ZERA LUTHER TANNER
TANNER, ZERA LUTHER, farmer's boy, 1841-52; machinist, 1852-55; a seaman and officer in the merchant marine, 1855-62, an officer in the United States volunteer navy, 1862-68; an officer in the United States navy through all the grades to commander, 1868-97; commander Pacific mail steamers, 1874-78; engaged in scientific deep sea explorations, 1879-94; special duty 1895-98; was born in Warsaw, Wyoming county, New York, December 5, 1835. His father, Zera Tanner (1810-36) was a farmer and died in 1836, and his mother, Ruth Emeline Tanner was a daughter of Luther and Ruth (Hedges) Foster. His first known ancestor in America was his great great-grandfather, Thomas Tanner, Sr., (1705-50) who came to Rhode Island about 1705-10, and had four children. His great grandfather, Thomas Tanner, Jr. (1743-1817) was the father of seven children, and served in the French and Indian and in the Revolutionary wars. His grandfather, Zera Tanner (1770-1837) married Jennette McWhorter. His father died before he was one year old, and his mother was left with an only child, with but slender means, and was obliged to seek work wherever she could obtain it. He found shelter with his mother's relations, and was brought up a farmer's boy and allowed to attend the primitive district school in the winter season. He found work in a machine shop, 1852-55, his special taste and interest in boyhood and youth being for mechancis. He went to England in 1855, in connection with a mechanical device which he wished to introduce there; and also for the benefit of his health. As his health did not improve, he made a sea voyage from Liverpool to Bombay, India, and return, as a sailor. This occupied one year and he accepted the position of third officer and repeated the trip. On returning to Liverpool in 1859, he joined the American ship Bridgewater, as boatswain, and sailed for New York, where he shipped as second officer of the clipper ship Game Cock bound for the East Indies. He returned to the United States as second officer of the King Fisher by way of Yokohama to San Francisco, in 1861, was promoted to first officer and proceeded to Boston
