The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-09-10
VERMONT MORMON CONFERENCE
Organized at Sharon and Claims
Many Vermont Converts.

mont:
July "a, 1909, has a double inter
est to many Latterday Saints, as on
that date, at the birthplace of the
prophet, at Sharon, Windsor Co., YER
mont, President Ben. E. Rich stand
ing on the very hearthstone on which
was nursed and reared the infant
seer, and with a company of SO ED
ers. assembled and organized the Yer
mont conference of the Church o.
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
opening a new epoch to the gospel
work in this state.
For many years the Elders have
been almost unknown within its Dor
der, which is surprising, as many %
those who first embraced the mes
sage came from Vermont, indeed
seven of the twelve have claimed II
as their birthplace, as have also many
other illustrious men and women of
the church.
Here were born Joseph and Hy-
rum Smith, the former at Sharon and
the latter at Tunbridge, about five
miles to the north, where Joseph
Smith, Sr. had valuable farm, be-
fore financial reverses overlook him,
wnen he came to Sharon and rented
what we know as the Smith farm,
from his wifes father. Solomon Mack.
In the hollow below the monument
stands the ruins of the original NJ lck
homestead, while on the hill, where
stands the Memorial cottage, stood
the home in which Joseph was born.
Immediately east of Windsor
county is Rutland county, where he
who was named by the Lord the
Second elder" i'm the church. Oliver
Cowdery, was born, and a short dis
lance south is Nottingham. wLera
President Brigham Young first saw
the light of day; while in the north
west corner OF the state. in Sheldon,
Heber c. Kimball, the faithful coun-
selor was born in Franklin county
Others of the twelve; Luke S. and
Lyman +. Johnson. Erastus Snow, Al
bert Darlington, also the heads of
many worthy families who are num-
bered in Zion, such as the Fairs. Hat
ches, Shows, Walkers, Wnitneys and
others whose names are not avail
able to us at present broke away from
the shackled teachings OF their day
anu hNt'HhNh Aiit bOoBNiF liNfu anu
died in the faith and have left poster.
ties to continue the furtherance of the
great Latterday work; and now after
a silence of nearly 20 years, SO to
speak. some of their grandsons are
travelling the same winding valleys of
the Green mountains. as they did,
seeking to re-establish the work of
God among he people. There has
been but little record made of the
early missionary work in the state.
Most OF the early converts, though
born here. embraced the message in
the neighboring state of New. York
Apostles Erastus Snow and VIM. E.
McI.ellin, accompanied by Willard
Snow, preached through the state in
1893. baptizing and organizing
branches in Caledonia county, etc, |
but most of those gathered out to
Ohio. In 1886 the prophets father, |
Joseph Smith, Sr.. accompanied by |
his son Samuel filled a mission, visit |
ing and Strengthening the saints. |
From then We have no record OF work |
being done until 1855, when we learn |
from Father Roy W. Hadlock, now |
residing near Morrisyille, taat Elder |
Martin II. Peck was sent out. He |
Iabored in Orleans and LaMoile coun
ties, baptzing a number of people, |
most of whom gathered out to Zion,
though some still continue here true |
and faithful to their first love of the |
truth.
1t is interesting to hear Elder Had |
lock relate his youthful recollections |
of seeing the saints of the early SOS |
moving out in their OK carts. They |
were all people of limited means |
They would travel as far as their pro |
visions would allow, then stop over |
and work enough to take them farth- |
er on their journey, and so on to their |
Brother Hadlock was one |
Of those baptized by Elder Peck. He |
fought in II engagements of the Civil |
war. He relates the goodness of God
in preserving him, as one time but |
three besides himself, of his company |
came out alive after one engagement |
In 1870 Elder jeremiah Hatch |
preached through the state and bap-
tized number leading some of them |
to Zion.
Then a lapse of 80 years occurs,
till 1903, when elders laboring in the |
eastern New England state made oc
casional visits but only recently have |
elders labored regularly among the |
people, hence July "a, 1909, will be |
to church and state, we
hope.
On the 22nd inst. tne elders began |
to gather in from the surrounding
country to participate in the organi |
cation of the Vermont conference, al |
so to celebrate the sixty-second ami |
versary of the entrance of the pic |
neers into the valleys of Utah.
AT 6 a. IN. on the oath the elders |
lined up in front of the monument |
and a dash was made for the flag pole |
on top of Patriarch hill, one mile dis |
tant and 375 feet higher than the ]
Elder Maurice Tanner |
being first, claimed the honor of rails I
ing the flag. All circled around the |
pole with uncovered heads and Elder |
j. T. Smellie led in prayer. They |
then joined in singing High on the |
tops" and cheers were |
given for the pioneers, first presiden-
,y, Utah, Vermont and mine host"
Elder Junius +. Wells. There was
rain during the forenoon,
themselves Running, jump
ing and relay races were engaged in
and in the afternoon a game of base
ball was played between New York
elders and those who are to belong to
Vermont conference. The former
won, so many of them being bene-