Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1879-03-04
ORIGIN or MoRMox1sss.
Important Researches at Amity.
Spauiding- Some New Facts.
Washington PA. J Reporter.

" . - - = - Ao- s~N'
Dr. W. ". Sharpe, Of Amity, this
county, has prepared statement con
cerning early Mormonism, for James
I. Cobb, Esq. Of Salt Lake city, which
he has kindly placed in our hands for
publication, as follows:
In view Of the magnitude of the
Mormon delusion, and Of the serious
complications it is likely to cause 10
the near future, BY lis relations to our
Government, everything connected
with its origin and history challenges
an almost universal interest.
The author Of the Manuscript
Found which doubtless suggested
the Book IF Mormon, and occupied so
important position in its conception,
design and execution, lived and died
in Afnity, Pa The Old frame house
he occupied is still tenable, and his
grave in the old cemetery attracts
many curious visitor.
But we have living witness-Jo-
seph Miller, veteran Of the war Of
lSl2-a Christian gentleman Of un-
doubted veracity, with mind and nern-
ory remarkable for their prolonged
preservation, and singalarly free from
any signs Of senility. ! had an inter-
view with MI. Miller two days ago,
Found him we'll and hearty. barring
some muscular disability, and as ready
to crack a joke or fling "a repartee as
ever. He said, if lie lived till to-day
(Feb. y he would be So years old.
! asked him t. give me all the in
formation he could, from his personal
knowledge, Of Rev. solomon Spauld-
ing and his family, his recollections
aid impressions. from association with
hin, with reference especially to his
object in writing the "Manuseript
Found and its subsequent misuse by
the founders Of the Mormon sect.
PieiaciHg his reply with the remark
that he would not intentionally say
one word taat lie did not believe to
be strictly true, be proceeded deiibcr-
ately u make, in substance, the fol-
lowing statement:
I was well acquainted with Sir.
Spaulding while he lived in A,nity,
Pa. | would say he was from 55 to
60 years Of age; in person. tall and
spare, aud considerably stopped,
caused, III part, | think from a severe
rupture. His hair was quite gray.
He was chaste in language and digni-
fed in manner, becoming his profes-
sion. never heard him preach, think
he never preached at 4 J. said he had
quit preaching On account Of i'll health.
He kept public house or tavern of
the character common at that day.
He died Of dysentery in 1916 Tin the
fall, l think, after an illness Of six
OF eight weeks. DR.. Cephas Dodd at
tended him.
| watched with him many nights
during this illness. After he died I
made his coffin and superintendent his
burial One night when near his end
he told me he thought he should die,
and requested me to assist his wife III
settling his estate; accordingly |, with
Col. Thomas Venom, went on her bond
as administrative, and | helped her
close it UP.
Mr.. Spauld.ug was intelligent and
Of pleasing manners, with lair eoin
and say from 81 to 40 years
Of age. A child Of far complexion
aud about | A years of age, lived with
them here; think she was their daush
ter, as she bore the Spaulding name.
Mr.. S was poor but honest. ] en-
dorsed for him twice to borrow mon