William Lewis Tanner - After the war

William Lewis Tanner – After the war

William Lewis Tanner

After the war was over, William returned home to New Haven and when he was physically able he worked in his father’s tin shop for about a year.  At this time the west was expanding and he felt he might have better business opportunities out there, so he packed up and headed to Minneapolis in 1866.  Having learned tin working skills from his father, he worked in a cooper shop.  Coopers are also known as barrel makers. They made cask which would hold flour, gunpowder, wine, milk and other commodities that needed to be shipped or stored. After living in Minneapolis, his father Lewis died on December 5, 1867 so he returned home to New Haven, Connecticut for about a year and a half.  While living there he learned how to paint houses and in the spring of 1869 he returned Minneapolis.  He spent the next two years decorating and painting houses with a company until 1873, when he purchased his employers business and owned his own house painting business until his death.  William painted both the interior and exterior of houses and was able to grow his business every year, making his family very comfortable.  He was then able to invest in some rental properties and brought in a comfortable income with his investments.

Helen Clarissa Finch

 While living in Minneapolis he met Helen Clarissa Finch, daughter of William Finch and Angeline Kelsey.  She was born in Ponsinkill, New York on October 29, 1949.  Her father was a farmer and they lived for awhile in Sands Lake, New York until her parents moved them to Minnesota.  They were married on September 9, 1869, in Richfield County of Hennepin, Minnesota.

Marriage Certificate of William Lewis Tanner & Helen Clarissa Finch

Helen’s parents moved onto California 1876 yet William and Helen decided to stay in Minneapolis.  About 1870 William built a home at 1425 5^th Avenue South in Minneapolis.  On April 4, 1871 their first son, Harry Lewis was born. 

Harry Lewis Tanner

Harry Lewis Tanner

Wallace North joined the family on August 19, 1873.

Wallace North Tanner

 He was followed by a daughter, Mable Hattie born April 22, 1876.  Mable only lived until the young age of three, when she died of typhoid fever in 1879.

Mable Hattie Tanner

Another daughter Alice May was born on May 1, 1879.

Alice May Tanner

Alice May Tanner

Alice, Harry & Wallace Tanner

Then a son, William Roy was born August 4, 1882.

William Roy Tanner

Daughter, Helen Edith was born September 6, 1887.

Helen Edith Tanner

Finally Ruth Marian on August 5, 1891. I am not sure why I don't have a picture of Ruth as a baby, but I will relook over all my files.

Copy of Tanner Family Bible given to me by Diana Thompson

Picture provided by Diana Thompson

 On the 1880 census her sister Frances Finch is listed as living with them.  She is listed as single, unemployed and a dressmaker who is either maimed, crippled, bedridden or otherwise disabled.  According to Diana Thompson, she had a club foot. Diana has a beautiful quilt made by Frances that I will add to another post later.

William was a lifelong republican in his political views and also was a Mason, loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft.  He also proudly wore the little bronze button that signaled him a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.  

Civil War medals I think are actually William's brother Norman, but William would have had similar.  The medal to the farthest right is for Infantry so I know it is Norman's and they came down through Van Buren Lamb who lived with Norman for a time.  Hopefully one of William's other descendants have his.

Helen & William Tanner (picture from Diana Thompson)

I love this picture of Helen and Will relaxing on the porch.  They look so happy. 

On August 4, 1884, William’s mother, Sarah Dibble Perkins, passed away. A few years later, on November 1, 1892 he signed a quit claim deed giving his portion of his parents home to his younger sister, Ida Lewis for the amount of $1. 

Front row seated: Helen Clarissa Finch Tanner and William Lewis Tanner. Standing: (left to right): Alice Tanner Wilson, Wallace Tanner, Ruth Tanner Ensign, and Helen Edith Tanner Barnard. (picture from Diana Thompson)

On December 4, 1899 his son Harry died at the age of 28 in Manhattan, New York.  It is said he died of pneumonia, but I don't have documentation yet of that. 

William Lewis Tanner

On December 9, 1918, at the age of 74 years old, William died of hemiplegia, which he suffered three paralysis attacks within two years. Hemiplegia is the total or partial paralysis of one side of the body. Also contributing to his death was pneumonia and a coma. 

William's Death Certificate

  He was buried in Richfield Cemetery on December 11, 1918.  In his will he first leaves the sum of $500 to his widowed sister Mary and then leaves rest to his wife, which is the rental properties and quite a bit of money for the time. 

[*Stories of William were found in “History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; Chicago-Minneapolis, The SJ Clark Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I-Shutter (Historical); Volume II – Biographical; Volume III Biographical,  Vol III, pg 90-93.

*All originals of pictures of William and family members are in my possession (or my mom’s) unless otherwise stated.

*All children are listed in his application for pension certificate #866.736 in the National Archives. I have a copy in my possession and from the copy of the birth page of the Tanner bible I received from Diana Thompson. The original is in another family member's possession.]