The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-19
NATHAN TANNER
ANSWERS CALL
One of Utah'S Earliest Pioneers
and Maker of History Dies
at Granger.
MEMBER OF LIONS CAMP
Knew the Prophet Joseph Smith and
Participated in Perilous Times in
Missouri and Utah.

Nathan Tanner. FOR years the last
surviving member Of the famous lions
lamp. historic I'm the early davs of the
mormon church. died at 1910 O'Clock
saturday night at the home Of his son.
stuart Tanner. at Granger. salt Lake
county tie was i'm his 0fupfv-fiffn
year. Until Few weeks ago his health
had been comparatively good. General
Deputy was the cause OF death
MT Ianner was born I'm Greenwich.
Washington county. New York. Nav "a.
1919 He was baptized into the Nor
mon church. september 10. 1881. and
met Joseph Smith. the prophet for tho
first time at Kirkland. Ohio. in 1Sge
In 1888 he became a member OF zion s.
Camp, at the age Of nineteen. His
longer period Contemporaucous win
the church history than any other man.
AFTER lions Camp was dishanded ATr
Tanner was among the members chosen
IN the organization Of the first two
quorumS OF seventies being a member
Of the second quorum.
Nathan Tanner was the son or John
tanner whose descendants. 10 is said
are the most numerous OF any man that
ever joined the Mormon church Nathan
tanners career began with the earliest
period Of exciting life I'm the story OF
Norm onism.
Robbed OF Property.
With David Patten and others be de-
Iehdeg ms people against the attacks
or mobs in Missouri and finally. al tho
surrender OF Far west. decided over mis-
property TO the mobs at the point OF
treatment at their hands. He was wifi
the Saints i'm their exodus from Mis-
souri, TO Illinois. He witnessed the
events which belong to the story of
Nsuvoo and was finally chosen b,
President Joseph Smith as one OF the
explorers who was to accompany the
prophet to the Rocky mountains
Heroic Character.
In the exodus from Nauvoo he Joined
the saints and became q conspicuous
figure among the pioneers OF tho
ROCKY mountain region. His expert
knowledge Of horses and his ability 10
manage them skillfully caused a demand
Tor MS services at the period in the
history when fearlessncss ma
tualiy brought to his life a large meas
ure or the heroism which character
lied the explorers and pioneers In
1S4S. while crossing the plains. he res
cued the horses stolen by the Indians
by swimming the Platte river during
the early spring at a point where it was
q mile wide.
Upon his arrival in Utah. Nathan
Tanner acted a generous part in pro
yiding teams for the emigration of the
Saints from the Missouri river In 1919
he Joined the exploring party OF Parlev
!. Pratt INTO southern Utah. Later in
1907 ne was one Of the missionaries
called TO Asia and the islands of the
sea The overland trip was made by
way OF Los Angeles. At san Pedro ne
set sail Tor san Francisco and from the
latter port took ocean passage to the
sandwich islands, where he met George
'. Cannon. and later became one OF tile
presidency Of that mission. on his re-
turn 70 Utah he engaged in freightinE
and commercial pursuits between
southern California and Utah.
At the outbreak OF the Echo canyon
war, Mr.. Tanner was again called 70
the front. Later he became a member
of the escort Of Governor Cummings
from Camp Scott to salt Lake City.
Indian Fighter.
During the DAYS Of overland travel
between Salt Lake and Los Angeles.
Mr.. Tanner had many THRILLING ex
periences with the Indians. Bringing
horses from southern California 10 T-ta6
aroused the thieving propensities of the
'edman whom me was often compelled to
7vade as well as subdue; hence III was.
solely as a pioneer and missionary
hat Nathan Tanner became conspictl-
BUS in the early history Of Utah. He
was a farmer and performed his share
m the reclamation of the soil. II was
his distinction OF being the first man
20 break soil in the construction OF the
irrigation canals from Big and Little
canyons.
Being a great lover Of horses. Mr..
Tanner took pride in driving the best in
he community in which he lived. His
handsome teams were frequently sub
ects OF comment which extended be-
rond Salt Lake. Among associates he