A short time before the house was completed, a man by the name of Josiah Stoal came from Chenango County, New York, to get Joseph to assist him in digging for a silver mine. He came for Joseph from having heard, that he was in possession of certain means, by which he could discern things, which that could not be seen by the natural eye. Joseph endeavered to divert him from his vain project; but he was inflexible, and offered high wages to such as would dig for him; in search of the mine; and was [2 words illegible] still very anxious [4 words illegible] to have Joseph work for him; consequently, he returned with the old gentleman; besides several others that who were picked up in the neighborhood, and commenced digging. After laboring about a month without success, Joseph prevailed on his employer to cease his opperations. It was from this circumstance, namely, his having working worked by the month at digging for a silver mine, that the very prevalent story arose, of his having been a money digger.

While Joseph was laboring for this Mr. Stoal, he boarded a short time with Isaac Hale; at which time interval he became acquainted with his daughter, Miss. Emma Hale, and immediately commenced paying his addresses to her, and, at a subsequent period married her.