OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tidbits of Ohio -- Part 49B ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 May 27, 2005 ************************************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio Tid Bits-part 49 B. Notes by S. Kelly E.L. Kelley Madison Kelley Henry Howe. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits - Part 49 B. Con't of Henry Howe's Kirtland and Mormanism. Lake County, Ohio. " A Mormon temple was erected at Kirtland, at an expense of about $ 40,000. In this building there was a sacred apartment, a kind of holy of holies, in which none but the priests were allowed to enter. An unsuccessful application was made to the Legislature for the charter of a bank. Upon the refusal they established an unchartered institution, commenced their banking operations, issued their notes, and made extensive loans. The society now rapidly increased in wealth and numbers, of whom many were doubtless drawn thither by mercenary motives. But the bubble at last burst. The bank being an unchartered institution, the debts due were not legally collectable. With the failure of this institution the society rapidly declined, and Smith was obliged to leave the State to avoid the sheriff. Most of the sect, with their leader, removed to Missouri, where many outrages were perpetrated against them. The Mormans raised an armed force to " drive of the infidels," but were finally obliged to leave the State. The last stand taken by the Mormans was at Nauvoo, Illinois, a beautiful location on the Mississippi river. Here they erected a splendid temple, one hundred and twenty feet in length by eighty in width, around which they built their city, which at one time contained about 10,000 inhabitants. Being determined to have their own laws and regulations, the difficulties which attended their sojourn in other places followed them here, and there was constant collision between them and surrounding inhabitants. By some process of law, Joseph Smith ( the prophet ) and his brother Hyram were confined in the debtor's apartment in the jail at Carthage, in the vicinity of Nauvoo, and a guard of eight or ten men were stationed at the jail for their protection. While here, it appears a mob of about sixty men, in disguise, broke through the guard, and firing ito the prison, killed both Joseph Smith and his brother Hyram, June 27, 1844. Their difficulties still continued, and they determined to remove once more." +++++++++++++ In 1840 a work was published at Painesville, by E.D. Howe, called the " History of Mormanism," which gives almost conclusive evidence that the historical part of the book of Morman was written by one Solomen Spalding. From this work we derive the folowing facts: Mr. Spalding was born in Connecticut, in 1761; graduated at Dartmouth, and having failed in mercantile business, removed in 1809 to Conneaut, in the adjoining county of Astabula. About the year 1812 his brother John visited him at that place. He gives the following testimony: " He then told me that he had been writing a book, which he intended to have printed, the avails of which he thought would enable him to pay all his debts. The book was entitled the " Manuscript Found," of which he read to me many passages. It was an historical romance of the first settlers of America, endeavoring to show that the American Indians are descendants of the Jews, or the lost tribes. It gave a detailed account of their journey from Jerusalem, by land and sea, till they arrived in America, under the command of Nephi and Lehi. They afterwards had quarrels an contentions, and separated into two distinct nations, one of which he denominated Nephites, and the other Lamanites. Cruel and bloody wars ensued, in which great multitudes were slain. They buried their dead in large heaps, which caused the mounds so common in this country. Their arts, sciences and civilizations were brought into view, in order to account for all the curious antiquities found in various parts of North and South America. I have recently read the " Book of Morman," and to my great surprise, I find nearly the same historical matter, names, etc., as they were in my brother's writings. I well remember that he wrote in the old style, and commenced about every sentence with " and it came to pass, " the same as in the " Book of Morman," and according to the best of my recollections and belief, it is the same as my brother Solomon wrote, with the exception of the religious matter. By what means it has fallen into the hands of Joseph Smith Jr., I am unable to determine." John Spalding. +++++++++++ Mr.Henry Lake, of Conneaut, also states: " I left the State of New York late in the year 1810, and arrived at this place the 1st of January following. Soon after my arrival I formed a copartnership with Solomon Spalding, for the purpose of rebuilding a forge which he recommended a year or two before. He frequently read to me from a manuscript which he was writing, which he entitled the " Manuscript Found," and which he represented as being found in this town. I spent many hours in hearing him read said writings, and became well acquainted with its contents. he wished me to assist him in getting his production printed, alleging that a book of that kind would meet with a rapid sale. I designed doing so, but the forge not meeting our anticipations, we failed in business, when I declined having having anything to do with the publication of the book. This book represented the American Indians as the descendants of the lost tribes, gave an account of their leaving Jerusalem, their contentions and wars, which there were many and great. One time, when he was reading to me the tragic account of Laban, I pointed out to him, what I considered an inconsistency, which he promised to correct: but by referring to the " Book of Morman." I find to my surprise that it stands there just as he read it to me then. Some months ago I borrowed the Golden Bible, put it into my pocket, carried it home, and thought no more of it. About a week after, my wife found the book in my coat pocket, as it hung up, and commenced reading it aloud as I lay upon the bed. She had not read twenty minutes till I was astonished to find the same passages in it that Spalding had read to me more than twenty years before, from his " Manuscript Found." Since that, I have more fully examined that said Golden Bible, and have no hesitation in saying that the historical part of it is principally if not wholly taken from his " Manuscript Found." I well recollect telling Mr. Spalding that the so frequent use of the words " And it came to pass," " Now it came to pass," rendered it ridiculous. Spalding left here in 1812, and I furnished him means to carry him to Pittsburg, where he said he would get the book printed, and pay me. But I never heard any more from him or his writings, till I saw them in the " Book of Morman." Henry Lake. +++++++++++++++ The testimony of six other witnesses is produced in the work of Mr. Howe, all confirming the main facts as above given. As Mr. Spalding was vain of his writings, and was constantly showing them to his neighbors, reliable testimony to the same general facts might have been multiplied. The disposition Spalding made of is manusripts is not known. From Coneaut, Spalding removed to Pittsburg, about the year 1813, remained there a year or two, and from thence went to Amity, in the same state, where he died in 1816. His widow stated that, while they resided in Pittsburg, she thinks that the " Manuscript Found " was once taken to the printing office of Patterson & Lambdin, but did not know whether it was ever returned. We again quote verbatim from the work of Mr. Howe; " Having established the fact, therefore, that most of the names and leading incidents contained in the Morman Bible originated with Solomon Spalding, it is not very material, as we conceive to show the why and manner by which they fell into te hands of the Smith family. To do this, however, we have made some inquiries. It was inferred at once that some light might be shed upon the subject, and the mystery revealed, by applying to Patterson & Lambdia in Pittsburg. But here again death had interposed a barrier. That establishment was disolved and broken up many years since, and Mr.Lambdin died about eight years ago. Mr. Patterson says he has no recollections of any such manuscripts being brought there for publication, neither would he have been likely to have seen it, as the business of pinting was conducted wholly by Lambdin at that time, He says, however, that many manuscript books and pamphlets were brought to the office about that time, which remained upon their shelves for years, with out being printed or even examined. Now as Spading's book can nowhere be found, or heard of it after being carried to this establishment, there is the strongest presumption that it remained there in seclusion, till about the year 1823 or '24 at which time Sidney Rigdom located himself in that city. We have been crediably informed that he was on the terms of intimacy with Lambdin, being seen frequently in his shop. Rigdon resided in Pittsburg about three years, and during the whole of that time, as he has since frequently asserted, abandoned preaching and all other employment, for the purpose of "Studing the Bible." He left there, and came into the county where he now resides, about the same time Lambdin died, and commenced preaching some new points of doctrine, which afterwards found to be inculcated in the Mormon Bible. He resided in this vicinity for about four years previous to the appearance of the book, during which he made several long visits to Pittsburg, and perhaps to the Susquehanna,where Smith was then digging for money, or pretending to be translating plates. It may be observed also, that the time Rigdon left Pittsburg, the Smith family began to tell about finding a book that would contain a history of the first inhabitants of America, and that two years elapsed before they finally got possession of it. We are then, led to this conclusion:-- that Lambdin, after having failed in business, had recourse to the old manuscripts then in his possession, in order to raise the wind, by a book speculation, and placed the " Manuscript Found." of Solomon Spalding, in the hands of Rigdon, to be embellished, altered, and added to, as he might think expedient; and three years' study of the Bible, we deem little time enough to garble it, as it is transferred to the Mormon book. The former dying, left the latter the sole proprietor, who was obliged to resort to his wits, and in a miraculous way to bring it before the world; for in no other manner could such book be published without great sacrifice. And where could a more suitable character be found than Joseph Smith, whose necromantic fame of arts and of deception had already extended to a considerable distance ? That Lambdin was a person every way qualified and fitted for such an enterprise we have the testimony of his partner in business and others of his acquaintance. Add to all these circunstances the facts, that Rigdon had prepared the minds in a great measure of nearly one hundred of those who had attended his ministration, to be in readiness to embrace the first mysterious ism that should be presnted-- the appearance of Cowdery at his residence as soon as the book was printed-- his sudden conversion, after many pretentions to disbelieve it-- his immediately repairing to the residence of Smith, 300 miles distant, where he was forthwith appointed an elder, high priest, and a scribe to the prophet-- the pretended vision that his residence in Ohio was " the promised land," -- the immediate removal of the whole Smith family thither, where they were soon raised from a state of poverty to comparative afluence. We, therefore, must hold out Sidney Rigdon to the world, as being the original " author and proprietor " of the whole Mormon conspiracy, until further light is elicited upon the lost writings of Solomon Spalding." +++++++++++++ When the main body of the Mormans left Kirtland the family of Mr. and Mrs. Stratton held the key of the Temple and claimed to have a title to it. In 1883 a body calling themselves the "Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints" returned to Kirtland and laid claim to the old deserted Temple. +++++++++++++++ Gold Plates On September 21, 1823, the Angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith and instructed him about a record engraved on goldlike sheets. The record, written by Moroni 2, his father Mormon, and other ancient inhabitants of the Americas, was buried in a stone box in a hill not far from the Smith residence. The Angel Moroni evetually delivered these plates to Joseph Smith, who translated and published them as the Book of Mormon and returned them to the Angel Moroni. While the plates were in Joseph's keeping, others saw them, including eleven witnesses whose testimonies appear in all editions of the book. Various descriptions provided by eyewitnesses suggest that the plates may have been made of a gold alloy, measured about 6 inches by 8 inches ( 15.2 cm by 20.3 cm ), were 6 inches ( 15,2 ) thick, and weighed about 50 pounds ( 22.7 kg ). After Joseph Smith translated the plates, they were returned into the keeping of the Angel Moroni and presumably taken into Heaven. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits continued in Part 49 C.