. N ow we had to leave our homes in the winter, without compensation. We left lands fenced, and in good state of cultivation, for $1.25 an acre, just what it cost in the wild state, and many left cribs of corn, potatoes, baled up for winter and wheat crops on the ground. The poor had to go if they had to walk, and carry their food. Banishment was preferred to death. Women in all the varied circum stances of their sex had to go. If there is justice in Heaven, let the Gods record our credits. Our families were there and helped the poor all they could. No Tanner was ever known to shirk in the days of hardships, and trials. No Tanner was ever known to turn States evidence against his friends to curry friendship from his enemies. There is a saying among the large fraternity, that a nian who pleaded his own case had a fool for a "Its a poor musician client. But I prefer the saying of the musician who cannot blow his own trumpet." I claim the right to blow my own trumpet. We stayed in Illinois two years and then settled in Iowa. Here we made large farms some seven miles south of Montrose on the road to Keokuk, on. the Mississippi River. Here we remained until after the death of the Prophet and Patriarch, and the expulsion from Nauvoo. We with the rest crossed the plains. It was my lot to be appointed commissary, and it occupied nearly all time my being off on business for the camp, three or four weeks at a time, buying and selling and trading for the camp, and without salary. Men were supposed to do all they could for the love of the cause, and their brethren in those days. I must beg pardon for intruding on your time. I have intended to show the young of our family that their fathers and mothers had been through all the troubles and trials of the church, and had done their share toward building up the Church and Kingdom of God. Our cause was that of which we have reason to be proud, and hope that our chil dren may never disgrace the name of their fathers in all coming time. - * * * * JOURNAL OF NATHAN TANNER When we arived in Kirtland after my marriag it was an Sabath and jest in time to atend the morning meeting which we did. The Proffit after a discorse had ben deliverd, remarked that he had went to make payment that was due on a farm that was inside the city limits morning |
