|
a.
|
Note: From the February 22, 2014 Times News (Summit Hill, PA) NATHAN TANNER was born in Summit Hill on June 6, 1848, to William and Elizabeth (McDermott) Tanner. He was christened in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Lansford. Tanner mustered into the 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry/163rd Regiment, Company M, at age 18 on April 7, 1865. He was described as being 5' 5" tall, having a florid complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair, and worked as a laborer. Nathan transferred to the 3rd Regiment Provisional Cavalry, Company D, on July 14, 1865, and mustered out of that Company on October 31, 1865. He served as a bugler in both units. He married Eleanor Bynon on January 19, 1875, in the First Baptist Church, Summit Hill, and parented three children. Tanner was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt and subsequently by President William Howard Taft to serve as Postmaster of Lansford. He was very active in the life of his community in that he held a seat on the Lansford Council in 1882 and sat on the Lansford School Board in 1883. In 1893 Tanner was nominated to run for Commissioner of Carbon County under the Republican banner, and in 1894 he was Secretary of Lansford Board of Health. In later years, he worked in the Dime Bank of Lansford. He also went on to become the Commander of the Eli T. Connor GAR. Post 177. In that capacity he wrote a strongly worded letter protesting the Civil War Monument which now stands in Summit Hill. This monument was originally chosen by the GAR and was to include a list of all the Civil War veterans who lost their lives in the war who were from the area. Due to economic hardships, the project was put on hold for years and when it resurfaced, the town decided to scale back the monument and not include any names on it as a cost-cutting measure. As a result, the GAR protested and refused to take part in the dedication ceremony. Nathan, who was widowed in 1914, died on December 2, 1928, in the home of a son in Philadelphia. The Role of the bugler in the Civil War was: 1. Amplify the voice of command of his Commanding Officer or Adjutant. 2. Relay calls from other buglers, recognize and interpret other bugler's calls (friend or foe!). 3. Serve as the camp clock. The men and livestock began to run their lives by the bugle. 4. Build morale and esprit de corps. Ceremonial Calls, Parades, Marches, Quicksteps, Funerals, Visitors, and Important Occasions are all marked by bugle calls. Nathan Tanner was born on June 6 in either 1848 or 1846 in Summit Hill, PA (Carbon County). His tombstone and death certificate state 1848 as the year of his birth but census records (which are consistent every 10 years) indicate that he was born in 1846 as does his civil war record so I suspect the earlier date is correct. He spent almost his entire life in Summit Hill and neighboring Lansford, PA. His last days were spent in Philadelphia living with his son where he died on December 2, 1928. He was in Co. M of the 18th Pa Cav during the Civil War which is confirmed by the "History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865" but did not join until April 7, 1865 when he transferred in from D Co. 3rd Pro Cav Reg. He was the bugler for the unit which is known from family history and which is also confirmed by an entry in "History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865" and from his Registration Card on file with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to that card, he was 18 when he enrolled in the Union Army in Pottsville, PA. He was 5 feet 5 inches tall with a "florid" complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He listed his occupation as "laborer". He transferred to Company D of the 3rd Provisional Cavalry on July 14, 1865. In 1877 he went to the Black Hills in search of gold, but later returned to Lansford. He was on the town council and served on the school board. Nathan Tanner was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt and subsequently by President William Howard Taft to serve as Postmaster General of Lansford and we have the official appointments from each president. He also served as Commissioner's Clerk in Mauch Chunk. He also went on to become the Commander of the Eli T. Connor G.A.R. Post 177. In that capacity he wrote a strongly worded letter (which remains in the family) around 1914 protesting the Civil War monument which now stands in Summit Hill. This monument was originally chosen by the GAR and was to include a list of all the Civil War veterans who lost their lives in the war who were from the area. Due to economic hardships the project was put on hold for years and when it resurfaced, the town decided to scale back the monument and not include any names on it as a cost cutting measure. As a result, the GAR protested and refused to take part in the dedication ceremony. ----- Original Message ----- From: Lee Mantz <mailto:summithiller@yahoo.com> To: ntanner@comcast.net <mailto:ntanner@comcast.net> Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 6:02 PM Subject: More Hello, We at the historical society took over the GAR cemetery last year. In doing so we had all the orginal minutes and Carol Miller was going thogh the books and found a paper from Nathan Tanner. She remembered the name after I brought up all the information you sent at the meeting last month. Below is her email and what the letter said. From Carol: I was cleaning up some paperwork and found this sheet of paper, with the narrative on it. I think it was in a moment of reverie , that he wrote it. It was on a sheet of Conner Post stationary and it was kind of disjointed. The paper is falling apart and I thought I had better transcribe it, before it disappears. He seems like a man that wanted to know that his "boys" had done their best on the cemetery and was proud that they had accomplished what they did, in the time that he reflected upon. It is priceless, the information that is on there; beginning with the fact that they had the land and were clearing it, before the purchase of the acreage from LCN. I am not sure, who owned the original land, as that was not mentioned anywhere. The letter: “Just one word about our revenue or dividend-true to day we have good Dividend-on closing of 9th year of Confederation+30 year of cemetery-said ground was bought and payed in 3 installment.last payment made May 1876. Let us go back to days of 1875. When first-payment made our beautiful Cemetery was then wilderness. Boys started to clear ground= brushed twice…& again. Enclosed with wooden or wire fence. We started to sell lots. Conner Post envisted all cash they had & raised….by camp Fires to clear cemetery Post made 5 donation-from 1879 to 1889 amt $901.49 Iron Fence compleat cost $1500.96 Improvement on Ave. & walks $530.54 Paid Tim Dugan ….. $300.00 And others….paid (Mr Rudder& Heister stake cemetery made set map and a set for care work) Aug 29, 1879 Mr Walk sued Association for $30.00 plowing=Squire Harris said that we could settle for $25--bill paid. In time of Association always in debt borrow from one to pay another Dec 10, 1881 we offered to sell west end-for price of lots nov 81 reduced from 12c per foot to 8 c .8 per foot to 5 c for short time. $500 or East end $600-no takers- later tide turned in favor boys=after 22 years hard work. When incorporated……. We had cash balance $414.84 which was transferred to corporation-paid In dividend 1900-$132 1-00 2. 254 3-396 4. 528 5. 528 6- 660 7- 1320 132) 3828.00 ( $29.00 to each share in eight years 132 660 132( 5808.00) $44.00 to each share in 9 yrs 9(44.00 ($4.88 on av. each share payee For 22 yr Association time not one cent for dividend= all for expense Nathan Tanner, Summit Hill 1900 E. T Conner Post No. 177 G. A. R. Meeting Every Second and Fourth Saturday Evenings ------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit http://www.summit-hill.com Look for the book October 26th!! GAR Cemetery, Summit Hill, PA.
|
