Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-28

gust 4. 1890. in Jewett City, in the town of Grisweld, New London County, Conn. He was the son of Henry Will son and Sarah (Hale) Tanning, and the youngest of nine children. When David was seven years of age. his father died and he remained in the care of an older brother, until he reached the age of 16. Meanwhile he received such education the district schools of the neighborhoOd afforded. The exacting discipline of his brother, the narrowness of his own life, the hopelessness of any development and the inborn craving to be somebody and to dc something, made David am bilious to see the world and make his own way. This characteristic had to assert itself and has ever been a con- spicuous part of his makeup. So, with his few possessions (among which was Testament given him by his mother, which he always faithfully kept) and a cash capital of $250, he left his na- tive place on foot to seek his for tune.
 After a twenty mile walk he reach ed Danfelsonville Conn, at the end of the first day. There he obtained supper, breakfast and lodging for which he paid sixteen cents. He then made direct for Worcester, at that time town of some 10000 inhabitants There he hoped to find employment,
  ton, then part of Lancaster, where he found employment in a factory. It is worthy of record that his first bus mess was in counterpane mill at six teen years of age.
 He remained in this position two years, and by attention to work was promoted. By economy he saved suf- hc1ent money to give him start in life. Coming to Worcester in 1S4S, he l served a short apprenticeship at the machinist trade.
 Tn 1853 he was proprietor of a coun- try store in Groton Junction, now the city of Aver, Mass. Disposing of this business later, he went west, remain ing in Cleveland two years, returning to Worcester in 1857. During the next four years he was employed as sales man.
 In 1859 he married Rosamond Hop kins Dawless of Sterling. Mass by whom he had issue a son who died in infancy, Agnes Maria and Helen Jo- sephine. Mrs. Tanning died Dec. 14, 1901.
 Tn 1861 MT. Tanning engaged in man. ufacturing hoop skirts, under the name of the Worcester Skirt Go. Two or ing of corsets to his business. and the hoop skirt gradually passed into dfsuse, corset making become the prin- cipal feature of the business. the title of which was changed to the Worces- ter Corset Co, It was conducted as a private business until 1888. when it was incorporated as a stock com pany. The same pains taking, diliEent attention to business that had char acterized Mir. Earnings entire life soon brought his manufactures into uni versal prominence and in 1901 another change in the business was made and it's name became the Royal Worcester Corset Co.
 MT. Tanning began his business in a small way at the corner of Main and Front streets. Worcester. and as it ex- Aal tod in Franklin Square and Hermon street finally moving to the extensive and complete quarters on Wyman street. From very modest beginning. by per it's resources and untiring diligence. Mir Tanning has developed the great industrial institution known as the Royal Worcester Corset Co. with its | in all the large cities in the country and business connections in every civ ilfzed e@untry eR she globe
 Notable among. Mf. FaRHingAs per sona1 ehapaeterieEfes is his intense patriotism. Ike springs from men who fought ia all 1saFs in which our coun- try has seea engaged, even back 10 the French and Indian wars. In poi itics MT Fanasng is republican. He Is 8 man of pronounced opinions. and once he knows he is right, whether 1t be a business or personal proposition that confroRts him he goes ahead and
 
 complaining his end.
 In business MT. Tanning is a dfscf- pliRaFian. His influence is felt every where in his great factory. Clean1i attention which are so much in evi- dence about him. are the resuts lef his constant care and training.
 In spite of an active business life, MT. Tanning has found time to study men and things and conditions hister ical and geographical; keeps thorough 1y in touch with all centemporaneou history as a foreefui illustratien of what a man may be if he will.
 How the Project Started. The fund for this monument which was erected in the year of our Lord 1913, was started ten years ago by thy. Of the about s15,0e0 which the park and monument cost, MT. Tanning gave about $13,0e0. Popular subscrip tions, proceeds from entertainments. a tag day and a vote of the town made up the remaining about $2,000. Other Enclosures in Box. Other articles and data which are to be placed in the box are a one cent piece of the latest issue, photograph of the monument (taken from a paint ing) by G. H. Prior. and a photograph of the Second Congregational church, the First Congregational church in Griswold the new and old St. Mary's, es a copy of the official invitation to the unveiling, which reads: The honor of your presence is requested at the unveiling of the Soldiers monument in David Hale Tanning park, Jewett City, Connecticut Memorial day, May thirtieth, nineteen hundred and thir teen. Committee, George A. Haskell, chairman; Everett H. Hiscox. secre-