U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tanner, Thomas Nathan (1868-1910) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 666-667, THOMAS NATHAN TANNER. Nathan Tanner is known to the people of Union district as a successful farmer, who died there in 1910, at the age of 81 years. His father was an old-timer who lived in the days of stage coach travel. The old homestead is still in the family and is now owned by William Meyers, Mr. Tanner's son-in-law. The farm is located at Salt Lick Creek and had a growth of good timber which gave a profitable return for years in the lumber trade. Thomas Nathan Tanner was born on the old homestead on April 22, 1868. He was raised a farmer, and after becoming of age experienced rather an eventful life. He did not obtain an extended school education but had vigorous youth, plenty of health, and a desire to see more of the world than lay in the hills of West Virginia. This desire took him on an extended trip through different portions of the states of Iowa and Nebraska, where he remained as a farm hand and drilling wells. He remained away from home from 1890 to 1896. During these six years much experience was obtained and on his return home he was better fitted than before for the duties that afterward devolved upon him. In 1896 an important event occurred. On November 4 of that year he married Lizzie A. Darland, a daughter of James Darland, a farmer of Spring Hill, Iowa. She was a most estimable lady, and one whose whole life, after the nuptial feast, was one of almost constant suffering. She suffered from a nervous rheumatic affliction that baffled all medical skill. So helpless had she become not a hand or foot could be moved without her husband's assistance, and his life, to the day of her departure, was given up to duties incident to her affliction. Several years were spent in travel. After about two years on the old homestead in the lumber trade and three years after that in Terra Alta, he sold out his business and went to Iowa, remaining one year; he then went to Indian Territory, remaining two years. Here relief was sought in several hospitals, but to no avail. On April 22, 1901, the home trip was begun. The invalid was placed on a cot and carried in the baggage car, first to Quinema, Kansas, a distance of 256 miles, and remained three months in a sanitarium of anthropology. Still finding no relief, the family, now consisting of father, mother and one son, Gerald D. Tanner, then six years old, left the sanitarium and came to Terra Alta. In the spring of 1906 Mr. Tanner took up his residence in Reedsville, where he continued his lumber business to the present time. Careful and conservative, Mr. Tanner has made a success of the lumber business, not by large ventures, but by utilizing every advantage of the trade in an honest way. He never employed more than ten or fifteen men at a time, and never took unnecessary risks. In 1907, his wife, a long and patient sufferer, departed from this vale of tears, but leaving behind her many blessed remembrances for both father and son. September 9, 1908, Mr. Tanner was married to Miss Gertrude Frazier of Newburg, Preston county. She was a daughter of William Frazier, an engineer on the B. & O. Railroad. Mr. Tanner is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Pythias. He and his family worship with the Methodist Church, of which he is a member. --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------