"I was born in New York State near the Massachusetts
line, May 7, 1809. In 1812 my parents moved to a farm two miles from the
village, and in the township of Palmyra, New York. In 1823 mother died, and I
went to her sister's, Mrs. Earl Wilcox, where I lived much of the time until
December, 1828, when I went to live with father who had again married and
settled on a farm on the Holland Patent, twenty miles west of Rochester, New
York. Uncle Earl's farm was four miles south of Palmyra village, and his house
was nearly opposite old Jo Smith's, father of the Mormon prophet. Old Jo was
dissipated. He and his son Hyrum worked some at coopering. Hyrum was the only
son sufficiently educated to teach school. I attended when he taught in the log
school house east of uncle's. He also taught in the Stafford District. He and
Sophronia were the most respected of the family, who were not much thought of
in the commu-nity. They cleared the timber from only a small part of their
farm, and never paid for the land. They tried to live without work. I have
often heard the neighbors say they did not know how the Smiths lived, they
earned so little money. The farmers who lived near the Smiths had many sheep
and much poultry stolen. They often sent officers to search the premises of the
Smiths for stolen property, who usually found the house locked. It was said the
creek near the house of the Smiths was lined with the feet and heads of sheep.
Uncle's chil-dren were all sons, and they played with Smith's young-er
children, I associated much with Sophronia Smith, the oldest daughter, as she
was the only girl my age who lived in our vicinity. I often accompanied her,
Hyrum, and young Jo Smith, who became the Mormon proph-et, to apple parings and
parties. Jo was pompous, pretentious, and active at parties. He claimed, when a
young man, he could tell where lost or hidden things and treasures were buried
or located with a forked witch hazel. He deceived many farmers, induced them to
dig nights for chests of gold, when the pick struck the chest, someone usually
spoke, and Jo would say the enchantment was broken, and the chest would leave.
"Williard
[sic] Chase, a Methodist who lived about two miles from uncle's, while digging
a well, found a gray smooth stone about the size and shape of an egg. Sal-lie,
Williard's sister, also a Methodist, told me several times that young Jo Smith,
who became the Mormon prophet, often came to her to inquire where to dig for
treasures. She told me she would place the stone in a hat and hold it to her
face, and claimed things would be brought to her view. Sallie let me have it
several times, but I never could see anything in or through it. I heard that Jo
obtained it and called it a peep-stone, which he used in place of the witch
hazel. Uncle refused to let Jo dig on his farm. I have seen many holes where he
dug on other farms.
"When Jo joined the Presbyterian Church, in
Palmyra village, it caused much talk and surprise, as he claimed to receive
revelations from the Lord. He also claimed he found some gold plates with
characters on them, in a hill between uncle's and father's, which I often
crossed. Several times I saw what he claimed were the plates, which were
covered with a cloth. They appeared to be six or eight inches square. He
frequently car-ried them with him. I heard they kept them under the brick
hearth.
"He was from home much summers. Sometimes he said he had
been to Broome County, New York, and Pennsylvania. Several times while I was
visiting Sophronia Smith at old Jo's house, she told me that a stranger who I
saw there several times in warm weather and several months apart, was Mr.
Rigdon. At other times the Smith chil-dren told me that Mr. Rigdon was at their
house when I did not see him. I did not read much in the 'Book of Mormon'
because I had no confidence in Jo. Palmyra people claimed that Jo did not know
enough to be the author of the 'Book of Mormon,' and believed that Rigdon was
its author. I was acquainted with most of the people about us, and with Martin
Harris.
"On my way to California I stopped in Salt Lake City from
July, 1852, until March, 1853. I received much attention from Mormon ladies
because I was acquainted, and had danced with their prophet. Mrs. S.F. Anderick.
"Witnessed by: Mrs. L.A. Rogers (daughter), Oscar G. Rogers (grandson).
"Subscribed
and sworn before F.S. Baker, Notary Public for Monterey County, California,
June 24, 1887. F.S. Baker
"Dear Sir: Mrs. S.F. Anderick, of whom
you inquire, is a member of my church. She is a most estimable Chris-tian
woman, and is possessed of more than average intellectual ability and culture.
She is careful in her speech and reliable in judgment; sound in mind and of
unimpeachable veracity. Her testimony would be first-class in any court of
justice upon any subject with which she might be conversant. Respectfully, G.W.
Izer, Pastor Simpson Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, San Francisco, Cal."
"Dear
Sir: I am personally acquainted with Mrs. S.F. Anderick, and have been for two
years. She lives on this street, one block from my residence. I have often met
her in church, in society and in her home. I am certain that she is remarkably
well preserved, and is sound in mind. She is a woman of intelligence, and of
high moral and Christian character. Always sincerely, C.H. Fowler Bishop of
the M.E. Church"(34)
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