Evening star., 1927-10-03
JAMES TANNER, 50,
! CLAIMED BY DEATH
District Register of Wills,
Past Commander Chief
of G. A. R.

Corpl James Tanner, SO years old
register of wills of the District since
1904, at one time United States com
missioner of pensions. and who en-
gagged in a long public career after
losing both legs as a soldier in the
Union Army. died at his residence
1910 Nineteenth street. last night. He
was past commander in-chief of the
Grand Army Of the Republic.
Funeral services will be conducted
at his late residence Wednesday aft
ernoon at o'clock. Rev. John Van
Schaick will officiate. Interment vii
be in Arlington Cemetery. with rites
at the grave by the Grand Army OF
the Republic.
Quit Teaching for War.
James Tanner was born in Rich
mondville. Schohaire County, n. Y,
April 4. 1874. The son of farmer.
his early days were spent on a farm.
He obtained his early education IN
district school and this was sup
plemented with a course in business
college.
At the age of II. in the Winter OF
1S60.61, Tanner became a school
teacher. but his work was interrupted
by the outbreak of the civil war:
The young New Yorker answered
Lincoln's call for volunteers, going
to the front in the S7th New York
Infantry. with the rank of corporal.
He was in the engagements or
Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks,
Seven Days, Malvern Hill and the
second battle of Bull Run. In the
lost. on August 80, glS62, Tanner. was
30 badly wounded in both legs that
It was necessary to amputate them
on the battlefield, under fire, to save
the patients life. Even then, there
was a long siege in the hospital, be-
fore recovery was assured.
Then started Corpl. Tanners long
career in public service.
At LincoIn's Deathbed.
AS clerk in the Ordnance Bureau Of
HE War Department here in April,
iS65, he reported in 1he Peterson
Eouse on the night of the shooting of
President Lincoln, the first testimony
Aken in connection with the assasSl-
nation of the President, at whose
deathbed he was.
Leaving Washington following the
death of Lincoln, Tanner became clerk
of a committee Of the New York state
LEGISLATURE, and employed his spare
moments in the study of law. He was
admitted to the bar in 1853. Next ne
held a clerkship in the custom house
In New York City, and was deputy COL
lector of the port of New York under
Gen. Arthur in 1S69-1S77. He was col
lector of taxes in Brooklyn four terms,
from 1877 until 1885, and on the lee
ture platform from 1885 to 1889.
Corn. Tanner was United States
Commissioner of Pensions in 1883.
In April, 1904, he was appointed Reg
lster of Wills of the District of
columbia by President Roosevelt and
has since retained this post.
In 1869 Corp. Tanner Joined the
Grand Army of the Republic, in
Brooklyn. He was member of
C. S. Grant Pr1t, No. 327 of that
eity. He servsx two terms as COM
hander of ths department of New
York G. A. R., 1S7677 and 1S77-7S, and
while he held this Office became the
leader in the move to establish a
Soldiers and Sailors Home at Bath,
dream he saw realized.
Elected G. A. r. Commander.
He served many years on the ma
Eonal pension committee of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and was judge
advocate general of the order on the
etaffs of Comdr.- in-Chief Weissert of
Wisconsin, and Comdr. in Chief Black
bf Illinois. He was elected COM
nander-in-chief of the Grand Army in
t905. He was a member of the Union
Veteran Legion also, and past ma
tional commander.
Corp. Tanner married Miss Nero
L. White of Jefferson, N. Y, in 1865.
She died in 1906. He is survived by four
children: Miss Ada and Miss Antoi-
bette Tanner of Washington; James
A. Tanner Of Philadelphia, and Col.
Earle w. Tanner Of the United States
army, and a grandson James D.
Tanner.