Thomas Tanner Born: August 9, 1831; Newbury, England Married: Susanna Elsey Died: May 12, 1904; North Powder, Oregon Immigration Date: September 17, 1853; Claudis Spencer Co.

Thomas Tanner was born in Newbury, Berkshire, England, on August 2, 1831. His father was Thomas Tanner, born June 28, 1807 in Newbury, Berkshire, England, and his mother was Mary Cruse, born December 1, 1812, in Whyfield, Boxford, Berkshire, England.

He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in September of 1850. Thomas Sr., with his family, sailed from Liverpool on board the ship "Olympus" bound for New Orleans on the 4th of March 1851. Thomas was almost twenty years old.

He met and married Susannah Elsey, October 23, 1853, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Susannah was born October 25, 1835, in Dowsby, Semperingham, Lincolnshire, England. She was christened February 16, 1836, in Dowsby, Semperingham, Lincolnshire, England. Her father was Joseph Elsey, born September 7, 1806, in Semperingham, Lancastershire, England, and her mother was Sarah Lane, christened September 11, 1803, in Semperingham, Lancastershire, England.

They were the parents of ten children. Franklin J. Tanner, born May 5, 1854, Tooele, Utah; Susannah Elsey, born June 8, 1855, Tooele, Utah. She married Lorenzo Sheets Kelsey and died on August 22, 1882, just a few weeks before her mother passed away (age 27). Mary Ann, born June 10, 1857, Tooele, Utah. She married Levi Pleasant Smith, died November 14, 1922 (age 65). Thomas Elsey, born October 31, 1859, Tooele, Utah, died May 25, 1872 (age 13); Joseph Elsey, born November 5, 1861, Tooele, Utah, died December 25, 1870 (age 9); William Elsey, born July 10, 1863, Tooele, Utah, married Lillias Spiers, died April 5, 1927 (age 65); Sarah Elizabeth, born December 25, 1865, Tooele, Utah, died September 13, 1866 (age 9 months); George Edward Elsey, born May 23, 1868, Tooele, Utah, died May 22, 1930 (age 62); Emma Janet Elsey, born April 17, 1870, Tooele, Utah, married John McPhee, died May 1, 1945 (age 75); Fannie Elsie, born August 14, 1871, Tooele, Utah, died August 22, 1872 (age 1). When Susannah died only four of her children were still living.

The two oldest daughters married and, with their husbands, moved to North Powder, Union, Oregon. This was very hard on Susannah as it was slow traveling in those days, and she thought so much of her daughters. They decided that if they could all find homes together they would do so. They moved to North Powder, Oregon in 1879. Their home was near the mountains, in the foothills, and near the North Powder River. It was beautiful and fertile and they lived there until they died.

Susannah Elsey Tanner's daughter, Susannah, died in childbirth. Then Susannah, who had a stroke previous to this, soon suffered another stroke which caused her death September 18, 1882, at the age of 47, in North Powder, Oregon. She passed away 25 years earlier than her husband. She is buried in North Powder.

Thomas Tanner Jr. married again. His second wife was Katherine Buckley. He died May 12, 1907 at the age of 76. He is also buried in North Powder, Oregon.

In about 1962, Nettie Tanner Oliverson made a visit to North Powder, Oregon, with her daughter LaPrele. This trip was made to get better acquainted with the family that moved there, and gather information for genealogy. This information was taken from some notes she made:

Frank Baker was a boy whose mother died on the ocean while they and Grandfather Tanner were coming across from England. Grandfather raised him to manhood and he was living in North Powder.

Grandpa Tanner was of sandy complexion. Grandma Tanner was of dark complexion.

They traveled to Oregon in a wagon. Thomas had been a freighter, hauling lead bullion from Stockton to Salt Lake City. He also ran a store in Tooele. He traveled to North Powder, Oregon which was over 500 miles. While on the way, they stopped at Corinne. Emma, then 8 years old, took up Clara who was a baby, 2 years old. She went to brace herself against the wagon side. The canvas was not fastened well and she fell out striking her shoulder on a rock. She rolled over and over. The baby was not hurt. They had to stop several days at Corinne before Emma was well enough to travel.

They landed in North Powder in one month. A man coming from North Powder to Baker stopped and talked to Grandpa. He invited him to eat with them and the man told him to come up to his place and he would give the children all the milk, butter, and vegetables they could eat. He wanted to sell his place. Grandpa had started for Walla Walla, Washington, so they said they would think it over, but they wanted to go on. They got as far as Union and it stormed and was so cold they decided to go back and buy the place. A few days later it snowed and they did not see bare ground again until spring.

He built two houses on this place. Both burned.

He advertised for a wife who came from Nebraska after Grandma died. Her name was Kitty Buckley.

Grandpa moved to Union a few years before he died. He wanted to get to Union because there were Mormons there. He planted an orchard.

He died of glandular trouble and blood poison. He was a very religious man and so was his wife.

Return to Five-Generation Chart of Lillias Tanner Farnes