Twin Falls County ID Archives Biographies.....Tanner, James Whitmer 1858 - 1918
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 12, 2012, 1:32 am

Source: See below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

    JAMES WHITMER TANNER, now deceased, was a man of much influence in Twin
Falls county. He was engaged in newspaper publication at Filer and was a
prominent figure in political circles in that section of the state. His birth
occurred at Nevada, Iowa, December 29, 1858, his father being Joseph Tanner. His
boyhood days were passed at the place of his nativity and his education was
acquired in the public schools there. He afterward took up the printer's trade,
which he followed in Iowa until 1880 and then removed to St. Joseph, Missouri,
where he worked on the St. Joseph Gazette. Later he went to Atchison, Kansas,
where he spent five years as foreman of the Atchison Patriot. In 1885 he became
a resident of Omaha and secured a position on the Omaha World. Subsequently he
edited the Fullerton Post, published at Fullerton, Nance county, Nebraska,
remaining in charge of that paper for twenty-eight years. His various newspaper
connections made him widely known in journalistic circles and he exercised
considerable influence over public thought and opinion in the different states
in which he lived. He was a clear and trenchant writer, bringing vividly to the
minds of his readers the points which he wished to emphasize, and his writings
were often most logical and forceful. In 1899 he was elected to the Nebraska
legislature and made so acceptable a record during his first term's service that
he was reelected and became connected with much constructive legislation passed
during the two terms of his connection with the general assembly of that state. 

    On the 4th of March, 1910, Mr. Tanner came to Idaho, settling at Filer,
where he began the publication of the Filer Journal. He soon made for himself a
creditable place as a representative of journalism in the northwest, nor did he
confine his efforts alone to this line. He was the owner of considerable
valuable real estate, building a brick block and also the Gem theatre of Filer,
together with a number of houses. 

    In 1885 Mr. Tanner was united in marriage to Miss Millie Grace Cook, a
native of Afton, Iowa, and a daughter of Noah R. and Lavina (Hosea) Cook. Her
father was a lawyer of Iowa who on leaving that state removed to Missouri, where
he engaged in the practice of his chosen profession until his death. The mother
long survived and passed away in 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Tanner reared an adopted
son, Theodore L., who with his mother now occupies a beautiful home in Filer.
The death of Mr. Tanner occurred on the nth of February, 1918, when he had
reached the age of fifty-nine years. He was a democrat in his political views.
While residing in Nebraska, Mr. Tanner had filled the office of mayor of his
town as well as that of legislator and he also held several local offices in
Idaho. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, the Benevolent Protective Order of
Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias and the Tribe of Ben
Hur and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian
church. He was a progressive business man, a loyal citizen, a faithful friend
and a devoted husband and father, and his many sterling traits of character
endeared him to all who knew him and have caused his memory to be enshrined in
the hearts of those who were his close associates. He always held to high ideals
and he not only left to his family a very comfortable competence but also the
priceless heritage of an untarnished name. 


Additional Comments:

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IDAHO
DELUXE SUPPLEMENT
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY

1920

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