The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-05-16
noRMoSs IN Pennsylvania.
"reminiscences of the Times When
the Sect was in Its Infancy.

1t would surprise many OF the pres
ont generation to be told that at one
time this lower corner OF Armstrong
as well as the upper end of Westmore
land county, was literally infested witt
Morrnons vet such is the fact. In the
fall of IS4g number of Mormons hoatec
down the Allegheny RlVer on a ruoe
raft. The party was composed OF oio
and Young men, women ana cnllu!eh
and at what is now White Rock Stauon
on the Valley road, stop was mace
Winter began about this time, ana the
Marty concluded to make that point
temporary headquarters and spend the
winter there. Joseph Smith and his
brother Hiram visited the party while
thew were located there, and under
their instructions the work vf proselyt-
ing was vigorously begun. A man
named Nicholson headed the White
Rock branch of the order. and his in
fiuence was soon apparent. Converts
were made rapidly, and In a short time
scores 81 persons from every walk In
life had accepted the faith OF the Nor
mons.
When the springtime came almost
every person in the immediate neigh
borhoed had become convinced that their
futnre salvation depended on their adj
hereBce to the doctrine of Joseph
Smith, and large party agreed to &C
company his followers into the Western
Wilds. Others remained with the
intention of joining the main body
when they had entered into their pro-
missed land. A correspondence was
carried on between those who had gone
before and those who were left behind,
and your correspondent was to-day
allowed the privilege OF examining
seae of the timestained missiyes which
were sent back to strengthen the falth
of the followers who were LETT behind.
The person to whom these letters were
addressed has long since been gathered
to his fathers. but his wife and children
are still natives of this county.
One letter is dated Nauvoo, H., Aug
ust 10th, 1884, and is as follows:
Your health of soul and body is my
iov. and, if you live in Christ, then is
my 10Y full. We are glad to hear that
you are in good health. This we lea1n
from Brother John Greer. who came to
this place in good health and fine spirits
lust In time to attend our conference,
which was held on Tuesday, to set the
wheels of the church in motion; for,
since the death of Joseph Smith,
we have been almost like sheep hav
ing ne shepherd. running to and
fire., picking a little pasture wherever
we eould get. and waiting for the twelve
to return. Brother Rigdon and nine of
the twelve having returned, a confer
enee of the whole church was held on
There was a vast eoncourse
Of people, should think nearly 10000.
The twelve were called to stand in their
proper places, and Joseph's eounsellors'
). RigdOn and A. Lyman, we're called |
% the stand on their right and on their
eft. that they might aid and cooperate !
With the twelve IN carrying the gospel
o al nations.
You must not let your faith fail you
,ecagse Joseph Smith has been killed |
y wicked men. No, he told the breth |
en-, and others not members Of the |
hureh, that he was going as a lamb to |
be slaughter; yet he was as calm as |
morning. He said that his
ime was come; but the brethren did I
lot seem to realize the truth till after |
he fatal deed was committed, and then
hey remembered what ne had told !
hem. Had the brethren had the least |
dea that he would have fallen as he did |
lim to 60 to Carthage. It seemed |
n hour of darkness to US all. When
Joseph fell, be cried out: oh, my
5odr Then his spirit took its flight. |
Brother Sidney says he saw our beloved !
Prophet in vision which he had opened /
% him in connection with one he and |
Joseph had on the 10Th of February, |
1852, which you will find recorded in |
he Book of the Covenants"
The letter is signed Thomas Hieken |
COPPER" and is written in a bold, clear
hand. The writer was a local magis- |
rate here prior to his departure for |
.he west, and was a highly respected |
citizen. In other letters he spe Us of |
he intentions of the Mormons seek |
refuge still farther west. and says that |
here was a probability of their going to |
California. He also inquiries particularly |
after the welfare of other converts to |
the faith who remained behind, and ex-
RoTts them to be firm and fear not. In |
the neighborhood of Bagdad there are |
still number of persons who embraced |
The faith IN the early days, and who still |
believe in the doctrines then taught |
them, as well as the Institution OF poly |
gamy, which, of cOuse. was established |
to their location here, With |
in a radius of ten miles others can be |
found. and among them are persons
who tried Mormon life in the wider
ness with unsatisfactory results. And, |
again, there are those who were once
residents of this section. who have
withstoed allthe hardsaips of the early
days, and are now with their descen-
dants spending their last daysin Nor
If not contented with their lot,
at least accomplishing = Leechburg, |
Pa. Cor. ,Pittsburg Dispatch. iil