Maurice Tanner's genealogical study of the descendants of John Tanner provides an in-depth look at one family's history in America. Tanner's research is meticulous, covering multiple generations and thoroughly documenting his findings. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in tracing their family history or exploring the social and cultural history of the United States. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

John Tanner was born in 1778 at Hopkinton, Rhode Island, the son of Joshua and Thankful Tefft Tanner. His family migrated to Greenwich, New York, in 1791. He married Tabitha Bently (1780-1801), ca. 1800. They had one son born at Greenwich in 1801. He married 2) Lydia Stewart (1773-1825) at Greenwich in 1801. They had twelve children, 1802-1825, born at Greenwich and Bolton, New York. He married 3) Elizabeth Beswick (1803-1890) at Bolton, New York. They had eight children, 1826-1843, born at Bolton, Kirtland, Ohio, and in Lee County, Iowa. Seven of his children died as infants or children. He and his wife joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1832 and migrated west with the Mormon pioneer; first to Kirkland, Ohio, then to Far West, Missouri; Liberty, Illinois; Montrose, Iowa; Winter Quarters, Nebraska, and finally to Utah in 1848. Four of his children remained in the east. He died in the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Descendants lived in Utah, California, Arizona, Canada, and elsewhere.

This book is an autobiographical account of John Tanner, portraying his life and adventures during his thirty years of servitude among the Ojibwa. The account is divided into two major sections. Part I is mostly about his childhood and assimilation into the Ojibwa clan, his travels and experiences as a fur trader, and his unsuccessful return to white society. Part II of this document contains some limited ethnographic data on the Ojibwa, primarily focusing on the list of plants, animals, totems, and the texts of various songs of the Ojibwas used in medicine and hunting.