Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Tanner, John 1780-1847

Captive; born in Kentucky about 1780. His father laid out a farm at the mouth of the Big Miami River, O. When John was six years old he was captured by an Indian, and after two years detention was sold to Net-nokwa, an Ottawa Indian. He lived in captivity for thirty years, becoming so thoroughly accustomed to Indian life that he forgot his own language. He engaged in warlike expeditions and married Miskwa-bun-o-kwa ( “the Red Sky of the Morning” ). Subsequently he went to Detroit, where he met his brother and visited his family. He was then employed as an interpreter. He was the author of a Narrative of the captivity and adventures of John Tanner during thirty years residence among the Indians. He died in 1847.