. . . My parents desired their children to be American citizens, and imigrated in 1816 to Luzerne County, Pa., seven miles from Wilkesbarre. When a young man I spent much of the summers along the Susquehanna River. I became acquainted with Jo, Hyrum, and Bill Smith, whom I often saw hunting and digging for buried money, treasure, or lost and hidden things. Jo claimed to receive revelations from the Lord where to dig. People would say, “Jo, what did the Lord tell you last night, or what did you dream?” “Jo, what are you going to dig for next?” “Jo, I found a hollow tree or stump; go and see what you can find there.” He had a peep-stone which he claimed had an attraction, and he could see hidden things through it. He was generally called the Peeker. He was said to be the laziest whelp about the country. He had men to do the digging. I have heard merchants refuse to trust Jo Smith for a plug of tobacco, but say they would give him one. I well remember when he organized his Mormon Church at Harmony, Pa. My father said at the time that Mormonism would take well with the ignorant English, and would become troublesome in this country. He claimed the Government ought to put a stop to it.

HENRY A. SAYER