TANNER/TENNER FAMILY HISTORY

I often wonder what drew my ancestors to different parts of the US & Canada so am glad to see that I am not the only one. I think my family trail that led me to WI is quite likely very unusual but once again, I have no idea what took this family member there. It will be tricky to tell this tale in brief for me.

My grgrandfather's brother, James Tanner, appears to have abandonned his children - in particular a set of 9 yr. old twin boys in 1890ca. in Isabella Co., MI. It wasn't until a few years ago, I was able to find one twin, Elmer Tanner (Elbert Tenner), through a Michigan State Public School where children were sent when they had no means of support etc. While there, he was indentured out & when he became 'self sufficient' was discharged in 1898. I was able to receive some documents from the 'school' he attended which revealed some further insight of Elmer's life (though of course not the quantity that I dreamed of). Some of particular interest to me were letters that Elmer had written in 1943 to the Coldwater State Public School to request a copy of his birth certificate (as he had been unable to find one). He needed this info. for insurance purposes. His 1st letter was written to a friend asking him to try to get a birth certificate for him, therefore, had extra family details in the letter. I knew nothing more of Elmer/Elbert etc. till this info. was received. In my next paragraph I will try to explain what his letter(s) revealed.

The letters were written from R.R. 1, Box 190, Bayfield, Wis. (Feb 13 1943) His 'boy' was now in the army & had taken out insurance & if something happened to him, Elmer would not be able to claim anything without his birth certificate. His birthday was Aug. 4 & the year would be 1880 or 1881 - he wasn't sure & asked to have that looked up. His oldest boy "is cook at the Great Lakes Navy Training Station & our youngest boy has gone across, he is in the Signal Air Corp, he is a Corporal now". He wished the terrible war was over. He said there was no work around there & it made it ever so hard. "Around here is no farming country & there is only fishermen & that job everybody can't do. There is berries & orchards but no way to get them to market & you have to take just what they want to give you & that's not much & you can't get berry pickers up here. There is a bean cannery here but you have the same trouble of getting pickers." "Our youngest girl is in Ontairo Canada".

Another letter was written, in Apr. 7, 1943 to Michigan Children's Institute by Elmer's wife, Stacia Tenner. In this letter, it states he is 63 yrs. old "as I remember & birthday is aug 4 so that would be yr. 1880, but I would like for you to look 1 or 2 yrs earlier or later". This gave the same reason for needing his birth certificate but also said that if he wanted work in any defense work it would be required. He said they had 6 children & they all want him to get it. He also said if there should be any other children please let him know for he knew nothing of his family & if he had any relatives living he would like to find them. He also said he had often wondered if his name was spelled right or if it should be spelled as Tanner. As long as he had known it had been spelled as Tenner.

The school had replied that his birthdate was March 7, 1881 & that the name they had was Elbert Tanner & his father was James. He was received at the school October 28, 1890. Another form indicates he was received as Elmer Tanner & known as Elbert Tanner.

I believe James & Esther (Boughen) Tanner went to MI about 1866 (not 1860), the same time period as my grgrandparents, Jonathan & Mary Ann (Boughen) Tanner. Esther & Mary Ann were sisters. Esther died young (& had died when Elmer was put into the 'school') & James re-married 2x after. Elmer had other siblings including a brother named Herb. Herb was married to my father's maternal grandmother but died shortly after just to add confusion to my family tree. It is all somewhat complicated (& gets more complicated) & difficult to explain but you can see why I have many interests in this 'lost' family.

I have a copy of his birth certificate & his twin brother which I had searched & received many years earlier. Elmer & Elgin Tanner were born March 07, 1881 to James & Esther Tanner. I have never found trace of Elgin.

I later located Elmer's family in 1920 census, Benson Co., West Antelope Tp., N. Dakota with wife Stacia (b. WI) & children (b. ND)- Mable, Ida, Gertrude & John. 1930, Elmer, his wife Estachia & children: John, Gertrude, Arnold, Jene & Evelyn (Nichols) all in Bayfield town, Bayfield Co., WI in the census. It appears that Jene is the youngest & was born in ND which would mean the family must have moved from ND to WI sometime between 1921 & 1930 approx.

From here I have lost them again. I know nothing further of this family, nor do I know which daughter was in Ontario or where. ( I still don't know anything for sure but am assuming it must have been 'Jene' as she appears to be the youngest unless more children were born later. In 1930 she was 9 yr. old (census) & also born in ND. She may have been married by 1943 but I have no further info.) It was so sad to think he really had not much idea when his birthday was or his real name(s) or who his family was. I keep thinking how great it would be to find living members of this family & let them know - yes, there are family who care. I live in Ontario, Canada. My Tanner family (also Elmer's) went to Coldwater Township, Isabella Co., MI about 1860. I knew it would be difficult to write my story briefly but this is my story of work in Bayfield area, WI - at least in 1943 that is.

If there are any descendants who are interested, I will be pleased to share with them.

Update: March, 2009

As a result of further searching, I received a 1959 obituary for Elmer's son John, from a WI volunteer (& later some tombstone photos). From this I learned his siblings whereabouts etc. He was survived by Arnold C. of Washburn, Mrs. William (Ida) Sirois; Mrs. John (Jean) Johnston & Mrs. Einer (Gertie) Ludwigson both of Anacortes, WA & Mrs. Arlo (Mabel) Nickolson, Ashland. That information led me to copies of Einer Ludwigson & John Johnston's obituary. Best of all, I have located a new 3rd. cousin in Mount Vernon, WA. We then went to work on getting our families 'acquainted'. I also spoke with a descendant in Wisconsin & one in California. Still have a long way to go but my ultimate goal of finding a ' living descendant' of Elmer Tenner/Tanner has happened with the help of a few in the 'right' places. I will always be pleased if more descendants 'turn up'.



Elaine (Tanner) Culling