Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-31
FUNERAL OF LATE
JOSEPH SMITH TANNER
Payson Tabernacle Crowded With
Friends and Associates of Well
Known Pioneer of Early Days.
lsnccInl to Tho News.l

held in the Payson new tabernacle yes
terday and was the occasion OF a great
outpouIing OF people from Utah and
Salt Lake county points.
Elders Francis NJ. Lyman, of the
quorum of the twelve, and Joseph M.
Tanner. both nophews OF the deceased,
were the principal speakers, the others
being Stake President S. Page, Jr.. j. 5.
Page. for 20 years counselor with
Bishop Tanner and Bishop Justin
Lovelcss of the First ward, Payson.
President Francis NJ. Lyman dcvot-
ell the greater part or his remarks to
the history and genealogy of the Tan
ner family He said that the departed
WAS always his model among the Tan
ner family they were boys together.
and he had never known q more con-
scientious and consistent Latter-day
Saint. He was the hardest worker he
had ever known and was essentially
trustworthy In civil and Church mat
tcrs. The speaker reviewed the work
of the departed when SAntaquin. Spring
Lake Salem and Benjamin were under
his administration and said that while
the deceased had enjoyed no literary
opportunities in his youth. he was
man Of strong character and one of eX-
ccptionally good judgment
JOStIln W IAtlitl lOph atS HIS lUel1C
the statement that 1t as sometimes bet
ter to be obedicnt than to be right, and
In illustration of his argument an in
cidcnt In the life of Myron r.. Tanner.
brother of the deceased. who when in
partnership with Il miller at Provo
contracted to supply Montana mer-
chants with flour to the detriment of
the residents OF Utah In the early days
He WAS advised by the authorities to
cancel the contract and subsequently
did over the protests OF his partner.
and the sequel proved that the action
was n wise one and the merchants re-
leased the firm from any obligation in
volYed. Joseph :. Tanner at the time
stated that 1t was sometimes better TO
submit to the authorities in the Inter
ests of the puSllc benefit than to main
tain ones legal rights
The congre cation assembled included
the blshoprics of the different wards
as we'll as representatives OF the diff
ferent organizations of Nebo stake. The
tabernacle was packed and the floral
tributes were both numerous and beau
tiful. The PaySon Silver band marched
and PLAYED funeral music from the
residence to the tabernacle and again
played as the casket was being trans
ferrcd to the cemetery Musical fea-
lures were also furnished by the joint
ward choirs and Miss Beatrice Crismon,
a niece of the departed.
The Tanner family is a branch OF a
1onglived race. Including the father of
the deceased the family of 10. IL sons
and two daughters, living and dead,
average II years of age.
LIFE OF ]. S. TANNER.
The following sketch was read at the
funeral:
Joseph S Tanner, a son of John
and Eliza Beswlck Tanner, was born
in Bolton, Warren county, New Yohk.
June IL, 1898. His parents had
Joined the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter day Saints In the fall of 1881.
and with them he moved successfully
to Ohio, Missouri and Illinois. sharing
with his people their pleasures and
sorrows. and especially the privations
and prosecutions incident to those dis
treSsing days The constant struggle
for existence, and the hardships con-
nected with those times prevented
Joseph from receiving any schooling.
but experience tempered and develop
ed him and brought to the front in his
life the strong and magnificent man
hood go manifest during his entire life
At the age OF 5 years and without
shoes for his feet he walked from
the Missouri river to the Great Salt
Lake valley, and drove a team of six
yoke of cows. With his fathers house
he settled at Little Cottonwood His
father died in 1850. and in 1851
Joseph went. with his mother and
family and Amasa NJ Lyman to San
Bernardino. where they remained until
released to return home In 1S5S-at
the time of the Johnston army Inva-
sion. He accompanied Colonel Thomas
l.. Kanc-the special envoy of Presi-
dent Buchanan. to mediate between
the United States and the Mormon
people-to Utah, arriving in Parowan.
Feb. 90, 1858. later settling at Pay
son. In 1868 he was called TO the
Muddy mission where he remained
until released in the spring of 1870,
Aug. %. 1871, he was ordained a
high priest and set apart as bishop of
Payson and presided over tho Payson
ward until released, Dec. %, 1891, At
that time he was released on account
of falling health
Feb, H. 1860 he married Elizabeth
Clark Howe by whom he had 10 chill
dren. His wife Elizabeth. died April
2. 1882 Only three children of tho
first family survive their father
Henry, Minnie and Nathaniel. Their
son Joseph Edward grew to man.
hood and died In a few days after hav-
ing been set apart for a nilsson to
England. Mary and Annie grew to
womanhood, married and left their
young families without a mothers
care.
August II. 1882. he married Jannctt
Hamilton. by whom he had IL chill
dren. 10 OF which survive him.
October 9. 1885. he marrled Ellen e.
Fogleshand. by whom he had six
children, three OF which survive him.
Bishop Tanner was constantly inter-
ested in the material development of
the country. and has done much 10
give his children educational advan-
tages he was never permitted to re-
ceiVe He was always friend to the
poor and helpless, and hundreds OF
men and women have recognized In
him wise counselor and a devoted
friend Ills constant devotion and un-
faltering faith in God and his re-
vealed principles has helped to keep
his large family In the faith. and his
belief was that mono of them would
be lost To all who know him he
was Il devoted husband, an lnduIgent
father. true to his friends and ono nj
the most noble of Gods noblemon
May peace abide in his family and his
worth and works be forever held In re-
membrance 80 -