DAVID WHITMER, One of the Pioneers of [That Faith, Passing Away.]
RICHMOND, Mo., Jan. 23.—David Whitmer, the last one of the three witnesses to the truth of the Book of Mormon, is now in a dying condition at his home in Richmond. Last evening he called the family and friends to his bedside, and bore his testimony to the truth of the Book of [Mormon and] the Bible. [He is X] years of age. Mr. Whitmer is an old citizen of this town, and is known by every one here as a man of the highest honor, having resided here since the year 1838. He is not and never [has] been a believer in polygamy. He left the Mormon Church in 1838 on account of their departure from the faith as he believes. His mind is still clear. He is in no pain whatever, but is gradually sinking, and death is [expected] every hour. During the evening he affixed his signature to several papers in the closing up of his earthly affairs. His hand was wonderfully firm, as shown in the following fac-simile: [signature image]
David Whitmer, who played an [important] part in the translation of the Mormon Bible, and who was one of the pillars of the Church during the lifetime of Joseph Smith, was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 5, 1805. During his early childhood his father moved from Pennsylvania up into Ontario County in New York, [settling] on a farm in the vicinity of [Manchester]. [In the month] of June, 1829, [Whitmer first heard] that David first [met] a young man named Joseph Smith [who] had found an exceedingly valuable golden treasure in the northern [part] of the county. In company with his brother-in-law, Oliver Cowdery, young Whitmer set out to ascertain the truth or falsity of the story. Smith, who was at that time living with his father on a farm near Manchester, was indisposed at first to exhibit his treasure, but was finally persuaded to do so. The treasure consisted of a number of golden [plates] about eight inches long, seven inches wide, and of the thickness of ordinary sheet tin. They were bound together in the shape of a book by three gold rings. A large portion of the leaves were so securely bound together that it was impossible to separate them, but upon the loose leaves were engraved hieroglyphics which were unintelligible to any person who had seen them. With the tablets was an immense pair of spectacles set in a silver bow. Smith announced that he had been commanded to translate the characters upon the plates as soon as possible, and stated further that the work must be done in the presence of three witnesses. Smith, his wife, Cowdery, and Whitmer then [removed] to the house of Whitmer's father, where the work of translation was carried out, Smith reading the characters by means of the magic spectacles, Cowdery, Christian Whitmer, a brother of David, and Smith's wife acting as amanuenses. The work of translation occupied nearly eight months. Smith carelessly tattled to the neighbors of the secrets which they were working out, and as a consequence the plates were taken from him by the angel of the Lord who in place of them gave him a Urim and Thummim of a different shape which he was to place in his hat and on covering his face with the hat he received straightway a direct revelation. After the completion of the translation David Whitmer became an ardent disciple of the new religion, and for some time preached throughout the neighborhood on its behalf. [His] efforts, and those of Cowdery and some others met with such success that a Mormon church was founded April 6, 1830, in which year the Book of Mormon was first published to the world. In the year following the church and its disciples moved to Kirtland, O., where Brigham Young first joined the church. The original manuscript from which the Book of Mormon was printed has been in the possession of Mr. W[hitmer] from the time it was written. It is stated that the Mormon Church has of late years made strenuous efforts to induce Mr. [Whitmer] to part with it, but all offers made [by them] were steadfastly refused. Leaving Kirtland Whitmer set out as a missionary, preaching the truth as he saw it and exhorting all his hearers to come to Christ. He was very successful in this field, making many converts, and assisted in establishing the settlement in Jackson County, Missouri. When the church had been compelled to flee from Kirtland the members came to Jackson County, but, trouble soon arising between them and the Missourians, the Mormons moved to Caldwell County. Whitmer then removed to Richmond, Mo., where he has since resided.