Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1885-04-16
MORNONS IN Pennsylvania.
"reminiscences of the Times When the Sect
Was In Its Infancy,

"reminiscences Of the Times When the Sect |
Was In Its Infancy.
1t would surprise many of the pres
ent generation to bO told that at one |
time this lower corner OF Armstrong,
as well as the upper end of Westmore-
land County, was literally infested |
with Mormons; yet such is the fact. In
the fall of 1912 number of Mormons
iloated down the Allegheny River on a
rude raft. The party was composed of
old and young, men, women and chill
dren, and at what is now White Rock
Station, on the Valley road, q stop was
made. Winter began about this time,
and the party concluded to make that
point temporary headquarters and
spend the winter there. Joseph Smith
and his brother Hiram visited the party
while they were located there, aud
under their instructions the work of
proselyting was vigorously begun. A
man named Nicholson headed the
White Rock branch of the order, and
his influence was soon apparent. Con-
yerts were made rapidly, and In q short
time scores Of persons from every walk
in life had accepted the faith of the
Mormons.
When the springtime came almost
every person in the immediate neigh
borhood had been convinced that their
future salvation depended on their adj
herence TO the doctrine of JosephSmith,
and large party agreed to accompany
his followers into the Western wilds.
Others remained with the intention of
joining the main body when they had
entered into their promised land, A
correspondence was carried on between
those who had gone before and those
who were left behind, and your corre-
spondent was to-day allowed the priv.
ilege of examining some of the time.
stained missvcs which were sent back
to strengthen the faith of the followers
who were left behind. The person to
whom these letters were addressed has
long since been gathered to his fathers,
but MS wife and children are still ma
tives of this county.
One letter is dated Nauvoo, ILL.,,
August 10, 1914, and is as follows:
Your health of soul aud body is
my JOY, and, if you live in Christ, then
is my JOY full. We are glad to hear
that you are in good health. This we
learn from Brother John Greer, who
came to this place in good health and
line spirits, just IN time to attend our
Conference, which was held on Tues.
day, to set the wheels of the Church
in motion; for, since the death of 10.
seph Smith. we have been almost like
sheep having no shepherd, running to
and fro, picking a little pasture where
ever we could get, and waiting for the
twelve TO return. Brother Rigdon
and nine of the twelve having returned,
a conference OF the whole Church was
held on Thursday. There was vast
cOncOurse of people, should thinl;
nearly 10000. The twelve were called
to stand in their proper places, and
Joseph's cOunselorS, 5 Rigdon and A
Lyman, were called to the stand OF
their right, and on their left, that they
might aid and cooperate with The
twelve in carrying the gospel to al
nations.
E you must not let your faith fai
you because Joseph Smith has beel
killed by wicked men No; he tolt
the brethren, and others not member
/, of the Church, that he was going as
lamb to the slaughter; vet he was a
' calm as 4 summers morning. Ill
said that his time was come; but tn
: brethren did not seem to realize tn
truth till after the fatal Gccd was com
= mitted, and then they rcmcmbcre,
+ what he had told them. Had tn
brethren had the least idea that h
u would have fallen as he did they woul
il never have allowed him to 90 to Can
thagc. 1t seemed an hour of darkncs
= to us all. When Joseph fell he erie
e out: %, my Godn Then his spiri
took its flight. Brother Sidney say
. he saw our beloved prophet in Il visio
which he had opened to him in cor
IL ncction with one he and Joseph ha
u on the 10th of February, 1882, whic
you will find recorded in the Book {
! the Covenants.
+, The letter is signed Thomas Kicker
looper,' and is written in bold, Gle;
n. hand. The writer was a local magi
trate here prior to his departure fc
II. the West, and was highly rcSpectc
citizen. In other letters he speaks
the intentions of the MormOns to sec
refuge still further West, and says tn;
I'd there was n probability of them goir
he to California. lie also inquiries pa
as ticularly after the welfare of othC
l.. converts TO the faith who RENAME
lg behind, and cXhorts them to be lir
t. and fear not. In the neighborhood
e, Bigdad there are still q number of pc
sons who embraced the faith in IL
in early days, and who still believe in Il
At, doctrines then taught them, as well
ic, the institution of poly gamy, which,
course, was established subsequent
" their location here. Within radi,
ug of ten miles others can be found, an
o.. among them are persons who triC
lIy Mormon life in the wilderness wi
cir unsatisfactory results. And, agai
,ht there are those who were once re,
rn dents OF this section, who have wit
he stood all the hardships of the ear
lin days and are now with their descen
he ants spending their last days in Mo
monland, if not contented with the
he lot, at least accomplishing, g,-Lecc
ne burg Letter 10 PWSJurgh Dispatch.