Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-09-13
the oRsa,N e. laoeson.sm.
Theory That IL wa. Pounded Upon an
Ohio PreacAerN Ronaance.;
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Springfield Republican,.
Remarkable local testimony has been dis
covered BY the Republican sustaining the
charge that the religion Of Joe Smith and
Brigham Young had its origin in romance
written By Rev. Soloman Spaulding, of Ohio,
half = century OF moro ago. The story is
furnished BY Mi. J. A. McKinstry, Of Long
meadow, son of the late Dr.. McKinstry.
of Monson, and grandson Of Rev. HI. Spa1l.
ding. Rev. Mr.. Spaulding's widow, Who
Afterwards became Mrs. Dawson, came east
from Ohio to live with her daughter at
Monson many years ago. bringing the manu-.
script OF his romance with her. She died
some twenty five years ago, but before her
death plausible young man from Boston
came to Monson to see and get the Spaul.
ding writing. 1t was time of considerable
excitement concerning the Mormons, and
he claimed to represent some Christian
people whs wanted to expose Mormonism.
He therefore begged the loan Of the manu-
script for publication. Much against the
wishes Of Mr.- DR.. McKinstry, Mrs. Dayi-
son consented to let her husbands unpub-
lished romance 60. Nothing was ever heard
from it again, and the family have always
considered that the bland young gentleman
was an agen; of Brigham Young to destroy
q
Bible was of very earthly origin.
The story of how Rev. Mr. Spauliing
came to prepare his romance, which Mr..
McKinstry remembers as . child to have
seen, is fresh and interesting. He was out
of the active ministry in Ohio-the name of
the place Mr.. McKinstry does not recollect,
but it was near Palmyra, we believe-run-
ming q small iron foundry, and, being .
man Of literary tastes, employed his leisure
moments in weaving romance. 1t was q
time when the work of the mound builders
was creating wide interests, the implements
Of cookery and war being unearthed, show-
ing the existence of a forgotten race. This
furnished the inspiration for the chronicles
of the story-writer. He entitled his pro-
duction Manuscript Found" the idea being
that the romance woven BY the ex preacher
was dug up out of one Of the mounds in
the region. 1t was history of ancient
America, not all written at once, but at
leisure spells and as the fancy fell to him
MI. Spaulding would add to it. His writing
was 10 secret tn the neighbortood In that
then frontier region, with no opportunities
for literary enjoyment, Mr.. Spaulding was
prevailed upon to read his production to
his neighboIs as it progressed. 1t was writ.
TENN bible phraseology, and made as quaint
ly olden as possible. so as to carry ou: the
conceit OF itsalleged mound origin. Among
the attentive listeners at these readings
were Joe Smith and Sidney Rigdon, the
same who founded MOrmonism Not only
did Smith hear the manuscript read, but un
one occasion, as Mrs. Dawson frequently
testified before her death, he borrowed il
Tor week or so. giving as q reason that he
wanted to read it to his family. who had
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readings. Not long afterward, it will be
remembered, Smith claimed that an angel
had revealed to him the existence of bur
led history of aboriginal America the plates
of which 1t is alleged were dug up, and the
Book of Mormon made as translation of
their inscriptions. The widow OF Mr..
Spaulding and her daughter. Mrs. DR.. Nc.
kinstrJ, OF Monson, compared the Smith
bible with the parsons romance, and they
were essentially the same. The similarity
was SO overwhelming as to leave no doubt
that Smith copied in full Rev. Mr.. Spauld-
ing's writing, and made out of it bodily his
divine revelation"
! The character Of the minister's romance
was such. and his elaboration of it SO thor
ough, as to strike the fancy of Smith, who.
was given to the mysterious. His family
had been noted for divination. treasure.
seeking, &c, and so 10 found Mr. ST auld-
ing's work just in his line. That the results
Of his appropriation Of it have been 80 stu.
pendous was always great cross to Mr..
Spaulding' good widow, Mrs. Dawson. She
mourned that. even innocently, her husband
should have been the means of foisting up.
ON the world SO great an evil This was
the real reason of her willingness to allow
the manuscript to he taken to Boston for
publication. 1t is to be regretted that her
family have not better preserved Mrs Davi.
sons recollections Of her husbands writ
lngs. now forever lost to the world. Enough
has been handed down, however, to estab.
lish beyond doubt the truth Of the claim
that here was source of 10 Smiths "in.
spiration.' Mrs. Davison's story has long
been familiar to leading men of Monson,
and so impressed was the late Rev. Dr. Ely
with it that he prepared considerable ac-
count of it years ago.
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