ing the Farmington Mills, until I was
twenty years of age.
In , I took the flouring mill
of my aunt, Hellen Wheeler, which I at-
tended three years. In , I took
charge of the flouring mill of Mr. Col-
lins, the ax manufacturer, in South Can-
ton, Connecticut. At the end of one
year it was demolished to make way for
other machinery. In , I
took charge of the flouring mill owned
by Mr. Richard B. Cowles, of New Hart-
ford, Connecticut. In the spring of ,
in company with my oldest brother, Azmon, I went to Richland, Oswego
County, New York, and purchased a farm
and saw mill, and settled in business.
At an early age my mind was exercised
upon religious subjects, although I never
made a profession until . I did not
then join any church, for the reason that
I could not find any denomination whose
doctrines, faith or practice, agreed with
the gospel of Jesus Christ, or the ordin-
ances and gifts which the Apostles taught.
Although the ministers of the day taught
that the faith, gifts, graces, miracles and
ordinances, which the ancient saints en-
joyed, were done away and no longer
needed, I did not believe it to be true,
only as they were done away through the
unbelief of the children of men. I be-
lieved the same gifts, graces, miracles
and power would be manifest in one age
of the world as in another, when God
had a church upon the earth, and that
the church of God would be re-estab-
lished upon the earth, and that I should
live to see it. These principles were riv-
eted upon my mind from the perusal of
the Old and New Testament, with fervent
prayer that the Lord would show me what
was right and wrong, and lead me in the
path of salvation, without any regard to
the opinions of man: and the whisperings
of the Spirit of the Lord for the space of
three years, taught me that he was about
to set up his church and kingdom upon the
earth in the last days. I was taught these
things from my youth by Robert Mason,
an aged man, who lived in Simsbury, Con-
necticut, who was frequently called the
old prophet Mason; he taught me many
things which are now coming to pass.
He did not believe that any man had
authority to administer in the ordinances
of the gospel, but believed it was our
privilege through faith, prayer and fast-
ing, to heal the sick, and cast out devils
by the laying on of hands, which was the
case under his administration, as many
could testify.
In , I was inspired to go to Rhode Island; my brother, Asahel, was
also directed by the Spirit of God to go
to the same place. When we met, we
both told our impressions, and it caused
us to marvel and wonder, what the Lord
wanted of us in Rhode Island; but as we
had made preparations to move to the
west, we let outward circumstances con-
trol us, and Jonah-like, instead of going
to Rhode Island, we went to Richland,
Oswego County, New York, and there
remained until ,
when I heard Elders Zerah Pulsipher and Elijah Cheeny preach. My brother Az-
mon and I believed their testimony, en-
tertained the elders, and offered ourselves
for baptism the first sermon we heard.
We read the Book of Mormon, and I re-
ceived a testimony that it was true.
We soon learned what the Lord wanted
of us in Rhode Island, for at the time we
were warned to go there, two of the
elders were preaching there, and had we
gone, we should have embraced the work
at that time.
—I was baptized by
Elder Zerah Pulsipher; he confirmed me
the same evening.
—I was ordained a teacher, and my brother Azmon, an
elder, and a small branch was organized
of 12 members by Elder Pulsipher.
In February following, in company
with Elder Holton, I walked some 60
miles to the town of Fabius, to attend an
evening meeting of the Saints in that
place, where Elder Pulsipher was presid-
ing; I saw the book of commandments
or revelations given through Joseph Smith,
and I believed them with all my heart and
rejoiced therein; and after spending sev-
eral days, and holding several meetings,
we returned home rejoicing.
During the winter, we were visited by
several of the elders. , Elder Parley P. Pratt called upon us and in-
structed the branch till midnight; we
had a precious time. I accompanied
brother Pratt to Jefferson County, and
told him my circumstances; he said
it was my duty to prepare myself to go
to Kirtland, and join the Camp of Zion.
I immediately settled my business.
TULLIDGE'S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE.
Column 1
ing the Farmington Mills, until I was
twenty years of age.
In April, 1827, I took the flouring mill
of my aunt, Hellen Wheeler, which I attended three years. In May, 1830, I took
charge of the flouring mill of Mr. Collins, the ax manufacturer, in South Canton, Connecticut. At the end of one
year it was demolished to make way for
other machinery. In March, 1831, I
took charge of the flouring mill owned
by Mr. Richard B. Cowles, of New Hartford, Connecticut. In the spring of 1832,
in company with my oldest brother,
Azmon, I went to Richland, Oswego
County, New York, and purchased a farm
and saw mill, and settled in business.
At an early age my mind was exercised
upon religious subjects, although I never
made a profession until 1830. I did not
then join any church, for the reason that
I could not find any denomination whose
doctrines, faith or practice, agreed with
the gospel of Jesus Christ, or the ordinances and gifts which the Apostles taught.
Although the ministers of the day taught
that the faith, gifts, graces, miracles and
ordinances, which the ancient saints enjoyed, were done away and no longer
needed, I did not believe it to be true,
only as they were done away through the
unbelief of the children of men. I believed the same gifts, graces, miracles
and power would be manifest in one age
of the world as in another, when God
had a church upon the earth, and that
the church of God would be re-established upon the earth, and that I should
live to see it. These principles were riveted upon my mind from the perusal of
the Old and New Testament, with fervent
prayer that the Lord would show me what
was right and wrong, and lead me in the
path of salvation, without any regard to
the opinions of man: and the whisperings
of the Spirit of the Lord for the space of
three years, taught me that he was about
to set up his church and kingdom upon the
earth in the last days. I was taught these
things from my youth by Robert Mason,
an aged man, who lived in Simsbury, Connecticut, who was frequently called the
old prophet Mason; he taught me many
things which are now coming to pass.
He did not believe that any man had
authority to administer in the ordinances
of the gospel, but believed it was our
privilege through faith, prayer and fast-
Column 2
ing, to heal the sick, and cast out devils
by the laying on of hands, which was the
case under his administration, as many
could testify.
In 1832, I was inspired to go to
Rhode Island; my brother, Asahel, was
also directed by the Spirit of God to go
to the same place. When we met, we
both told our impressions, and it caused
us to marvel and wonder, what the Lord
wanted of us in Rhode Island; but as we
had made preparations to move to the
west, we let outward circumstances control us, and Jonahlike, instead of going
to Rhode Island, we went to Richland,
Oswego County, New York, and there
remained until ,
when I heard Elders Zerah Pulsipher and
Elijah Cheeny preach. My brother Azmon and I believed their testimony, entertained the elders, and offered ourselves
for baptism the first sermon we heard.
We read the Book of Mormon, and I received a testimony that it was true.
We soon learned what the Lord wanted
of us in Rhode Island, for at the time we
were warned to go there, two of the
elders were preaching there, and had we
gone, we should have embraced the work
at that time.
—I was baptized by
Elder Zerah Pulsipher; he confirmed me
the same evening.
—I was ordained a
teacher, and my brother Azmon, an
elder, and a small branch was organized
of 12 members by Elder Pulsipher.
In February following, in company
with Elder Holton, I walked some 60
miles to the town of Fabius, to attend an
evening meeting of the Saints in that
place, where Elder Pulsipher was presiding; I saw the book of commandments
or revelations given through Joseph Smith,
and I believed them with all my heart and
rejoiced therein; and after spending several days, and holding several meetings,
we returned home rejoicing.
During the winter, we were visited by
several of the elders. , Elder
Parley P. Pratt called upon us and instructed the branch till midnight; we
had a precious time. I accompanied
brother Pratt to Jefferson County, and
told him my circumstances; he said
it was my duty to prepare myself to go
to Kirtland, and join the Camp of Zion.
I immediately settled my business.
