- John Tanner was born April 26 1860 at North Ogden, Utah. His parents were Seth Benjamin Tanner and Charlotte Levi Tanner . Seth crossed the plains with his parents John and Elizabeth Beswick Tanner. Willard Richards Company. Charlotte Levi's Parents were Julia Ann Carroll and Frederick Levi who came with the James Holt Company.
John's Mother Charlotte Levi Tanner died when John was 12 yrs old, She passed a couple of weeks after giving birth to her seventh child.
This was a troubled time for her family, Seth and the children missed her so much, and Seth was away working a lot so he had to have help. He put his children in the homes of his and Charlotte's family. John was with his mother's brother Joseph Hyrum Levi, when the Levi's decided to move to the "Cove" Sevier, Utah. John helped Joseph and his family, clear land, dig ditches, and keep track of the livestock so they wouldn't run away. He was with them until he was old enough to get on his own.
His first job was cutting ties for the rail road , he told his Grand Son Don Hunt, "Quote" they were building a rail road in Sevier, Utah Canyon.
His second job was over in Price, Utah Canyon, he worked with a wagon and a team of horses for two dollars a day. and when his part of the job ended, he kept the camp in meat for a dollar a day. On the completion of this job. He went back to the "Cove" Sevier, Utah, where he was married to a lovely young lady named Julia Etta Powell, daughter of James Evans and Elizabeth Jane Carter Powell. they were also pioneers with the John B Walker Company.
John and Julia Powell Tanner spent a lot of their lives moving from one job to another, Rye Valley Oregon for a year, Cove, Tuba City, Arizona, where John was logging and Julia and her children spent 2 and one half yrs with Seth B Tanner, on his farm. Some of the other places they lived and owned land was, Montizuma Valley. Colorado, Bluff, San Juan, Utah where they owned a ranch and cattle they sold the ranch and traded the cattle for sheep, Then Esclantie , Utah where they ran sheep, and owned land. Then taking the sheep over the mountains to Antimony, Utah. Then on to Sevier Utah. John owned a farm and ran sheep in the "Cove" or Sevier, Utah.
John Donald Hunt told and I" Quote" I spent a lot of time with Grandfather John Tanner, and he told me about his life. He said that it was better to work for fifty cents a day, than to be Idle. End Quote" . Don later wrote a history of his Grandfather Tanner, which is a nice account of John's life.
John Tanner had many hard knocks in his life, the death of his dear Mother, two sons who died young. and the death of his dear wife.
One of John's Great Granddaughters tells and I "Quote Great Grand Father Tanner was about 6 feet tall, He had a long white beard. He was quite erect for a older man and never carried much weight. He had a dog he took with him most of the time. he told many stories about the Indians and the early days when they lived in Tuba City, Chandler, back to Tuba City then Flagstaff, the trading post they had. He loved the mountains and spent much time enjoying them. In the later year my Father John Donald Hunt remembered all the good things his Grandfather had did for him and always helped him all he could. They lived just a few blocks apart.
John was lonesome after his dear wife passed, and came to Don's home quite often to Visit.
Part of the Obituary of John Tanner (Early Settler Dies) John Tanner was eighty six years old, he died February 16 1947 in the family home. Mr Tanner was a farmer and stock raiser. and a Member of the L.D. S. Church, where he served many years as a home teacher.
He was buried in Joseph, Sevier, Utah in the Joseph Cemetery by the side of his life long companion and wife, Julia Etta Powell Tanner.
He lived a long and use full life , was hard working, a kind gentleman, a loving husband, a proud Father, a friend to all, and a special mentor to his little Grand son Don Hunt. He was well loved. may we his family take a lesson from this Grandfather, He never was to busy to live a good life and to take the time to put first things first. So bend down and smell the roses.
Compiled and some parts written by Great Granddaughter Mary Ann Hunt Parker.
Sources - John Tanner History by Grandson Don Hunt
Sources - John and Julia Etta Powell Tanner history, by Great Grand daughter Vonda Bly Hunt Julander.
Sources - Parts of obituary of John Tanner - Tribune Special.
John Tanner and Julia Etta Powell had the following Children, Charlotte Elizabeth Tanner Hunt, Jessie Tanner, Eugene Tanner, Leah Tanner Taylor, Harvey Russell Tanner. And Orin Tanner.
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