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Show SKETCH OF AN ELDER'S 17 LIFE. Spring of 1846, he sold his farm at a nominal price and journeyed to the Rocky Mountains with the Saints who were compelled to leave Nauvoo, the "City of Joseph." He started about the middel of May and joined the westward-bound stream of Latter-day Saints in their memorable exodus from Illinois. He also paid for the. removal of two families besides his own, up to Council Bluffs. On the 16th of July, he fitted In the out two of his sons and sent them with the "Mormon Bat into Mexico to fight the battles of our country. On the herd-ground of the Saints', at a point north-west of Winter talion'; Quarters, he herded the stock for the whole camp of Israel, for three months. After trials in journeyings-and in losses and hardships in various forms, he had to be tried by fire. About the middle of January 1847, his house and three wagon boxes with covers, used for sleeping rooms, supplies of provisions and groceries, and most of the wearing apparel, were destroyed by fire. Nothing was saved but beds and a portion of the bed, ding. But his noble mind and the persevering energies of his seemed superior to inisfortune ; and in the Spring he assisted in fitting out the Pioneers for their journey to tl.!e nature Rocky Mountains, opened up another farm and raised a good crop. In the Summer of 1847, Elder Tanner had a thrilling adven, The following account of the marvelous With Indians. ture circumstance is from the journal of Jane Grover (afterwards Sister Stewart). She says, "One morning we thought we would go and Father Tanner (as we familiarly called gather goose-berries. the good, patriarchal John Tanner) harnessed a span of horses and, with two sisters by the name of Lyman, When we I, started out. reached the woods we told the old gentleman to go to a house which was in sight, and rest, while we picked the berries. It was not long before the little girl and I strayed some dis The tance from the others, when, suddenly we heard shouts. little girl thought it was her grandfather, and she was going to answer, but I prevented her, thinking it might be Indians. We walked forward until within sight of Father Tanner, when to a light his little wagon, grand-daughter and |
