Looking for information on John T. Tanner born about 1836 in Illinois. His parents were both born in Tennessee. He had a half-brother, David Smith, born in Illinois. I think that John T. Tanner died about 1884 in Illinois? He was a justice of the peace and a farmer in Cropsey, McLean County, Illinois in 1870 and still listed in Cropsey or Anchor in 1880. He married Sarah Catherine Bailey who was born in Indiana and died in Illinois. She is buried in Anchor, Illinois, as is one of their sons James Wesley Tanner. I think John T. Tanner's father may have been Joseph Tanner from Tennessee who married Jane Brown( from Tennesse) in McLean County. Three years later a Jane Tanner married Elijah Smith in Tazewell County, Illinois. He was also from Tennessee. Any connection.

This is my family. I have some information, including Eliza Tanner's family Bible. John T. Tanner was my great great grandfather, Eliza Tanner Larson was my great grandmoter and her son Ira Otto Larson was my grandfather. I believe I can clarify some dates for you. I have extensive information on the Bailey family (Sarah Catherine). I also have the newspaper clipping of Sarah Catherine's obituary. How are you connected? I don't know a great deal about Jane Brown. She did marry Elijah Smith. I have a few Brown family photos that I have dated as Civil War era, or just before, by the tax stamp on the back of the photo and by looking at a web site that lists defunct photograhers in Illinois and the time frame in which they were in business.

This is my family. I have some information, including Eliza Tanner's family Bible. John T. Tanner was my great great grandfather, Eliza Tanner Larson was my great grandmoter and her son Ira Otto Larson was my grandfather. I believe I can clarify some dates for you. I have extensive information on the Bailey family (Sarah Catherine). I also have the newspaper clipping of Sarah Catherine's obituary. How are you connected? I don't know a great deal about Jane Brown. She did marry Elijah Smith. I have a few Brown family photos that I have dated as Civil War era, or just before, by the tax stamp on the back of the photo and by looking at a web site that lists defunct photograhers in Illinois and the time frame in which they were in business.

It is exciting to hear from someone from the Tanner family. John T. Tanner was also my great great grandfather!Eliza Tanner Larson was the sister of my great grandfather James Wesley Tanner born in Anchor Township, McLean County, Illinois. His wife, Clara Charolotte Summers was also born in the area. My grandmother was Anzinette Mae Tanner, youngest of four daughters of James Wesley and Clara Tanner. James Wesley is buried in the Anchor cemetery. I also have what is probably the same newspaper article from Sarah Catherine Bailey Tanner's death, and her death certificate. I do have a copy of the marriage certificate from Sarah Cahterine's parents who were married and lived in Franklin, Johnson County, Indiana. I have some information on the Baileys also and some on the Tanners from a volunteer genealogist in McLean County, Illinois. I have almost nothing on the Brown and Smith family execept for census records and an online confirmation of the marriage between Jane Brown and Joseph Tanner and Jane Brown Tanner and Elijah Smith. I also have just a little information on Thomas Tanner--Joseph's father. I would be excited to exchange any information that you would be willing to exchange. It seems that you might have far more information than I about the Tanners and Baileys and Days(Sarah Cahterines's mother's family). My grandmother was only 16 when her father died--she never really shared much information about him. I welcome any information that you might have and will be glad to share death certificates or anything that might be of interest to you. Randy F.

Hi Randy, thanks for responding. Here are the dates Elisa wrote. They are on a yellowed piece of paper that is in her Bible. I'll spell the names exactly like she did:
Elisa borned March 17, 1860
James March 2, 1862
Jany Elizabeth Dec. 29, 1863
Lucy A. Sept. 16, 1866
Mary E. Sept 3, 1872
William Walter March 1, 1877
Dora M. Dec. 13, 1878
Nora B. July 1, 1881
Lewis E. July 7, 1883
Syble B. Aug. 7, 1885

Married
Elisa April 4, 1882
Jamse Oct. 11, 1885
Lucy Dec. 26, 1886
Mary Sept. 12, 1898
Dora Nov. 1, 1899
Lewis Feb. 7, 1906

Mother died Oct., 18, 1917
Father Dec. 13, 1894

Mothers father name were Neamiah Baily her mothers name were Lousindy Day Baily

Fathers Fathers name
Joseph Tanner
Mother name
Jane Brown

She also wrote her children's names and dates of birth:

Arthur Lee was bornd Nov 26, 1882
Ira Otto was bornd Sep 16, 1886
Glenn Earl bornd Dec. 2, 1889
Flow Meree bornd Nov. 10, 1895
Giles Milo bornd Aug. 31, 1898

You can email me at lwilli1781@comcast.net if you like. I think it would be easier to exchange information that way. I have a copy of a photo of a Tanner family reunion taken, I believe, in 1911. Sarah Catherine is standing on the porch of a large house. I'll try to scan that and send it to you, if you don't have that one.

The Bailey info that I have came from a book written by Margaret Gerhart Woolf. I believe she's still living and if you want, I'll send you her name, phone # and address. The book takes the Baileys from where we connect back to George Bailey from Maryland in the early 1700's. Her research is extensive and well documented.

My dad remembered some of his great aunts and uncles and visited some of them when he was a kid. I've heard him talk about Uncle Lewis Tanner and Lucy and Charlie Hudson.

I do have a copy of Sarah Catherine's death certificate.

My great-aunt, Flo Larson Roth, wrote the following many years ago. I don't know where her information came from,and I think some is incorrect, but she would have known her grandmother and aunts and uncles.

"John T.Tanner came to the Illinois area after the Civil War in 1869 and bought 160 acres in section 8 along the south side of the Mackinaw River. His parents, Joseph and Jane Brown Tanner, were natives of Tennessee, who came to Tazewell County Ill. in 1829. they had two sons, John T. and one who died when young. After the death of Joseph Tanner in 1839, his widow married an Elijah Smith and lived near Danvers.

John T. Tanner was born in Tazewell County, May 24, 1837. He attained his education there and worked at different times as a farm laborer. It was the custom at that time for a son to work for his parents until he was of age. John started for himself at the age of 20, so he paid his step-father for the privilege of leaving home and becoming his own master. He rented land for several years, then bought a piece of timber land at the edge of Woodford County which he cleared himself. After three years, he sold that and bought land in Anchor Township.

John T. Tanner married Sarah Catherine Bailey in Anchor, McLean County Ill. in 1859. She was born in Indiana. They were the parents of ten children, three of whom died young. Early in life she joined the Christian Church and continued through life. She died Oct. 18, 1917.

In 1886, he (John T.) had improved his farm from its original condition and had erected a handsome and
substantial set of frame buildings. At this time he moved to Anchor, where he had established a store for general merchandise. This business had increased and he decided to give it his entire attention. He was the second supervisor of Anchor Township after it's formation in 1877. He was also Justice of the Peace for eleven years and a member of the Christian Church. He died in 1894 when his younger children were small. They and their small children are buried in the Anchor (Prairie Chapel) Cemetery.

Eliza Tanner married O. T. Larson, April 4, 1882 and four of their five children were born in the Anchor area. Their daughter, Flo, was born in Iowa during their short stay there.

James Tanner lived in Cropsey Township for a time but moved with his family to Waverly, Iowa.

Lucy Tanner married Charley Hudson and lived in Saybrook, Ill. most of their lives before locating in Wellington, Kansas. They had no family.

Mary Tanner married Noah Ward and lived in Colfax, Ill. after spending several years on a farm in the area. They had one daughter.

Dora Tanner married William Wells and lived east of Anchor on a farm for many years before moving to Hicksville, Ohio. They had five children.

William Walter (Pete) Tanner and his wife Cora lived in Anchor. They had no family. Pete was the rural mail carrier for many years. Many Anchor residents remember buying milk from the Tanners for he had cows even though he lived in town.

Louis Tanner married Minnie Spawr and they lived on farms near Anchor until he retired from farming. Many remember Louis for his horseshoe pitching. He attended many tournaments and became champion of the state. They had two daughters, Pauline and Dorothy. Mrs. Pauline Tanner Weeks lives in Anchor and is the only member of this pioneer family now living in the local area. Her sister is deceased."

That's about it for now. Look forward to hearing from you!

Linda