Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-10-21

Mysterious DISAPPEARANCE OF me DdTEss Nor
mon-Smi,h, r Gdon d Co. Send Him 10 Glory-
The NormOns Flourish by PsrsecUtiOa-The No.
mons Run a Bank- Bors # Lead for "Spscie"-
The First Mormon Templs-Tre aud o. ths
Stolen by the Mornons a.a Coar,.t-d into a
Bitle-Erodus Of the Nc Ro.is from K,rildad.
Correspondence OF The Star
PAINLsviLLs, OHIO, October 18th, 1870.
Editor Of Star: This town, Of about 1000 in
hab.tants is the county seat o: Lake county,
with only eight towns, and is twenty-nine miles
east Of Cleveland, on the line Of the Cleveland,
gainesville and Ashtabula railroad. Its an old
town; was settled prior to 1900, and takes it
name from one Of its pioneer settlers, General
Edward Pane. 1t is the most be autiful town of
its size, lar IS my observation extends, in this
broad, blessed land OF ours. 1t has, in a direct
hne north, only two miles away, the best harbor
naturally, and the best to-day for shipping to
enter, in all kinds of weather, on Lake Erie. 1t
has schools, organized under the Union School
System, which take the urchns in their A B C's
lege, all at public expense. The Superintendent,
Prot. Harvey, is the author OF Harvev's gram
mar, row in use at Harvard University. 1t has
limits and empowered in its delightful groves.
which educates thoroughly young ladies, at
less expense than any other institution in the
Union. 1t is no exaggerated statement to sly
that from Madison, the eastern town in Lake
county, along the public road west to Wickliffe,
fifteen miles east OF Cleveland, there is an extent
OF country of about thirty miles. that for the ex
ce]t nee Of its wagon roads, the condition Of its
farm improvements, the elegance OF its farm
houses, the beauty of its outrageous adorn-
ments, and for the deliyhtfuiness OF its rural
scenes, Is not equalled elsewhere in the States.
Thus the stranger and wayfarer testiHes. And
the railroad that have mentioned above, for
the excellence Ofits railroad and ballast ng, aud
equipment, for the nea.ness and convenience OF
its station buildings, have seen nowhere
equalled in this country. Had the traveller
table in the cars he could write with trfiing in
convenience as he is rapidly rolled on to his
journey end, so smooth Is the iron track.
know that these statements seem extravagant
and fulsOme, but believe me, "wboever RUS
may read the facts as have stated them. But
this
LITTLE COUNTY OF LAKs
is noted for at least three other important facts
1t is the potato growing locality of the State Its
yellow sand ridges, three in number, extending
up and down the lake, and which mark at differ
ent ages the boundary of its angry surges, pro-
duce probably the best quality of pOtatoes grown
in the whole country, and these potatoes are
transported in large quantities to Cleveland
Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Buffalo, and
a few of them reach your city. Second. 1t Is a
great fruit growing locality. No better apples.
here-althongh Kelley Island and the region
around Sandusky have the credit to some ex-
tent, without demonstrating the claim, Of grow
s a1mo cs she n,r rmh Iron tn,s country
Union, and they visit every State and Territory
almost. east of the Rocky mountains, ard the
Canadas. 1t was estir sted prior to the war
that two hundred and nifty double wagons with
three men TO each wagon went out every spi ing
from this county for disseminating throughout
the Union the apple, pear and cherry by means
OF Migrating. Third. 1t Is the county
WHERE THE MoRMoNs,
who have become numerous enough now to
form State, first commenced to preach, as a
sect, their peculiar doctrines. Some account of
them will be interesting. Sidney Rigdon, g
very eloquent captivating speaker, 4 little
prior to $50 made his appe arance among the
wealthy farmers OF Mentor township, and com
mencedsto preach as Baptist minister. He
drew largely, and soon organized church. In
the course of events, however, Parson Rigdon
became Campbellite disciple, or, as the de
IomiD alton now call themselves, a Christian.
Eut, notwithstanding this change of base affairs
with RigdOn and his flock went on most agree
ably; the parson keeping his hearers reminded
derful event, but precisely or approximately
what, the preacher did not seem to know any
more than his people. Thus much for the tirst
transactions of Rigdon in the county.
In the fall of 1890, probably, Farley P. Pratt,
Oliver Cowdry, David Whltmer and Dir. Peter
son came to Kirkland, in this county, and COM
menccd to preach MoIr,Orism. The first IN .et-
ings were held at " Kirkland Flats" and finally
they were held in what was called the Larned
SchoOl-house, on the road from Kirkland to
ChsrdOn. These four men were the JOhn-tfe-
came to Kirkland, think, the following sprirg
Of 1881. Meantime, during the winter or
&c 3D. Eigdon went down to visit
THE PROPHET "JOR,"
al Manchester, near Palmyra New York. Joe
commenced his operations there with a wonder
full stone with which he could discover deposits
OF money and foresee events, and he had num-
Der of credulOus creatures constantly digging
for norey by night, but who never got posses
son of any treasure. Rigdon returned to has
Mentor flock, having found the marvellous event
WHICH be had been foreshadOwing for ONE time
In the vaguest manner p)E sible;-it was nothing
lSts nor more than hew prophet, n rev reve-
lation, indeed new dispensatiOn. To carry his
church with the wealth OF its members over to
MoiTOnism was Rigdon 5 next essay, but in this,
with few eXcep lions, he failed; but he became
the Great High Priest of the embryo sect. Joe
himself caEe on - Kirkland, the New Jcrusa-
lem, in the spring OF 1881. Speedily the hills,
valleys and the creeks of Kirkland assumed
scriptural names, and the work of proselyti
for the new church began In earnest. They had
a darkte when they first began, who used to
have the old ,ime religious "power" and per-
formed many monkey shines" Some times he
would start out OF the meeting and run with all
speed away into the street or acrO5s lots aud
perch himself on a big stone or stump and he
GIN TO preach in modern kings English. The
Mormons toon saw that such Kind OF aid would
not serve them and some of them started, [ be-
lieve, with him down the Ohio, and the darkie
disappeared 20 my steriously that the opinion ex-
lists among the Gentiies Of Lake county that he
went 70 glory with the mcst effective cishes of his
Mormon companions.
The Mormon membership grew rapidly, for
the weak minded and the scheming we're alike
drawn into their fold. To the first class the Book
OF MOI mon was wonderful revelation and there
was kind Of common fellowship and social
equality among the Mormon people that suited
the common people, and MOrmonism wAxed
wonder fully. The common-sense and honest
Gentiles, as the outside world were called BY the
MOrmonf, could not but regard the whole Nor.
mon creed and organization as wicked decep-
ton, as q cheat, and they divided both; and
sometimes they wee little conspicuous In
marifesting their contempt for them in the
Mormon meetings, even going 20 far "a to DIS
turb them. These acts the Mormon leaders de-
nominated prosecutions. Such Is the character
or credulity, such the superstition Of q portion
OF humanity that the glossest representation
and the strongest anomalies, caricatores Of re-
religion, and frauds ON the same, may be made
to grow and prosper by opposition; and thus
Mormonism grew and has ever grown.
Early IN the starting Of Mormonism the duty
Of making the properly Of individuals the prom
erty Of ALL or Of the leaders, was inculcated: in
deed, compliance with thg Injunction was en-
forced by threats of expulsion In as many cases