Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-03-04
For the Freeman.
Joseph Smith, Jr., the Mormon Prophet.

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HIS BIRTHPLACE INCIDENTS OF HIS LIFE
Joseph Smith Jr., was born in small
house situated in Royalton. Vt. ADJOINING
Tunhridoe line on the 23d dofDecember,1 1905. |
His father, Joseph Smith. Sen, removed
from this farm house to the Woodard
npiohborhood when Joe was about seven
years of age, and Judge Woodland. now
resident of South Royalton, recollects
seeing him there at the raising of his
NNoodard's) fathers house. Joseph
Smith, Sen, subsequently removed into
the Metcalf neighborhood, also in Royal
ton. and remained there until the summer
of 1916. when with his wife and nine chill
dren. including the prophet, he went to
PALMYRA. Y. Y. opened cake and beer
shop for traffic on public days; at other
times he was employed in hunting for
springs of water by the aid of witch hazel
twios. DIGGING wells. making baskets, birch
brooms. maple sugar, peddling, hunting.
fishing, trapping and drinking whisky, and
when under the influence of the latter
counterfeiting and digging for Captain
Kidd's money. 1t was at Royalton, how
ever. and not at Palmyra that he was ac-
cused of crime. Joe had the reputation
amonc the neighbors of being the LATEST
aad most shiftless of the family. He was
fond of reading sensational story books
like the adventures of Captain Kidd and
other similar publications. He also seemed
to take an interest in reading the Bible,
quoted texts from the Prophecies, attended
revival meetings and once joined the pro-
b,tionarv class of the Methodist church in
Palmyra.
Joseph Smith, Sen, and family removed
from Palmyra to Manchester and took
sauatters possession of a small tract of
land on which there was small house
The family remained here for u number of
years.
In 1919. while Joseph Smith, Sen, and
his two sons, both older than the prophet
Joe, were digging well they found a stone
which had the appearance of a quartz
mineral, and was shaped like Il child 5
ises and tlok possession of this curiosity
lie hal now fonnd magic stone, and by
its aid pretended that he could make won
derful discoveries; by its use he could dis
cover stolen property, hidden treasures, &c,
but it was a much more efficient agent
when darkened OF shaded in his hat.
Searching for and digging out money
was now Joes regular profession, assisted
by the father, who WAS proud of his son
and claimed that he was the genus of tn,
family. us he spelled and pronounced tn
word Joe pursued this business for
number of years, raising money from al
the dupes around Manchester that he coul
inluce to Join him; the Smith family gen
craIlv assisted the son and brother in MAX
inc the excavations.
Money digging, however, proved unsuC
cessful and Joe hld vision and learne
that all the different systems of religio
rs then taught were false; and he learne
also ut this time that the true one was
be revealed to him. He was ordered
excavate and take from the earth 4 meta
lie book. With this book of Mormon
claimed to find huge pair of spectacle
which he denominated his Trim al
Thummin. This book Joe was instructe
to translate, which he professed to do vii
the assistance of the spectacles.
The book was finally published, and co
sisted of plagjaris as from the Bible, and
novel written by solomon Spaldns.
graduate of Dartmouth College.
Since that period the name of JOSEF
Smith has become we'll known in all par
Of the world, and the new system of reli
ion founded by him, has made many co
verts in America, and also in all porto
of Europe
vERMONTER IN BO3rON-