Register entry 069 - Professor Henry Tanner
Visited the Bell Farm almost annually between 1883 and 1896 and signed the Visitor's Register on three of those. Professor Henry Tanner (1826-1897) first visited the Bell Farm during the summer of 1883, accompanied by Hugh Pollock. That year, he was touring Canada to determine for himself what the potential was for British emigrants to settle in Canada, especially from an agricultural perspective. Henry Tanner was a key associate of Major Bell in any of the Major's proposals relating the Albany Settlement and the Albany Agricultural College, neither of which fully materialized. He made at least 18 visits to Canada,and signed the Bell Farm Visitors Register on several of those occasions. Some years, he came here twice. The trip numbers are preliminary and have not yet been finalized, as trip numbers reported by the media do not fully correspond with evidence of Professor Tanner's travels. The trips identified to date include the following: Trip # 1 1883 – 12 Aug – Tanner arrives at Quebec City on the “Peruvian” from England 1883 – “Three years have elapsed since I paid my first to the district in the summer of 1883. ” (reported on p. 5 of "British Columbia: Its Agriculture, etc.", by Prof. Henry Tanner, 1886) 1883 – September - first trip to the Bell Farm -1st visit (Ref: 10 July, 1884, "Brandon Sun", p. 6 – originally published in "Carnarvon Herald") 1883 – September – Tanner reports in book that he visited the Farm in Sept, 1883 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 2 1884 - 10 July – "Brandon Sun", p. 6 – originally published in "Carnarvon Herald") 1884 – 17 Aug – Tanner arrives at Quebec City on the “Circassian” from England, with son Lloyd 1884 – August – Tanner visits and reports on Bell Farm: “Successful Immigration to Canada”, 1884, p. 5-7 1884 - between Aug. 20 and 29th – Tanner signs Bell Farm Visitors’ Register - # 69 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 3 1885-1886 - HENRY TANNER, INQUIRING ABOUT ACCOMODATION AT BELL FARM OR AT QU'APPELLE REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE – LAC reference - Not Online 21 April 1885 – 4 May 1885 - REV. HENRY TANNER, OTTAWA. OFFERING HIS PAMPHLET "SUCCESSFUL EMIGRATION" FOR $500. - LAC reference - Not Online 1885 – 17 Aug – Tanner arrives at Quebec City on the “Sarmatian” from England 1885 – between Aug. 17 and Sept. 21 – signs Bell Farm Visitors’ Register - # 187 1885 – 25 Dec – "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 2 – refers to Tanner’s visit of “last autumn” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 4 1886 – 25 March – "Qu’Appelle Vidette" – Tanner has been here for a week, the guest of Major Bell. 1886 – 2 April – "Qu’Appelle Progress" – “Professor Tanner, of London, Eng., who is now making his fourth visit to the North West, was the guest of Major Bell last Sunday.“ 1886 – 9 April - "Qu’Appelle Progress" – Tanner gone to England (in England in May-June for Colonial & Indian Exhibition) – expected back by early July to open Agricultural College ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 5 1886 – 18 May – "Regina Leader" – Tanner will arrive in latter part of June 1886 – 5 Aug – Tanner arrives at Quebec City on the “Sardinian” from London 1886 – 23 Aug – "Manitoba Daily Free Press" – Tanner in Winnipeg , en route to Albany Settlement, Indian Head & Rockies 1886 - 9 Sept – "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 6 – Tanner staying at Queen’s Hotel, Qu’Appelle ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 6 1886 – 29 July – “British Columbia, Its Agriculture, etc” – by Prof. Henry Tanner - p. 4 – “I sailed from Liverpool for my 6th Canadian tour on the 29th July, 1886.” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 7 1887 – 2 April – "Montreal Gazette", p. 5 – Tanner arrived in Montreal from England via Halifax on the “Parisian” 1887 – 14 April – "Qu’Appelle Progress" - staying at Queen’s Hotel, Qu’Appelle 1887 – __ May - "Montreal Gazette" - Tanner returned to England in May (as reported in 21 July article) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # _____ ???? 1887 – 21 July – "Montreal Gazette" - Tanner & wife go back to Canada on the “Parisian”; he gets sick en route; in Strong’s Hospital, Montreal; then on to Indian Head. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 8 1887 – 4 Aug. - "Qu’Appelle Progress" – Tanners and party arrive at Qu’Appelle 1887 – summer - late August – Henry & Mrs. Tanner sign Bell Farm Visitor’s Register - # 247 (possibly part of 7th trip) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 9 1888 – 22 March – "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 1 – Tanner expected in about a month 1888 – 16 Aug. - "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 6 – Tanner, Cpt. Dale & Capt. Morton arrived from London. 1888 – 30 Aug – "Qu’Appelle Progress" -p. 4 – Tanner & Morton return from B.C. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 10 ???? 1889 – 28 Aug. – "Ottawa Daily Citizen" – Tanner arrived yesterday from England 1889 – 13 Sept. – "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 8 – Tanner and party touring Canada 1889 – 25 Sept. - "Ottawa Daily Citizen" – Tanner returns to Winnipeg from trip to the North-West 1889 – 1 Oct. "Montreal Gazette" - The name of Prof Tanner of London Eng., appears on the Windsor Hotel Register ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 10 ???? 1890 – 11 April – "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 4 - Tanner at Qu’Appelle before returning to Winnipeg 1890 – 16 April - "The Colonies and India" – Tanner already in Canada; to meet Cracknell family, who leave England on April 17 1890 – 28 April - "Winnipeg Tribune" - Prof Tanner, London, England at the Queens Hotel, Winnipeg ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 11 1891 – 14 Aug. - "Winnipeg Tribune" – “Prof Tanner the English philanthropist(?)is making another trip to the Canadian Northwest, and arrived in the city this morning” 1891 – 24 Sept – "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 1 – Tanner just returned to Qu’Appelle from the West; visits Sunbeam Farm ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip 12 – 15th? 1892 – 10 March - "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 4 – Tanner expected shortly in Qu’Appelle 1892 – 2 April - "Manitoba Free Press" - Prof Tanner arrives from England via New York 1892 – 21 April – "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 2 – “Professor Tanner having completed his business in connection with the Brassey farm, left on Wednesday’s train for England. This makes the thirtieth passage for the Professor across the Atlantic. “ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 13 – 15th 1892 – 22 Sept. – "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 2 – Tanner arrives from England – again 1892 – 13 Oct .– "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 1 – Tanner completed 15th trip through NW, will return to England soon “The Brassey Farms. The following appeared in the "Free Press" on the 6th inst.: - Professor Tanner returned yesterday from his fifteenth trip through the Canadian North-West, and says he has never before returned with feelings of greater satisfaction and confidence for the future of the district.” 1892 – 26 Oct. – "Montreal Gazette" – Tanner gives a Satisfactory Report / 2nd (?) visit ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 14 1893 – 19 Aug. - "Montreal Gazette" - Tanner on the Dominion line Royal Mail steamship “Labrador”...from Liverpool 1893 – 26 Aug. – "Winnipeg Tribune" - Tanner arrived from East (England) on his annual tour of Brassey colony at Indian Head. Includes description of Tanner’s work in England at the College and his 8 assistants. 1893 – 21 Sept – "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 4 – Tanner soon off to England; leaves Sept 30 1893 – 30 Sept – Tanner leaves for Liverpool on the Dominion line Royal Mail steamship “Labrador” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 16 1894 – 19 April - "Regina Leader" , p. 8 – “Professor Tanner paid a visit of inspection last week to the Sunbeam Farm at Indian Head.” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 17 1894 – 9 Aug. – "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 5 – Tanner arrives at Winnipeg for 6-8 weeks visit, from England 1894 – 13 Sept. – "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 4 – Tanner leaves Qu’Appelle for Boston to meet Brassey and then on to England. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 18 1895 – 4 Sept - "Winnipeg Tribune" - Prof. Tanner leaves this afternoon for the Sunbeam Farm at Indian Head 1895 – 12 Sept – "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 4 – Tanner staying at Leland Hotel, Qu’Appelle 1895 - 19 Sept. - "Qu’Appelle Progress", p. 4 – Tanner returns to Winnipeg, then to England ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 19 – this trip might not have happened 1896 - ?????????? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trip # 20 – this trip probably did not happen 1897 – 4 June – Professor Tanner dies at Exeter, England ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SOURCES:
"Successful Emigration to Canada", 1884 - version 1 - 32 pages - by Prof. Tanner - https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.16980/1?r=0&s=1 "Successful Immigration to Canada, 1884 - version 2 - 50 pages - by Prof. Tanner -
https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.16981/1?r=0&s=1 Various newspapers and other publications, as noted above for each trip.
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Sask.; Antony & Carol Chapman, Wendover, England; Bill Pinfold, Sharnbrook, England; and Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask.