Multnomah-Yamhill County OR Archives Biographies.....Tanner, Albert H. September 9, 1855 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com June 20, 2007, 8:40 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     ALBERT H. TANNER.  For information concerning the career of Albert H. 
Tanner we are indebted to Fred Lockley, the author of the following article, 
published in the Oregon Journal:
     “Said an old-time Portlander to me recently, ‘Go and see Al; he can give 
you a good story.’ ‘Who is Al?’ I inquired. ‘Why, Albert Tanner,’ he 
responded. ‘Do you mean Judge A. H. Tanner?’ I asked. ‘Sure, that’s what I’ve 
been telling you all the time,’ he said. I dropped in to see Judge Tanner, but 
he happened to be busy, so he could spare only five minutes at the time, but 
in the five minutes I found out a good deal about his boyhood.
     “‘I was born September 9, 1855, in Clarke county, Washington territory,’ 
said the Judge. ‘Our place was not far from Washougal. My father, Benjamin 
Franklin Tanner, was born in Kentucky and was of Welsh descent. He was a 
farmer, carpenter and good mechanic. He came across the plains to Oregon in 
1852. My mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Turner, was of Scotch lineage. 
She crossed the plains in 1851. I was the oldest of their three children. They 
christened me Albert Hawes Tanner. Father was very fond of Richard Hawes of 
Kentucky, so he named me for him. During the Civil war Hawes was governor for 
a short time in the state government that the Confederates set up under 
protection of their armies.
     “‘We moved to Yamhill county in 1859 and I attended the district school 
at Sheridan. While we lived there father followed the trade of a carpenter and 
also worked as a bridge builder. In 1871 I went to Monmouth, Oregon, to attend 
Christian College, of which T. F. Campbell was then president. I graduated in 
1874. Among my classmates were Sol Stump and Jerome Knox, now deceased; T. J. 
Graves, who lives in Polk county, Oregon; and Hannibal Cole, a resident of 
Spokane, Washington. After graduating I taught school for a couple of years 
and while teaching I dug away at Blackstone. I came to Portland and read law 
with Dolph, Bronaugh, Dolph & Simon. I was admitted to the bar in 1879.’” Mr. 
Tanner has since practiced in this city and his business in the courts has 
constantly increased in volume as well as in importance. Throughout his 
professional career he has been a diligent student of those elementary 
principles which constitute the basis of all legal science and this knowledge 
has served him well in forensic combat. In 1882 he took his seat in the state 
legislature, in which he represented Multnomah county, and in 1884 became city 
attorney of Portland. He served until 1887, establishing an enviable 
reputation as a public prosecutor, and later was elected municipal judge, 
serving for two years. At all times he followed the course dictated by 
conscience, honor and good judgment and made a highly creditable record in 
every office to which he was called.
     Judge Tanner was married November 25, 1880, to Miss Marcella Kelly, by 
whom he has three children: Albert H. Jr., who is engaged in the automobile 
business and resides in Portland, is married and has one child; Henrietta 
Elizabeth is the wife of R. C. Putnam, of Portland, and they have become the 
parents of a son; John M. is devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits 
and owns one of the productive farms of Washington county, Oregon. 
     Judge Tanner is an adherent of the republican party and manifests a keen 
interest in movements for Portland’s growth and betterment. He belongs to the 
State Bar Association and is a Scottish Rite Mason. Experience and study have 
enhanced his ability and his professional colleagues and the general public 
unite in bearing testimony to his fine qualities of mind and heart.


Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 369-370

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