Skip to main content

Tanner, George S.

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1917 - 2006

Biographical History

George S. Tanner (1917-2006) was a construction manager and historian in California and Arizona.

George Stephen Tanner was born on September 18, 1917 in Saint Joseph, Arizona to Rollin C. Tanner and Anna Louise Harbrecht. He spent his early year in Arizona before his family moved to California around 1928. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served a mission from 1937 to 1939. In 1942 he married Louis Leetham, and they had five children.

In 1943 he joined the Army, and served in the Pacific Theater. After the war he joined his father and brothers to establish Tanner Brothers Construction, later known as Tanner Companies. He worked with the company until 1987.

Tanner was an active member of the Church and served in various leadership roles, as well as a temple worker. He also researched and wrote about the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arizona.

Tanner died on October 4, 2005 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Citation:
His Colonization on the Little Colorado, c1977.

Ancestry.com, via WWW, July 10, 2014 (George S. Tanner; George Stephen Tanner; George Steven Tanner; George Stephens Tanner; Steve Tanner; b. Sept. 18, 1917 in Saint Joseph, Ariz.; parents: Rollin C. Tanner and Anna Louise Harbrecht; m. June 30, 1942 to Lois Leetham, five children; raised in Ariz. until age 11, moved to Calif.; worked family chicken ranch as child; served mission for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 20 for 2 years; joined Army in 1943, served in South Pacific; est. Tanner Brothers Contracting Company, later Tanner Companies, with father and brothers; worked for company until 1987; served in church in leadership roles, temple worker; d. Oct. 4, 2006 in Phoenix, Ariz.)

Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:

Arizona historian tells of early 'Mormon' settlement in that section : gives high praise to pioneers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230305572]
Identifier: MSS SC 804
Scope and Contents

Partial transcript of a speech given by McClintock at an LDS stake conference in Phoeniz, Arizona, February 6, [1920]. Reviews the role of the Mormon pioneers in settling Arizona and their accomplishments.

Dates: approximately 1920

Transcription of the Averett Family ledger book

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231046316]
Identifier: MSS 1303
Scope and Contents

Narrative of the history of members of the Averett family, including conversion, activities in Far West and Nauvoo, emigration westward, and settlement and activities in Utah Territory. The transcription was entrusted to P.T. Reilly.

Dates: 1972

A brief sketch of the pioneer life of Lois A. Smith Bushman

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230305432]
Identifier: MSS SC 792
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of typescript. Although intended to be a biographical sketch of Lois Bushman, manuscript includes a great deal of information about her husband, John, and the author as well. Covers the conversion of Lois's family to the Mormon Church in 1844; their trek across the plains to Utah; their subsequent move to establish Mormon settlements in eastern Arizona in 1876; and life on the Utah and Arizona frontier.

Dates: 1937

History of Robert Gardner, Jr. / written by himself at St. George, Utah

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230305424]
Identifier: MSS SC 793
Scope and Contents Photocopy of typescript. Detailed account of frontier life in Canada; his family's conversion to Mormonism in the early 1840s; a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois, in June 1845; the trip across the plains to Utah in 1847; and life in pioneer Utah.Also includes account of the author's mission to Canada (1857-1858) and his subsequent recall because of the Utah War, along with his family's move to settle St. George, Utah. Ends with text of Gardner's patriarchal blessing, genealogical...
Dates: 1884

Joseph City : on the Little Colorado

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 1094
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a typed draft of a book by George Shepard Tanner and Joseph Morris Richards. The work in a revised form was published in 1977 under the title: "Colonization on the Little Colorado: the Joseph City Region." The book is about Mormon settlement and colonization in the Little Colorado area of Northern Arizona.

Dates: 1972

James W. LeSueur histories

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230305606]
Identifier: MSS SC 801
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of typescripts made by E.M. Reilley from the James W. LeSueur papers, Arizona Pioneer Historical Society Library.



Dates: 1939

Henry Martin Tanner letters

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230305101]
Identifier: MSS SC 765
Scope and Contents

Two handwritten letters to Ammon Tenney describing the condition of the crops that season, availability of water, and the general health of the community of Joseph City. Tanner also offers Tenney words of consolation and comfort as Tenney is passing through a period of great difficulty in his life.

Dates: 1885

Ammon M. Tenney papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230305614]
Identifier: MSS SC 800
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of typescript. Includes a number of letters written to Tenney by such people as Brigham Young (1801-1877), Wilford Woodruff (1807-1898), and John W. Young (1844-1924) concerning the purchase of land at St. Johns, Arizona, for Mormon settlement, missionary work among the Indians, and obtaining work for Mormon settlers by bidding on raliroad contracts. Some of Tenney's replies are also included. Folder also includes typescript copy of Tenney's journal for 1875-1876.

Dates: 1874-1889

Filtered By

  • Subject: Immigration and American Expansion X

Additional filters:

Subject
Pioneers 6
Arizona -- History -- To 1912 3
Latter Day Saints -- Arizona -- History 3
Latter Day Saints -- Colonization -- Arizona -- History 3
Autobiographies 2