USA > Ohio > History of Ohio; the rise and progress of an American state, Volume Three > Part 28
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It is to the credit of his rare judgment that in din time every single one of these recommendations ml placed upon the statute books of Ohio. In suppon
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BOOK MORMON
Und by ER Kall, NJ
THE PROPHET, JOSEPH SMITH
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of these different propositions he argued in his report with simple but earnest eloquence. His description of the conditions observed in his travels over the State make valuable reading, and will give an adequate idea of the situation which confronted the people of Ohio in this, the formative period of their common school system. This first report takes rank among the best educational writings of our country. It attracted a great deal of attention in the Eastern States and received there an extensive circulation. The following interesting extracts form an instructive narration of the early trials and conditions relative to the establishment of the School System; it gives the impressions and observations of Mr. Lewis of educational conditions at this time. The results of his observations are thus given to the Legislature:
"The thousands with whom I have conversed, of all classes and in all departments of life, are unanimous, and they represent their neighbors as unanimous in favor of efficient and active measures on the part of the Legislature for the promotion of Common Schools. I have heard of persons and of neighborhoods that were said to be opposed to such a course; but on visit- ing such persons and places, the objections were found to be not against proper legal provision for these schools, but against particular details in the law. Complaints against defects are often erroneously put down by lookers-on as opposition to the law, when in fact, the complainers are its most ardent friends, and in favor of the most active measures. It is one way of making a friend of reform odious by representing his complaints
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as opposition. I have not found an individual that, for himself, objected to the expense, provided the schools are made good.
"Whatever I may be compelled to say of the present condition of schools, they are certainly improving everywhere in the State. In many counties associa- tions are formed of teachers and friends of Learning to promote this object; and the education of the masses is a marked feature in all discussion and reports. Nothing will rally the people more readily than the discussion of subjects connected with education. Still, leaving Cincinnati for the present out of the question, there are but very few places in this State, where common school instruction proper is furnished approach- ing near the grade we had supposed; that is, where the means of proper instruction are free to all, rich and poor, on equal terms. The city of Cleveland has within a few months commenced organizing her free schools on principles which, if carried out to the extent demanded in that flourishing place, will distinguish her on the list of free school cities; but even there, the provision is not half enough, and the schools have from fifty to eighty children to the teacher.
"In towns and large villages, the common schools are poorer than in the country. In the latter, neigh- borhoods depend more on them, and of course, take a deeper interest in their control; while in the former, there is too frequently but little attention paid to these schools by persons able to provide other means of instruction. Private schools are considered the best, and being patronized by the wealthy, create a distinction that is ruinous. I am unwilling to repeat
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the remarks in reference to this point that I have often heard made; it may be sufficient to say that in many instances, the whole tendency is to bring the schools into disrepute if not positive disgrace."
The recommendations of this report were followed by specific legislation embodying many of the ideas suggested. A general law for the improvement of the schools was passed; the school fund was raised to $200,000 annually; all schools were declared free; districts were allowed to borrow money to build school- houses; the County Auditor was made the County Superintendent of Schools, and a certain measure of supervision was provided. Directly traceable to this report was the act of March 7, 1838, which was the first intelligent effort to organize the schools up to that time. After three years of labor, worn out and in ill health, Mr. Lewis resigned the office of School Superintendent. He left an indelible impress on the educational history of Ohio. During his term of office, he performed such labor and furnished such executive force to his duties, that his contribution to the progress of the Common School System to this State is unequalled. The ideas advocated in his report have stood the test of time and most of them have been vitalized into law and are in operation to-day.
Up to 1847, the Ohio School system lacked organiza- tion, grading and classification. It is true that there had been various attempts made by special legislation which only applied to certain cities to accomplish this, but the general system was but little benefited thereby. Cincinnati was the first city to take an advanced step in grading her schools under a special law; then
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followed Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus and other cities in rapid succession. The passage of what is known as the "Akron Law" in 1847 marks the commencement of a new era in Ohio school history. This law, passed February 8, 1847, authorized the electors of Akron to elect a Board of Education for the government of its schools. This Board had full jurisdiction over school matters; it could establish primary and gram- mar schools; enforce all necessary rules for the govern- ment of teachers and pupils; select sites and erect buildings; fix grades; employ and pay teachers, and it had power to certify to the City Council the amount of money necessary for school purposes, and under the act, Council was compelled to make the necessary tax levies for this purpose.
The operation of this law attracted great attention and there was a demand for it in other cities. The next year, 1848, incorporated cities and towns were authorized to adopt the provision of the "Akron Law" by petition to the City Council of two-thirds of the electors. This movement for the centralization of the administration of city and town schools through one school board culminated in the passage on Febru- ary 21, 1849, of a general law entitled "An Act for the Better Regulation of the Public Schools in Cities, Towns, etc." This embodied the important features of the Akron Law and gave Boards of Education power to establish not only schools of primary and grammar grades, but a higher grade, and to decide what branches should be taught in each and all grades. Boards of Education were required to keep the schools in operation not less than thirty-six nor more than
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forty weeks in each year. The provisions of this act were extended the next year, 1850, to incorporate townships, by which they were organized into single school districts with all the rights and powers conferred upon incorporated cities, towns and villages.
This legislation may be said to mark the complete establishment of the Common School System of Ohio. It had to be preceded by twenty-five years of agitation, experiment and progress before it really became a thing of substance, and an institution of stability. So that in 1850 the work so zealously and manfully con- tended for by Ephraim Cutler, Caleb Atwater and Nathan Guilford, and organized by Samuel Lewis, challenged the admiration of the United States. No other State had so perfect a school system, nor was any other sustained by such an encouraging and enlightened public sentiment. Shortly after the Civil War, June 8, 1866, General James A. Garfield intro- duced a bill in Congress, which afterwards became a law, establishing a Department of Education. In his speech on the bill he referred to the School System of Ohio in these words:
"Mr. Speaker, if I were called upon to-day to point to that in my own State of which I am the most proud, I would not point to any of the flaming lines of her military record, to the heroic men and the brilliant officers she gave to this contest; I would not point to any of her leading men of the past or the present; but I would point to her Common Schools; I would point to the honorable fact that in the great struggle of five years, through which we have just passed, she has expended $12,000,000 for the support of her Public
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Schools. I do not include in that amount the sums expended upon our higher institutions of learning. I would point to the fact that fifty-two per cent. of the taxation of Ohio for the last five years, aside from the War Tax and the tax for the payment of her public debt, has been for the support of her schools. I would point to the schools of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo and other cities of the state, if I desired a stranger to see the glory of Ohio. I would point to the 13,000 schoolhouses and the 700,000 pupils in the schools of Ohio. I would point to the $3,000,000 she has paid for schools during the last year alone. This, in my judgment, is the proper gauge by which to measure the progress and glory of states."
The development and progress of educational facili- ties in Ohio since Garfield's speech will indicate how thoroughly attached her people are to popular educa- tion. In 1909 the total expenditure for Common School purposes was $25,011,361.94; the value of public school property was $67,901,717.00; the number of teachers employed was 25,752 and all of these were utilized in the education of 838,080 pupils who were in daily attendance in the schools.
Surely this is the highest evidence that the people of Ohio have considered a success the labors of these professional educators and wise legislators who created and preserved the system of popular education. These pages have undertaken to record its gradual develop- ment and to give the reader an idea of its broad founda- tion and lofty structure, in order that he may have not only a greater historical knowledge but a more patriotic appreciation of a great State.
CHAPTER XIII.
MORMONISM IN OHIO
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A ROUND the little village of Kirtland, in Lake County, cluster some of the most important and interesting historical recol- lections of Ohio. It was here in 1831 that the Mormons established their first "Stake of Zion," and for seven years it was the scene of active, and at times sensational, operations of this remarkable reli- gious body.
The Church of the Latter Day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr., at Fayette, Seneca County, New York, April 6, 1830. Tons of literature have been published discussing the question whether Smith was an honest enthusiast, an earnest mystic or an arrant impostor. It is not the purpose here to add to this class of writings, but to record the historical facts in the life of Mormonism connected with Ohio. Hence a mere narrative of Smith's claims will suffice for an intelligent understanding of his work in this State. In 1823 he claimed that he discovered golden plates on which were written the records of Mormon. They were not taken out of their resting place until 1827, because of an inspiration he said he had received from an angel. In 1830 he published a translation of them under the name of "The Book of Mormon." In this work it is told how, in the reign of King Zedekiah of Jerusalem, Lehi, an Israelite, with his family, went from Palestine to America; his adventures and revela- tions were recorded on these plates as published in this book. The sons of Lehi became the ancestors of the North American Indians; the descendants of Nephi, one of the sons, became good Christians and preserved the sacred plates which Joseph Smith, Jr., is said to
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have discovered. They converted all America to Christianity. In consequence of wars, at the beginning of the fourth century, the Church fell to pieces. Then came Mormon, a mighty hero, and drove out these American Philistines, who, in time, had become red and barbarous. They afterward returned and ex- terminated the Christian Nephites. Mormon's son, Moroni, found Lehi's plates, giving a history of his people, in A. D. 420.
The publication of the "Book of Mormon" at Pal- myra, N. Y., in 1830, created a sensation in the religious world. It was attacked as a fraud and it was charged that it was a plagiarism of the writings of one Solomon Spaulding, who lived at Conneaut in Ashtabula County. This work of Spaulding was entitled "The Manuscript Found," and it was claimed that it was written in scriptural style, similar to the "Book of Mormon" and that it was the real foundation for that production. And further, that it was surreptitiously obtained by Joseph Smith, Jr., who appropriated its ideas and its language. This theory was advanced soon after the publication of the "Book of Mormon." At that time, the Mormon elders attracted attention by their preaching about Conneaut, and when the Mormon Bible, as the new work was called, was read, many persons present were struck by what they thought was a similarity between Smith's book and the Spaulding manuscript. It should be stated that Solomon Spauld- ing used to read his manuscript to his neighbors until many of them became familiar with its language, contents and style. When they heard the "Book of Mormon," some of them testified that it was sub-
THE KIRTLAND TEMPLE Built by the Mormons.
The corner stone was laid, July 24, 1833, and for nearly three years the labor of construction was carried on day and night; it was dedicated, March 27, 1836; it is now in pos- session and used as a place of worship by the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."
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THE RISE AND PROGRA
have discovered. They converted all America Christianity. HALIMITCHAJTALLAGHT, at the begins of the fourth centufoMentedfliud fell to pieces. The
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and barbarous .2this? vsaI 19tts.I to, tendo anzol to dowd terminated the Christian Nephites. Miormon's se Moroni, found Lehi's plates, giving a history of b people, in A. D. 420.
The publication of the "Book of Mormon" "' at F myra, N. Y_la (Bjp created a sensation in the religio world 1: www attacked as a fraud and it was charg that it was a plagiarism of the writings of one Solomos Spaulding, who lived at Conneaut in Ashtabula Count This work of Spaulding was entitled "The Manuscri Found," and it was claimed that it was written scriptural style, similar to the "Book of Mormon and that it was the real foundation for that productio And further, that it was surreptitiously obtained Joseph Smith, Jr., who appropriated its ideas and language. This theory was advanced soon after th publication of the "Book of Mormon." At th time, the Mormon elders attracted attention by the preaching about Conneaut, and when the Mormo Bible, as the new work was called, was read, man persons present were struck by what they thought w a similarity between Smith's book and the Spaulding manuscript. It should be stated that Solomon Spauld ing used to read his manuscript to his neighbo until many of them became familiar with its language contents and style. When they heard the "Book Mormon," some of them testified that it was sul
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stantially the Spaulding manuscript. Owing to his financial straits, Solomon Spaulding was never able to publish his work, which was a romance of prehis- toric America. At one time it was in possession of a Pittsburg publishing house, from whence it is said to have been stolen.
This theory of the origin of the "Book of Mormon" gradually became the accepted one among the Gentiles and found its place in the literature of the time, being accepted by the encyclopaedias of Britannica, Cham- bers, Appleton and others. This view obtained until 1884, when the late James H. Fairchild, then president of Oberlin college, was visiting Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, where he met an old anti-slavery friend, Lewis L. Rice, who had years before, been the editor of the Painesville Telegraph, and also State Printer at Colum- bus, Ohio. President Fairchild asked him to examine his old pamphlets and papers and see what contribu- tions he could make to the anti-slavery literature of the Oberlin College Library. In a few days, he re- turned with an old, worn and faded manuscript of 170 pages, which proved to be the long lost manuscript of Solomon Spaulding. It came into Mr. Rice's posses- sions in 1839 with other books and papers, when he took possession of the Painesville Telegraph. This manuscript is now in the Oberlin College Library.
President Fairchild, in a paper read before the Western Reserve Historical Society, March 23, 1886, and published as Tract No. 77 of that Society, dis- cusses with originality and interest the "Manuscript of Solomon Spaulding and the Book of Mormon." It is the first authentic information on that subject.
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In this paper, President Fairchild says: "The manu- script has no resemblance to the 'Book of Mormon.' There is not a name or an incident common to the two. It is not written in the solemn Scripture style. It is a story of the coming to this country, from Rome, of a ship's company, driven by a storm across the ocean, in the days of the Emperor Constantine. They never returned to their own land, but cast in their lot with the aboriginal tribes inhabiting the country, and it is chiefly occupied with the account of the civili- zation and conflict of these tribes-the Delawares, Ohions, Kentucks, Sciotons, Chiaugans, etc., etc. The names of the persons are entirely original, quite as remarkable as those in the 'Book of Mormon,' but never the same-such as Bombal, Kadocam, Lobaska, Hamboon, Uliponn, Lamesa, etc."
Professor Fairchild's position, however, is not ac- cepted by all writers on this subject. The strongest answer to his argument is "The Origin of the Book of Mormon, Re-Examined in its Relation to Spaul- ding's Manuscript Found." This was written by A. T. Schroeder in 1901, and published by direction of the Salt Lake Ministerial Association of Salt Lake City. It is analytical and argumentative, and pre- sents all the testimony bearing on the question involved. The proposition contended for is that the manuscript in the Oberlin College Library was not the one from which "The Book of Mormon" was plagiarized; that it was never in the hands of a publisher, and therefore could not have been stolen; that there was another and rewritten story that formed the foundation of
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the Mormon work, and that this fact is susceptible of proof which the writer proceeds to draw out.
Whatever may be the facts as to the origin of the "Book of Mormon," the Mormon Church was organ- ized at the time and place stated, including at first just six in its membership-Joseph Smith, Sr., Hyrum Smith, Joseph Smith, Jr., Samuel Smith, Oliver Cow- dery and Joseph Knight. In June, 1830, the first convention of the church was held at Fayette, at which thirty members were present. Smith had by this time claimed the full powers and responsibilities of a Prophet. Angels constantly visited him, and the Lord was giving him frequent revelations. He called himself the "Mouthpiece of God." Still with all these opportunities of associating with Divinity first- hand, the public seemed loth to rush to Smith's stand- ard of Faith. Whether it was due to the ungodliness of his neighbors, or their knowledge of the Prophet, is not known, and much has been written on both sides. He evidently had experienced the wisdom of the Biblical saying, that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, and in his own house," and he commenced to make arrangements for a western migration. In October Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Ziba Peterson and Peter Whitmer, Jr. started for the far West on a mission to the Indians.
They stopped at Kirtland; here and at Mentor near by, was the stronghold of the Church of the Disciples, founded by Alexander Campbell, and both congregations were presided over by one Sidney Rigdon. He was one of the leading preachers of the Disciples' faith in the Western Reserve, and was a man of ability,
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of great eloquence, but of an emotional and erratic temperament. In his day he was listened to with affection and confidence by the people of his denomina- tion. Sidney Rigdon joined the new and strange religion of Mormonism, and from that moment he became a man of great power in that faith. Many of his congregation followed him. The Mormon mis- sionaries preached day and night until, when they started on their western journey, they had made a thousand converts. Sidney Rigdon was made the first minister of the Mormon Church. In December, 1830, he was given the special indorsement of the Lord through a revelation to Smith, and by another revela- tion Kirtland, Rigdon's Ohio home, was designated as the gathering place of the faithful, the Promised Land of the Saints.
In January, 1831, Joseph Smith, Jr. and his family left western New York, accompanied by more than fifty families of his followers. As they traveled over- land to what they called, and what they believed to be, the New Jerusalem, the seeds of Mormonism were sown by the wayside and many converts were made. Amid prayers and singing and religious demonstra- tions, they entered Ohio, and by June of that year the majority of the Church was settled in and about Kirt- land. Active proselyting immediately commenced. Smith and Sidney Rigdon attempted the conversion of the little village of Hiram, noted afterwards as the seat of a college presided over by James A. Garfield. Their zeal was met with angry resistance, resulting in both being tarred and feathered by the indignant and orthodox populace. Nothing daunted, Smith appeared
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next morning, which was Sunday, in his usual capacity as the "Prophet of the Lord." Rigdon was rendered temporarily insane on account of his treatment. This event occurred March 25, 1832.
During this year there came to the Mormon colony, a young man, just over thirty, whose life and career fill the greatest space in the history of Mormonism. This was Brigham Young. He was a man of much native shrewdness, earnest in his purposes yet eminently practical in worldly affairs. Smith, himself a great reader of men, saw at a glance the material before him, and Young was ordained as an elder to preach at once, and in three years after, at a conference held at Kirtland, he was selected as one of the Twelve Apostles. These three men-Smith, Rigdon and Young-formed a triumvirate that gave Mormonism its early strength and progress. To them can be credited the force that enabled it to locate and establish itself in Ohio in the face of a tremendous and persistent opposition. Smith furnished the religious ardor and inspired his people with a faith that they seemed to accept without question from his hands. Sidney Rigdon was the intellectual force and furnished the brilliant work of the pulpit. Brigham Young was more of an official or political leader. His strong, practical character supplied all the qualities in that direction in which his associates were lacking.
It was at Kirtland that Brigham Young married his first Mormon wife, thereby starting his remarkable matrimonial career, which has been one of the startling and disagreeable facts of Mormonism. At the time of his death, August 29, 1877, he left seventeen wives,
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sixteen sons and twenty-eight daughters, and had been the father of fifty-six children. Young was first married in 1824, but his wife died eight years later, leaving two children. At Kirtland, he married Mary Ann Angel, whose parents lived a mile and a half from that village. At that time, Kirtland was in Geauga County, and in the records of the probate court of that county at Chardon may be seen to-day the following license:
"The State of Ohio, Geauga County, ss: Personally appeared Brigham Young and made application for a marriage license for himself and Mary Ann Angel of the Township of Kirtland, in said County, and made solemn oath that he, the said Brigham Young, is of the age of twenty-one years and the said Mary Ann Angel is the age of eighteen years. That they are both single, and no nearer of kin than first cousins. That he knows no legal impediment against their being joined in marriage.
"Sworn and subscribed this tenth day of February, 1834, before me, Ralph Cowles, Deputy Clerk."
In Brigham Young's signature to this application, he spells his first name "Brickham" and a small "y" commences his surname.
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