The Chenango and Unadilla Valleys Fifty Years Ago
By S.S. Randall
Chenango Telegraph, May 8, 1872
Continued from posting of August 26, 2017
Afton
In that part of the town now included with the boundaries of sweet flowing "Afton," among the early settlers, in addition to the family of Elnathan Bush, were Seth Stone, Nathaniel Benton, Isaac Miner, Hezekiah Stowell, Orlando Bridgman and Ebenezer Church--the three last being among the "Vermont Sufferers." Nathaniel Church taught the first school in 1790, Asa Stowell was the first inn keeper in 1788, Peter Betts opened the first store in 1805, and David Cooper and Isaac Miner ran the first saw mill on Kelsey's Brook. The first church was organized in 1802 by the Rev. Daniel Buck.
The late William H. Bissell, Governor of Illinois, and member of Congress form that State, was, during several years, a resident of this locality--attending school in the summer and teaching in the winter.
Joe Smith, The Mormon Prophet
This promising little section of the great original "Jericho"--born out of due time, and now ever hereafter to be "known and distinguished" by the most mellifluous of all cognomens, was favored some forty years ago--in 1828 or '29--by the presence and pervading influence of the great founder and original discover of the Mormon dispensation--Joe Smith--who according to the "Gazetteer and Directory," at about this time, "Made his appearance in Afton, and attended school in District No. 9, at the ripe age of twenty-four or five. He, however, "attended in the capacity of a prophet in the chrysalis state, with wings not yet full fledged, "walked the waters like a thing of life, daring the very elements to strife, so long as the underlying plank was not wickedly displaced by the wicked boys," and finally having through this mischance fallen into the water and "gone down like any other mortal"--having subsequently essayed--with what success does not appear, to "heal the sick, cast out devils," and many other miraculous feats, the great founder of Mormonism was ignominiously hauled before the judgment seat of Joseph P. Chamberlin, Esq., then in the commission of the peace--afterwards Sheriff of Chenango--member of the State Legislature, etc, etc, --as an imposter. "Two pettifoggers by the name of John S. Reed and James Davision," volunteered to defend him. Three witnesses testified that they had seen him cast out devils, [what else, "in the name of all the gods at once," could he have cast out?] One devil "as large as a woodchuck," left the man, and "run across the floor." Another "run off like a yellow dog." In the face of such testimony, what but an acquittal must have resulted? Mr. Knight, his son, and Mr. Stowell, these three unexceptional witnesses, followed the future prophet to his glory in the West--not unaccompanied, we may be sure by the "woodchuck" and "yellow dog." as well as the Mormon Bibles, under lock and key "guarded by an angel," which fell with a loud crash into the door of Mr. and Mrs. Preston T. Wilkins, of Ashtabula county, Ohio, living at this time, in Broome county, just across the line--impelled thereto, as we are credibly assured by honest Preston, himself, who, having been worried and badgered within an inch of his life, by his credulous helpmate, whom these Mormon pioneers were endeavoring to convert, manufactured a key, opened the angelically guarded chest, took therefrom a Bible and placed it in such a shaky position on or about the door of the Domicile, that on opening that piece of furniture, the catastrophe must needs occur. What effect this miracle had upon the devoutly inclined Mrs. Wilkins, is left to conjecture, we only know that Wilkins forbade the brethren of the Mormon persuasion from all future visitations of this house, but whether Mr. W. went West where the Saints had been "commanded to assemble," must ever remain an inscrutable mystery.
To be Continued
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