My Genealogy Hound

Hon. A. D. Tanner, of the firm of Tanner Bros., merchants and planters, of Pulaski Township, Lonoke County, was born in Mississippi, Marshall County, on May 17, 1848, as the son of Rev. James Tanner, a native of Virginia. Upon leaving there, when a young man, he married Lucy Thornton, also a Virginian by birth, born in Pittsylvania County. Mr. Tanner was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for nearly sixty years. He followed farming a while in Tennessee, but, about 1846, moved to Marshall County, Miss., which was his home for five years, or until his location in Prairie County, Ark., in 1852. Here he began to farm. When the lines were changed by county surveys, he became a resident of Lonoke County, and here lived until his death, September 8, 1888, he being at that time eighty-two years old. His wife survived him about three weeks, dying at the age of seventy-five years. Of their family, four sons and five daughters grew to maturity, all except one daughter being alive at this writing. The brothers live in this county. The subject of this sketch, the third son, received a good English education in this county after arriving at mature years, later engaging in teaching in Lonoke and Polk Counties, which he followed for a number of years. He and his brother then formed a partnership and bought land where Mr. Tanner now lives, though little was then in a state of cultivation. The brothers have now opened up about 600 acres, all of which is in good condition for crops. They are at present engaged in developing some 600 acres more, and have good residences, stock, buildings, new gin, engine and machinery. In this home tract there are 1,640 acres of bottom land, and in Lonoke Township they own about 200 acres, mostly under cultivation. They also own some wild land in Arkansas County. Commencing without means, the brothers have been very successful, being now foremost among the substantial men of the county. A. D. Tanner was married in this county, January 17, 1882, to Maggie L. Hays, of Tennessee origin, though reared in Arkansas, the daughter of Henry Hays of this county. A family of three children blessed their union: Floyd A., Maud and a girl baby. Mr. Tanner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife has linked her faith with the Presbyterian denomination. He is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, having served that body as president. He was elected to represent Lonoke County in the State legislature in 1881, being re-elected at the expiration of his term, and filled the office with credit to himself and to the honor of the county. He has occupied various positions in the church, and is on the board of churches at Cabot. He is also a member of the board at Lonoke, and of the board of Lonoke tannery at Austin.