The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-07-25
CRADLE OF MORMONISM
SusQuehanna County, Penna.,
Claims to be the Birthplace
OF THE LATTER DAY SAINTS.
Joseph Smiths Gold Book Concealed in
Suspicious Way-LudicrOuS Re-
suits Of the Saints Attempts
to Walk on the Water.

The recent great conference of the nota-
bles and dignitaries of the Reorganzed
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
held at Kirkland, Ohio, brings to mind the
fact that the Mormon Church and belief,
out of which sprang the Latter Day Saints,
had its birth and beginning among the
hills of old Susquehanna county, near the
dividing line between Pennsylvania and
New York
1t was here that Joseph Smith, Jr., the
father of Mormonsm, translated his
''Golden Book, !" or Book of Mormon; here
he married, performed alleged miracles and
sought to build temple.
With his father Joseph Smith, Jr., came
to this vicinity then sparsely settled, from
New York State, about the year 1925, and
for a time pursued the business of lumber
ing, and later on commenced prospecting
for gold and other precious minerals. 1t
was not long before the predominating
characteristics of the younger Smith came
to the surface, and he began ''peeping"
with ''seeiug stone, " brought from Salina,
NY, by John Belcher, OF Gibson. this coun-
ty, says the Philadelphia Times, This stoue
was green, as large as a gooses egg, and
contained irregular brown spots. Smith
would place the stone in hat, and locate
hidden treasures and forecast important
enthusiastically for consideration. His
4 e. 4 I,t
hanna now Oakland and Great Bend.
His followers broke the rule of silence and
the ''deposts were removed by some un-
seen power as Smith actually put it.
About this time Smith paid his atten-
tions to Miss Emma, daughter of Isaac
Hale. respected resident, but Mr.. Hale
refused his consent to the union. When
Mr.. Hale was absent from home, February,
1926, Smith and Miss Hale went to New
York State and were married Soon after
the marriage Smith and his brother.in-law
Alvah Hale went to Palmyra, n. Y, and
soon returned with several boxes resembling
those in which glass is usually pack
Il
boxes contained the plates from which the
Book of Mormon was to be translated. Mr..
Hale asked to see the plates, hut was re-
fused. Smith stating that young child
must first see the plates. Hale then re-
fused permission to have the plates brought
into his house. and for a time they were
huria6 in an aliapnnt foract obout
this time one Martin Harris made his APP
pearance in this vicinity, and the work of
translation commenced in building,
part of which is the old Mckune home
stead, situated two miles west of Susque-
hanna, near the tracks of the Erie Rail- Dad.
Smith began to interpret the characters on
the plates with his ''seeing stone" placed
in hat, while Harris wrote down the in
depreciation. Before the work was COM
pleted there was a rupture between Smith
and Harris, and Oliver Cowdry, who also
came from New York, was engaged to
complete the work. Cowdry remained I'M
til the book was finished. Later a recon-
Citation was effected between Smith and
Harris. Harris eventually furnished the
funds with which to publish the Bible,
selling his farm for that purpose and i'm
poverishing his family.
During Smiths peregrnations in this
vicinity he claimed that the Spaniar,ls had
buried great treasures hereabouts. \
struggling Indian, passing up the Susque
hanna. had told Smith of buried gold and
he soon induced Oliver Harper, we'll to
do farmer of IIarpersvile, to commence
prospecting. After a few week $ hard
work Smith declared that there was an
enchantment about the place and that the
treasure would be removed far away unless
the blood of a perfectly white dog could be
sprinkled on the ground. Search was
made far and near for perfectly white
dog, but without avail. Then Smith had
a vision, and he said that the blood of
white sheep would do as we'll A sheep
was killed. the blood was sprinkled about
the diggings, but no treasure was ever
found. After expanding $4,000 Harper
utterly refused to 90 any farther. Smith
said the Almighty was displeased with
them for attempting to palm off on Him a
white sheep for white dog, and had re-
moved the treasure. The excavations made
by Smith and Harper could be seen on the
j. /. skinner farm, near where the Bible
was translated.
Tired of prospecting and unable to find
more dupes Smith put on the airs of
prophet and was in the habit of "blessingp
crops for consideration. On one occasion
neighbor had piece of corn planted late
and on moist piece of ground, and, feel
ing little doubtful about its ripeniny,
engaged Smith to bless it. 1t happened
that that was the only piece of corn killed
by the frost in the neighborhood When
the prophet attention was called to the
matter he got out Of the difficulty by say
ing that by mistake he put curse instead
OF a blessing upon the corn.
Smith announced that on certain Sun
day morning he would initiate our Savior
and walk upon the water at point in the
Susquehanna two miles west of here. He