USA > Connecticut > Incidents of pioneer life in the early settlement of the Connecticut Western Reserve > Part 13
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It is to be hoped, however, that some irresisti- ble influence or potency, like that of Saint Pat- rick of good Old Ireland, will come to the rescue and expel forever this kind of reptiles from our "happy land." Yet the moral evils of the present day, are perhaps as few as at any former period in the history of our country, in proportion to its population. Moral evils are incident to human nature, and abound to a greater or less extent in all countries, and in all ages. In fact, moral evils are the most formida- ble enemies with which we have to contend in fighting the "battle of life." Though unable to exterminate them, yet we may subordinate them. If any human being can conquer them, it is he who can "conquer himself."
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CHAPTER XXVI.
Early settlement at Mentor-Judge Walworth and Gen. Paine -Painesville-Old Seneca the Indian Chief-Hon. Sam- uel Huntington and his Great Expectations-Judge Wal- worth attacked by wolves-First house built in Lake County-Bones and relics-Little Mountain.
LAKE is one of the youthful counties of the Reserve. It is indebted for its territory to the liberality of Geauga and Cuyahoga. Bordering as it does on the Lake, it received the baptismal name of Lake County. Its birth occurred March 6, 1840. Its domains are rich and productive, and admirably adapted to the culture of apples, pears, plums, grapes and other fruits, as well as to cereals of all kinds. It abounds also in the production of the finest animal stock, in the broadest sense of the word; and is not destitute of mineral wealth, in the shape of iron ore, espe- cially in Perry and Madison townships.
Young as the county is, its territory has an interesting history. The first white settlement
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within its limits was made at Mentor, in 1799. Among the settlers was Hon. John Walworth, who with . his family, emigrated from New Lon- don, Conn. In the course of the next two years other emigrants from the land of "steady habits" arrived, among whom was Gen. Edward Paine. Some of them did not bring "steady habits" with them. But this remark is by no means applicable to such men as Judge Walworth and Gen. Paine.
Soon after the organization of the State gov- ernment, Walworth was appointed one of the Associate Judges of Trumbull county, which embraced at that time the entire Western Re- serve. He received, in 1805, the appointment of collector of customs for the Cuyahoga district, and removed to Cleveland, where he opened an office and permanently settled. Gen. Paine set- tled at Painesville. He had served as an officer in the Revolution with signal ability, was a man of wealth, and highly respected by all who knew him. The town of Painesville was originally surveyed into lots by Henry Champion, and named "Champion." This appellation, how- ever, was soon afterwards changed, and that of " Painesville" substituted, as a compliment due Gen. Paine for his enterprise and distinguished revolutionary services.
It is true that Painesville could boast of its
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distinguished citizens in early as well as in later times. Among the aborigines who remained at Painesville, after the date of its first settlement by white men, was an aged Indian chief, known as " Sonoca," and who was so named by the whites on account of his manifest wisdom and sa- gacity. His Indian name was "Stigwanish." It is said that he possessed the dignity of a Roman Senator, the honesty of Aristides, and the philan- thropy of William Penn. He would not beg, but received gifts with a gracious acknowl- edgment. He was always careful to return all such favors with donations of greater value. He drank wine moderately, but refused to taste whisky, for the reason that he once drank so- freely of it as to become crazed, and while under its maddening influence, attempted to strike his- squaw with a tomahawk, as she was passing him with her pappoose perched on her back, but missed his aim and split the head of the pap- poose, which he dearly loved. This sad occur. rence proved a lesson which wrought his reforma- tion. His honesty gave him credit. He never contracted a debt which he did not pay at the time agreed. He was an ardent friend of the white men, and contributed, in every way he could, to promote their welfare, especially during the perilous times of 1812. During the later years of his career ne resided in the vicinity of Cleveland, where he was last seen.
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The Indian tribes, occupying the wilderness west of the Cuyahoga river, were hostile to the tribes occupying the eastern side, and often made raids on the east side tribes, who avenged these wrongs whenever an opportunity was afforded them. It is quite probable that the old chief Seneca, who was as brave as he was honest, lost his life in a conflict with these western tribes. He lived and died a staunch friend of the white men. It is for this reason that his name was given to one of the oldest streets in Cleveland.
Hon. Samuel Huntington was one of the early settlers at Painesville. . He was the adopted son of a former Governor of Connecticut, by the same name. He was bred a lawyer, and in 1802 was elected a delegate to the convention that framed the first constitution of Ohio. The next year he was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court. In 18OS he was elected Governor of the State. He had resided sometime at Cleveland, prior to his settlement at Painesville, where he died in 1817. He was a gentleman of fine attainments, polished manners, and active in promoting the improvements of the country and the true inter- ests of its population.
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He erected, in 1803, in connection with several other gentlemen, the first ware-house known at that time in the Lake region. It was located at the mouth of Grand River. It was then thought
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by many that Painesville was destined to become the great commercial town of the Western Reserve. It was in the ware-house which he had built that the first court in Geauga county was hold. He also laid out, in 1812, the town of Fairport, on the east bank of Grand River, with "great expectations" that it would not only advance the interests of Painesville, but might in time blend with it. The two towns are now con- nected by railway, and it is quite possible his "great expectations" may yet be realized, though hardly probable.
This region of country, in those early days, was grievously infested with wolves. Judge Walworth, while traveling from Grand River to Cleveland on one occasion, after nightfall, and when near Cleveland, was attacked by a hungry pack of these savage denizens of the forest. He was on horseback, and attempted to defend him- self by striking them with his folded umbrella as they sprang to seize him by the legs. In doing this his horse took fright, and gallantly bore him away in safety from the battle-field.
The first dwelling or cabin known in Lake county was constructed by Charles Parker, one of the surveyors, in 1796. The first settlement made at Willoughby occurred in 1803. Tradi- tion says that a bloody battle was fought on the ground now occupied by the town, and near the
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locality of the old medical college, between hos- tile tribes of Indians, in which a large number were slain. This is confirmed by the fact that a mass of human bones were discovered at a con- siderable depth in this locality, some years ago, which from their appearance evidently belonged to the anatomy of the aboriginal races. But who they were, or why they fought, are questions which can never be answered. The written record of mankind is very brief, compared with their unwritten deeds.
There was found by an early pioneer of Perry township, in an old Indian burial ground, a club of Nicaragua wood, in connection with the bones of a man, supposed to have been those of a white man. The club was perfectly sound, but the bones were much decayed. This fact was thought to indicate that the country had, at some unknown period far back in the past, been explored, if not occupied by white men, who may have been Spanish adventurers from South America, or from some Southern French or Eng- lish settlement. The finder of the club was an early pioneer from Connecticut. He gave the relic to his wife as a curiosity worthy of preserva- tion. She discovered its coloring properties, and utilized it as a dye-wood in her domestic manu- facture of red flannel. The club and the bones, however, had a history which, if it could be
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truly revealed, would doubtless prove of abiding interest to the antiquarian.
It is evident that nature sometimes indulges in freaks. One of the gems of Lake county is "Little Mountain." Nature must have been in a frolic when she made it. It is difficult to say just what her process was, but judging from ap- pearances, she first mixed water, clay and peb- bles into a loaf of dough, housewife-like, and baked it in an oven of subterranean fires. when its explosive yeast lifted it to its present height. It stands in the midst of a level country, "alone in its glory," and rises, like a sugar loaf, seven hundred and fifty feet above the waters of the Lake. It is about one mile in diameter at the base, and crowned with a dense forest of pines. Its distance from the Lake is about five miles. It is here and there pierced with yawning fissures to great depths. Some of these are open at the surface, while others are covered, and thus form spacious caverns. Some of these caverns have rock floors, and are of sufficient height and width to admit of easy exploration.
The summit of the mountain contains an area of some fifty or sixty acres of nearly level land. This circular elevation, rising as it does in the midst of a plain, suggests the idea of its being a volcanic bubble, produced while its material was in a molten or boiling condition, and cooling in
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that form before it had time to collapse. However this may be, it bears the evidence of having been subjected to intense heat. Its composition is a coarse sand-rock, seamed with layers of white pebbles, which are about the size of hickory nuts, smooth and polished, and which indicate that they have been, at a former period, subjected to the action of the waves, like those now found along the beach of the Lake. Hence it is in- ferred that the entire material, composing the mountain, was once a part of the Lake bed, which has been lifted by subterranean forces to
its present position. This might have been done at one upheaval, or by successive applications of volcanic force. In the process, it is evident that the rocks broke of their own weight into frag- ments of great length, and settled away from each other, so as to leave corresponding edges with deep cavities, or fissures, between them. Many of these are covered over by shelving sur- face rocks, and in this way have formed dark, winding galleries, extending throughout the in- terior, or heart of the mountain.
In primitive times this mountain was a favorite resort of the aborigines-a landmark in the wilderness, on whose apex they kindled their beacon fires. They also regarded it as the dwel- ling place of the Great Spirit, whose divine pres- ence rendered it not only a secure rallying point,
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but a sanctified altar, where they could present their offerings and invoke the divine aid and pro- tection of their invisible Father.
But now the mountain presents a very different aspect, though it retains its primitive forest of pines and balsamic atmosphere. Beneath the overshadowing pines, hotels and cottages crown its summit, and thousands of visitors, during the heated months of the year, come to the moun- tain, as the mountain cannot come to them, to en- joy its balmy air, its inviting accommodations, its social recreations, and its salutary influences. This summer home, in the "mountain," has no equal as a summer resort within hundreds of miles. Its natural scenery is wild, beautiful and romantic. The air is so uniformly cool and bracing, that it inspires the invalid with newness of life, as well as gives buoyancy of spirit to those who are weary and worn with business cares. All that this beautiful spot now needs to make it a paradise, is larger and still more in- viting accommodations. When these are fur- nished, as they some day will be, "Little Moun- tain" will take a dignified rank among the re- nowned mountains of the earth. And though it may never be numbered among the "sacred mountains," yet it will ever furnish "tablets of stone," on which the finger of God has written the evidences of divine power, if not his "com-
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mandments." It is here one may not only escape from the heat and dusty activities of Summer, but from himself ---
And breathe the healthful air At Nature's mountain shrine, Where life has not a care Beneath the dreamy pine !
CHAPTER XXVII.
Little things-Joe Smith-Discovery and translation of the Golden Plates or Book of Mormon-Novel written by Solomon Spaulding-How Rev. Sidney Rigdon obtained the manuscript-Scheme of Smith and Rigdon-Latter Day Saints-Temple at Kirtland --- Removal to Nauvoo- Flight into the Western Wilderness-Salt Lake City- The prophet.
LAKE county is a little county, famous for "many little things," some of which are really great things in a certain sense. For instance, there is the little town of Kirtland, snugly en- sconced among the hills, which has a wide and lasting fame, if not an enviable one. It is the veritable "cradle of Mormonism." As to the origin of this new religious faith, different ver- sions have been given.
One version is that it originated with Joe Smith, who was afterwards aided in his schemes by equally unscrupulous men. But little is known of Smith's early career in life. It has
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been ascertained, however, that he was born in Vermont, in 1805, of humble parentage. His education was sadly neglected by his parents; yet as he grew to manhood he evinced a degree of native tact and talent, which was truly re- markable. He had not only an inquisitive mind, but a "vaulting ambition" to acquire public notoriety.
He delighted in discussing theological sub- jects, and assumed that he was endowed with the "gift of prophecy." In proof of this gift, he practiced the "divining art'' with considera- ble success in the rural districts of his own neighborhood, and especially among the un- sophisticated farmers. He always carried with him a mysterious looking rod, which he called a "divining rod," and by the tremulous motion of which he could determine just the spot where persons wishing to dig a well could strike upon an ample spring of living water. Many wells were dug in accordance with his instructions, and with admirable success. Yet many were dug with equal success without his divinations. He also carried with him a "mineral rod," by whose attractive power he claimed to detect the spot where hidden treasures had been buried in the earth, and in fact insisted that he had, in this way, discovered several places where large amounts of gold and silver had been concealed
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during the Revolution and at subsequent periods. His "fame went abroad," and he traveled through the country to a considerable extent, practicing his mysterious arts and delivering lectures. He held public meetings at Palmyra, N. Y., and in other towns, at which he ex- plained, in a plausible way, the gift of divination which he had employed with unprecedented success. He soon found himself sustained by an extensive circle of believers.
Finding this to be the fact, he at once assumed the character of a prophet, and declared that to him had been given a divine commission, author- izing him to announce to the world a new revela- tion for the salvation of mankind. In order to give sanction to the commissioni, which he had received, he asserted that he had been guided by an angel from heaven to a secluded nook in the hillside, near Palmyra, where he was directed to make an excavation to a certain depth. This he did, and the result was that he discovered at the depth prescribed, a stone box in which was inclosed a deposit of gold plates, engraved with strange characters, hitherto unknown to any human tongue or alphabet. The angel declared the contents of the plates to be a message sent from heaven to the children of men; and giving the prophet a small illuminating stone, informed him that by placing it in his hat, in connection
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with each of the plates in succession, he would instantly become endowed with the "gift of tongues" and the ability to translate the lan- guage of the plates into English. The angel then disappeared as mysteriously as he came. Following the directions he had received from the angel, the prophet succeeded in translating the graven plates into plain English, as he asserted. It is this translation of the divine message from heaven, which constitutes the "Golden Bible" or "Book of Mormon," or in other words, the Holy Scriptures of the "Latter Day Saints."
A much more probable version, than the fore- going, has been given of the origin of this new revelation. Some years previous to the marvel- ous announcement made by Joe Smith, a lib- erally educated gentleman, by the name of Solomon Spaulding, a native of Connecticut, came to Conneaut, Ohio, and entered into co- partnership with his brother John, who was a merchant, doing business at that place. They subsequently failed as merchants. Solomon's health became seriously impaired, and by way. of amusing himself, while in a failing condition of health, wrote a historical romance or fiction, which was purely imaginary, but written in a scriptural style of language. He entitled his work, "The Manuscript Found."
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In this fiction he assumed that the American Indians were descendants of the Jews, or "lost tribes," of whom he gives a detailed account of their wandering journey from Jerusalem by land and by sca, until they arrived in America under command of Nephi and Lehi. He also de- scribes the career of these lost tribes, after they arrived in America, their quarrels and conten- tions, their division into two Nations, known as Nephites and Lemanites, their arts and civiliza- tion, their religious rites and ceremonies, and their subsequent cruel and bloody wars, in which great multitudes of them were slain and buried in mounds. It was in this way that he accounted for the origin of the American Indians.
It is well known that Solomon, the author of "The Manuscript Found," read parts of his work, while engaged in writing it, to his brother John, who professed to be quite delighted with its orig- inality, and with its scriptural style of language, and who did not hesitate to advise its publica- tion. This encouraging estimate of the work in- duced its author, in 1816, to visit Pittsburgh with a view to securing a publisher. It is supposed that he succeeded in making an arrangement for the purpose with the printing firm of "Patterson and Lambdin," and that he left his manuscript with them. Soon after this he visited Amity, Pa., where he was taken suddenly ill, and died.
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No more was heard of the manuscript for a good number of years.
In 1824 Sidney Rigdon visited Pittsburgh, and remained for some three years, as a student of theology. In the meantime, he made the ac- quaintance of Lambdin, of the printing firm, and became his intimate friend. By this means he undoubtedly acquired possession of the manu- script. The firm became insolvent, and Lambdin soon afterwards died. The surviving partner, Patterson, stated that he knew nothing definite in relation to this particular manuscript, but said that Lambdin, his former partner, took charge of all manuscripts left with the firm for inspection, and that a large mass of such manuscripts still remained, unread, upon their shelves, at the time of Lambdin's death. On receiving this informa- tion, the widow of Spaulding caused diligent search to be made for the desired manuscript, but it could not be found among the manuscripts re- maining upon the shelves. This fact, in connec- tion with subsequent developments, renders it certain that the missing manuscript had passed into the hands of Rigdon, by some means or other, but in what way could not be definitely as- certained.
In the year 1827, Rigdon left Pittsburgh and commenced his career as a preacher, and soon ac- quired a wide reputation as a controversialist.
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He then began to promulgate new theories and strange doctrines. He had evidently conceived the idea of constructing a new religions creed. Soon after this, white" preaching at Palmyra, N. Y., and in its vicinity, he made the acquaintance of Joe Smith, who professed to have the gift of prophecy, and found in him a kindred spirit. They became intimate, and soon afterwards pro- jected the scheme by which the "Book of Mor- mon" was announced to the world as a Divine revelation. But it so happened that John Spauld- ing, the brother of Solomon Spaulding, and Henry Lake, had heard Solomon read his romance, en- titled "The Manuscript Found," at different times previous to his death. They have both testified that they read the Book of Mormon, or Golden Bible, soon after it was published, and were surprised to find that it contained but little more than a repetition of the story related in the "Manuscript Found" of Solomon Spaulding, which they had heard him read. This fact con- vinced them that Rigdon had, in some way, come into possession of Spaulding's work, and had con- trived, with the aid of Joe Smith, to give it the sanction of a new gospel by means of a miracu- lous discovery, as announced. Rigdon was a scholar, and doubtless revised the manuscript so as to adapt its story to his purpose. Joe Smith performed the "miracle" of translating it from
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the golden plates. The truth of the matter is, that Rigdon was a man of learning, an aspirant for fame, acute and eloquent, while Smith was an ignoramus of low cunning, shrewd and plausi- ble, and ambitious of being regarded as possessed of miraculous powers. Yet both were, in fact, nothing more than consummate "impostors."
On the announcement of the new gospel and its publication in book form, the curiosity of the public was very generally awakened. The Book of Mormon, or Golden Bible, as the publication was called, sold rapidly, and quite a number of credulous persons immediately embraced the new faith. They assumed the name of the "Latter Day Saints," and continued to increase in num- bers. The leaders constituted the hierarchy of "Mormonism," and received accessions to their number, from time to time, of such professed converts as seemed to possess the requisite "tact and talent."
A colony of these "Latter Day Saints," under the guidance of Rigdon and Smith, took their departure from Palmyra, and arrived at Kirtland, Ohio, in October, 1830, where they purchased a square mile of excellent land, surveyed it into half acre lots, and near its center stuck, what they called, the "stake of Zion." Here they erected for themselves numerous dwellings, pur- chasel adjoining farms, taught their new doc-
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trines, and received rapid accessions to their num- bers. Here on their favorite "Hill of Zion," where the stake was stuck, they erected a magni- ficent temple, at a cost of $40,000, in which to worship; and under its shadow opened mercan- tile shops or stores, filled them with large stocks of goods purchased in New York, established a bank, and put into circulation a large amount of its notes.
In this way the colony obtained an extensive credit, and soon acquired unexpected wealth. But for the want of a sufficient specie basis, the bank soon became unable to redeem its notes. The result was a "panic." Creditors urged their claims, and lawsuit followed lawsuit. This state of things created such a degree ci popular indig- nation as to induce these "Latter Day Saints" to remove in mass, to the State of Missouri, where they were received in an unfriendly manner, and were soon afterwards driven away by an armed force. They then located in the State of Illinois, where they built the town of Nauvoo, expecting to remain undisturbed. But persecution followed them. Here Joe Smith, their prophet and high priest, was killed, and Brigham Young installed in his place. It was he, who led them into the vast wilderness of the West, a "pillar of cloud" by day, and a "pillar of fire" by night. He ex- plored the way as he advanced, discovered Salt
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Lake valley, and declared it the "promised land," reserved for his followers. Here they ar- rived, after a journey of many months of untold suffering and peril, and founded a city, and built a. temple. In the plains flows a beautiful river, to which they gave the name of Jordan. Here in its holy waters, they baptised their converts, and here they have become numerous, and are resolved to remain. Here they still flourish, in defiance of law and the usages of modern civilization. They have a "faith," and they keep their faith. If modifications are needed, they can readily obtain a new revelation to make them, and in this way, avoid an open collision with the government. "Mormonism," like "Mohammedanism," has its origin in imposture. Mankind have more than a thousand different religions, most of which are founded on imposture, or "pions frauds." All claim to have the one true religion. Who shall determine ? "As a man thinketh, so is he." This is really all that can be said about creeds without provoking controversy.
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