1415 Knight

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ABOUT THE HOME
RATES
HISTORY OF THE HOME
SLIDESHOW

ABOUT THE HOME
The historic, 150 year-old Tanner House is located right in the heart of Nauvoo at 1415 Knight Street (see a map), just two tree-lined blocks from the temple, and even has limestone from the original temple in its foundation! It has been remodeled to provide modern comfort and conveniences, yet still retains its historic charm on nearly a half acre corner lot. For your comfort, the home features central heating and air conditioning and almost every room has a ceiling fan with light fixture. The home has an old-fashioned parlor for family fun and visiting while on vacation. On the writing desk in the parlor is a telephone and answering machine for your use. The home also includes a small library containing books on early LDS history, especially Nauvoo, and is decorated with both historical and modern prints of Nauvoo, the Temple, and Joseph Smith.

There are tall, double sliding doors that separate the parlor from the family room. Both the parlor and family room have hardwood floors and high ceilings with fans. The family room is the center of activity including comfortable seating with a sofa and love seat, and an entertainment system with cable TV/VCR and CD player for your enjoyment. A video rental store is only one block away for convenience in selecting more entertainment for your family.

Adjacent to the family room is the modernized kitchen which still retains its historic charm with a view of the old water pump on the porch from the oak dining table. The kitchen includes a full-size refrigerator, stove and oven, microwave, and most of the kitchen utensils and equipment needed to cook meals, if you so desire. The grocery store is only one block away, and carries most of the items you will need. There are just a handful of eating places available in Nauvoo, so having a kitchen will not only save you the cost of eating out, but provides the conveniences of snacks whenever you like!

There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms on the main floor. Each bedroom has a queen size bed, and with the hall had new plush carpeting installed recently. In addition, there is a finished attic bedroom with twin beds and new berber carpeting. With queen size sofa beds in the family room and parlor, this home will comfortably sleep ten. One bathroom was remodeled in 2001 with new fixtures, new vanity, and new flooring, and includes a shower and tub. Adjacent to the parlor is a new large bathroom with an oak vanity and lighting fixture, as well as a separate toilet and shower area. Bath, bedroom and kitchen linens are provided for you. A washer and dryer are also available for your use.

The tree-lined neighborhood is typical of the mid-west. The half-acre yard provides plenty of room for a bar-b-que, or for kids to play! Just across the street is the Nauvoo Grammar School with a large playground and basketball hoops to shoot baskets. Stroll the neighborhood to see the historic homes and gardens. Most yards in Nauvoo are not fenced, and it is very open. The home is only a half block from the post office, and a block from the main street, Mulholland, where you can explore the shops, including antique stores, book stores, gift shops, and more! The gas station, grocery store, ice cream parlor, bakery, and restaurants are within walking distance of the home. Because of zoning in Nauvoo, this home is only available for monthly rental. Monthly rental is negotiable depending on furnishings required and length of lease.

This is an aerial view of the temple and Knight Street. Click on the picture to see a larger image.

RATES
Negotiable depending on length of lease, and furnished or unfurnished.

HISTORY OF THE HOME

"Among the city councilmen of Nauvoo was a sympathetic non-Mormon, Daniel H. Wells, who had, as a landowner in Commerce, Illinois, divided eighty acres of his property into lots which he sold to the homeless [Mormon] refugees from Missouri at low prices and with easy terms. "Squire Wells," as he was called, was active in public affairs in Nauvoo for years before joining the Church. When his friends Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred, this good man's sense of justice was outraged. Two years later, in 1846, Squire Wells' anger was kindled again when lawless mobs in direct violation of a pact fired upon the Saints who remained in Nauvoo. At this time he decided to ally himself with what he felt to be right and joined the Church, being baptized August 9, 1846. His wife opposed this decision so firmly that she refused to leave Nauvoo with him, and there he bade her and his only child a final farewell.

When the Saints were driven from Nauvoo, Squire Wells made a strenuous buggy ride to get wagons for the last six hundred of them who had left the city under fire and were stranded on the Iowa side of the Mississippi. The cannons of the enemy fired at him as he fled. Reaching the [Salt Lake] valley in 1848, he continued to play a prominent part in public life, serving as lieutenant general of the militia, mayor of Salt Lake City for ten years, and a territorial legislator for many terms. In 1857 President Brigham Young chose Elder Wells as his second counselor and ordained him an apostle." (Flake, Lawrence R., Mighty Men of Zion, 1974, pages 127-128). After the death of Brigham Young on August 29, 1877, Wells served as a Counselor to the Twelve Apostles until his death on March 24, 1891.

Wells sold lot 3 in block 12 (corner of Knight and Barnett Streets) of the Wells Addition to Catharine C. Woods of Burlington, Iowa on May 13, 1847 for $100. It is interesting to note that the deed indicates that Wells and his wife, Eliza R. Wells, were also of Burlington, Iowa.

James W. Woods and Catharine C. Woods, still of Des Moines County, Iowa, sold the "tract of land" to Martin Huber of Hancock County, Illinois for $70 on August 1, 1849.

On April 10, 1850, Martin and Christina Huber of Hancock County sold the "parcel of land" to John Tanner of Hancock County, Illinois for $70. On April 14, 1852, Tanner mortgaged the property to Francis Wilfry for $50. The record book indicates that mortgage was fully satisfied and recorded on October 7, 1856 by the administrator for Wilfry, deceased.

A search of the FamilySearch International Genealogical Index notes that John Tanner was born January 1, 1826 in Bargen, Schaffhausen, Switzerland. He married Elizabeth Stauder, who was born in Bavaria about 1832, about 1852 in Hancock County, Illinois, possibly Nauvoo. It is very probable that the purpose of the mortgage in 1852 was for funds to build a home for he and his new bride!

The 1860 census of Nauvoo shows John Tanner, age 34, of Switzerland, a wagon maker with a real estate value of $800 and personal estate at $100. Elizabeth Tanner, age 28, was born in Bavaria. Also listed in the residence was John F. Tanner, male, age 2, born in Illinois, and George Tanner, male, age 1, also born in Illinois. The International Genealogical Index also records that a daughter, Sophia Katherine Tanner was born in Nauvoo on January 22, 1864. It is from Sophia that we learn more about John and Elizabeth Tanner who built the house in the Wells Addition, block 12, lot 3, commonly known as 1415 Knight Street, Nauvoo, Illinois.

Sophia's story is recorded by Ida Blum, Nauvoo historian, on pages 136 and 137 of her book "Nauvoo, Gateway to the West" published in 1974.

"Aunt Sophia Harsch, a familiar figure in Nauvoo for almost a century, died July 27, 1963. The passing of this good woman, beloved by all, was quite naturally a time for reminiscing, and had all the memories been bound together they would have made a volume. At 99 ½ years, she had a zest for living seldom equaled by those much younger. Our acquaintance began many years ago when, as my mother's best friend, she held me in her arms when I was christened. As a next door neighbor, her kind thoughtfulness to three motherless little girls, and her interest in them became a habit she never outgrew. However, we were no exception, for all who knew her or came to her door received sympathy and understanding. She had a special talent for loving children and flowers. Her merry, infectious laugh seemed to come straight from her heart and fascinated us always.

Aunt Sophia fondly discussed the past with me. Her parents came from the old country. Her father, a turner and wagon maker, was a native of Bern, Switzerland. He came to Nauvoo in 1846, the first of the Tanner families to locate in this area. On his arrival, Tanner found Nauvoo in a turmoil, it being the time of the Mormon evacuation. Her mother, Elizabeth Stauder, was a native of Neustadt-on-the-Rhine, Germany.

At Nauvoo, her mother became a close friend of Emma Smith, the Mormon Prophet's widow. Her parents purchased a home on Mulholland Street, also the small brick building west of it. Tanner and his Swiss neighbor, Lucius Hemmy, formed a partnership, Tanner doing the wood work, and Hemmy the iron work connected with wagon making. Together they built many of the covered wagons used on the trek to Utah. All of the spokes in the wheels were carved by hand. When the iron tires were set, the women helped by carrying water for that purpose.

Aunt Sophia often said, "The Swiss had an important part in building Nauvoo. They are good people. I'm proud that I have Swiss blood in my veins."

Tanner and Hemmy were among those who witnessed a city of 15,000 quickly dwindle to a town of 1200 in population."

Another comment about John Tanner is found on page 119 of the same book. "John Tanner also pioneered in the grape and wine industry here. A native of Switzerland, he came to Nauvoo in 1846, and the next year set out two acres of Norton grape roots. The Norton was used mostly for medical purposes." In her 1969 book "Nauvoo, An American Heritage", Ida Blum also included "When Tanner's vines became stong, he laid down runners and so procured new plants, thus enlarging his acreage."

On August 1, 1862, John and Elizabeth Tanner sold the premises and appurtenances to John Peter Faber, of Hancock County, Illinois for $550, a large increase in value due to the home being built. We have located descendants of the Tanners and are trying to find photographs of this family that we can place in the library.

Our research into subsequent owners is continuing, but we have established that the Henry Bruegger family acquired the home from the Fabers in 1884 and then the Nehring family in about the 1930's through 1993. Descendants of the Brueggers still live within a block of the home and hopefully we can obtain further information and possibly photos in the near future. The six Nehring children that grew up in the home during the thirties, forties and fifties are still living, although their father passed away in 1993. We have also learned that their mother was a member of the Reorganized Church, as was her mother who later converted to the LDS Church. Both the mother and grandmother died in an automobile accident several years ago. We hope to be in contact with one of the sons, now in his 60's, for further information.

As we develop further history, we will add it to the web site.

John and Elizabeth Tanner

The red star indicates the location of the home.