Ready for the journey

Typical Covered Wagon and Log Cabin

On January 25, 1877 Henry Martin Tanner and Eliza Ellen Parkinson were married in the St. George Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Henry was 24 years old and Eliza was 19. At the time of their marriage, Henry had already been called to settle in Arizona. They spent the next month preparing their wagons and obtaining provisions for the trip. Neither of them was a stranger to wagon travel. They owned a fine pair of mares called Mag and Puss. They were a spirited pair of horses and Puss would dance to music. Henry also had another span of horses and saddle horse, for a total of five horses in all.

Eliza's father, Thomas Parkinson, gave her a milk cow named Red. They also had other cattle for the trip.

Quoting from George S. Tanner's biography of Henry Martin Tanner:

In preparation for their departure, Sydney Tanner gave a reception and farewell, for the young couple in the upstairs of his ample home. In addition to the friends in Beaver who attended were the members of the Hunt family who were also going to Arizona. For the past year the Hunts had been living on Cove Creek two and a half miles from Joseph City, Sevier County, Utah. The Hunts had eight children, the oldest of whom was but one year younger than Eliza Tanner. They had three wagons of their own, one drawn by two yoke of oxen, one by two span of horses and a light wagon with one span of horses. The oxen were driven by a young man anxious for a bit of adventure by the name if Isadore Wilson. He was a neighbor of the Hunts. John Hunt drove the fair horse team and two of the girls, drove the light wagon. Also in the Hunt company was a four mule team owned by Manasseh Blackburn, also anxious for the adventure of the trip. His wagon carried mostly heavy supplies belonging 10 the Hunts.

Before leaving Beaver, Thomas Parkinson had mixed a large quantity of flour with soda and probably cream, at tartar so that all that was necessary in making bread was to add salt and water. The company left Beaver February 21, 1877, accompanied by Father Sidney Tanner who went one day's journey with them and hauled feed for their animals. Enroute to St. George, Henry and Eliza went by way of Toquerville for a few day's visit with relatives. Emma Ellen Stapley, cousin of Eliza, was at that time a girl of fifteen. Perhaps she little dreamed that ten years later she would be going to Arizona too. She undoubtedly met the Tanner couple on this visit. At St. George, Sam Porter, half brother of Eliza, joined a party of well wishers who accompanied them a mile and a half from the city to bid them God's speed.

Next, the journey to Northern Arizona